This semester, Kent State University’s School of Fashion Design and Merchandising, an Ohio Center of Excellence, added a new graduate-level educational experience to its nationally and internationally ranked offerings. The new program, a Master of Fashion Industry Studies (M.F.I.S.), is the first of its kind in the academic world.
While other graduate degrees can be applied to many specialties, the Master of Fashion Industry Studies is exclusively focused on the fashion industry. This two-year initial master’s-level degree is designed for the academic advancement of individuals who engage in learning, both inside and outside the university.
Catherine Leslie, Ph.D., graduate studies coordinator of Kent State’s Fashion School, says she is thrilled to finally launch the program after working on it for the past several years.
“Our school is seeking to be a front-runner in education for the fashion industry,” Dr. Leslie says. “Rather than dividing knowledge and students into ‘art’ or ‘business’ as is the trend in many undergraduate and graduate programs in our field, the Master of Fashion Industry Studies seeks to make connections between theory and practice, developing an understanding of the industry in a holistic manner.”
By requiring a practicum along with robust coursework, the Master of Fashion Industry Studies prepares professionals for critical analysis of the fashion industry by using cross-disciplinary and applied research methods to generate ideas based on testing and experimentation, then effectively synthesize and present solutions to fashion industry issues.
The Fashion School joins other industry-focused programs at Kent State such as nursing, public health and aviation by driving innovation while preparing future professionals for success. Each Master of Fashion Industry Studies graduate will develop a thesis accompanied by a visual presentation that proposes an innovative and practical research-based solution for the fashion industry. Throughout the program, students will be expected to interact with industry stakeholders and emerging technologies to develop ideas for the industry as an extension of the classroom.
With an award-winning faculty, state-of-the-art equipment, lab/studio space and an abundance of strong industry partnerships, Kent State’s Fashion School is will guide students in exploring critical issues facing the industry. Some critical issues that will be explored include changes in retail, supply chain management, sustainability, innovative design, entrepreneurship, wearable technology and more.
Eight students are currently enrolled in the first Master of Fashion Industry Studies cohort, a number that the school hopes will more than double by next fall.
“Next year, we expect to have at least 20 students involved in the program and continue to grow from there,” Dr. Leslie says. “We strive to be a front-runner and are confident that by having our graduate coursework infused with real-world investigations into critical issues facing the industry, we will prepare future leaders. We welcome students with degrees from all areas, as this strengthens and expands the interdisciplinary nature of graduate fashion education.”
This graduate program is currently accepting applications for the 2019 Fall Semester. Those interested in submitting materials can apply directly on the Kent State Graduate Studies admissions page at www.kent.edu/graduatestudies/admissions. Review of applications will begin on Feb. 1, 2019. Assistantships are available for those who qualify. For more information regarding the Master of Fashion Industry Studies program, please visit the Fashion School’s website at www.kent.edu/fashion or email MFIS@kent.edu.