Texas State’s School of Family and Consumer Sciences will offer a new master’s degree starting in summer 2013.
According to a University News Service press release, the master’s in Merchandising and Consumer Studies will provide students with specific knowledge of the fashion industry, which is rapidly evolving.
In a press release, Rodney Runyan, director of the School of Family and Consumer Science, said the master’s degree will take an “applied approach to graduate education,” helping students with leadership, communication and analytical skills.
“The retail industry and all of the companies that support and supply it have become increasingly complex,” Runyan said in a press release. “The experience, knowledge and skills needed to be successful in today’s fast-changing market are difficult to accrue during a baccalaureate program.”
The department’s ongoing look at various areas of merchandising and consumer markets will include research. The research, including a focus on sustainability, cross-border shopping and entrepreneurship, will help students in the field, according to the press release.