Degree Overview: Associate of Arts (A.A.) Degree in Textile Production
Majors Overview December 22, 2013Those with a creative eye for form, pattern, texture, and color may want to look into designing textiles. Students will be taught how to create fabric for footwear, upholstery, apparel, and other purposes.
A.A. Programs in Textile Production
Students enrolled in an associate degree program covering textile production are provided with hands-on technical skills in tailoring, construction, and apparel design, with a particular stress on garment fit and textile selection. Textile design courses cover areas of study covered in this program. Sketching and freehand illustration abilities apart, technological savvy in being able to use computer-aided design (CAD) applications is also expected of students.
Internship programs and design portfolio are components of the majority of associate degree programs. Admission criteria in an associate degree program in textile production require applicants to hold a GED certificate or high school diploma.
Coursework
While coursework in associate degree programs covering textile production focuses on hands-on training, mathematics courses are also taken by students to help them hone design proportion skills; students also take merchandising courses to help develop business skills. Coursework in a textile production degree program may include topic areas such as:
•Fashion illustration
•Clothing construction
•Apparel construction
•Pattern design
•Textile production
•Computer-aided design
•Apparel analysis and selection
Career Choices
While increased outsourcing and automation are expected to lead to a decline in job opportunities in apparel, textile and furnishing industries during the period from 2008 to 2018, various career options would still be available to skilled professionals (source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)). Work experience and additional training can lead to further job opportunities such as:
•Pattern maker
•Upholsterer
•Apparel and textile product developer
Continuing Education Choices
Those who graduate from a textile production associate degree program may be allowed to transfer earned credits to a bachelor’s degree program in a related are such as merchandising management, retail merchandising or fashion design. Students can use the degree program to prepare for entry-level careers in fashion design, merchandising or retail management. Students can also pursue bachelor’s degrees apparel studies or in apparel and textile technology. These would serve as preparation for technical and design careers in the field of fashion.
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