Course Listing
FITS 100 Digital Warriors
Effective digital communication is integral to every facet of life. In this course, students will learn about current and emerging technology utilized to communicate within the fashion industry and applicable to many other career paths. Digital literacy and digital design skills will be at the forefront of the course through multi-disciplinary, hands-on experience using industry software. Students will develop and refine their abilities to become successful communicators in the digital world.
FITS 110 Apparel Components
Apparel Components is an introductory fashion drawing and flat pattern course that explores the connection between the design and the production of a sewn product. A sketch can be turned into a garment by the use of a pattern which interprets the design in the form of the garment components. Similar to puzzle pieces which are fitted together to create an image, the garment components are the puzzle pieces, when put together will create a sewn product which can be reproduced many times over. In this class students will learn the basics of fashion and technical drawing to communicate accurate garment proportions and be introduced to the manipulation of a basic fashion pattern block to create several different sewn product pieces.
RCSC 114 Introduction to Retailing
Gain insight into the dynamic world of retailing and many facets of the business of retailing from a consumer-centric perspective. Explore how a retail business works, the issues and challenges involved in retailing, and the future of retailing. Topics include retail management and business practices, consumer behavior, and career options in this exciting industry.
FSHD 117 Lifespan Human Development
Behavioral science approach to human development through the life span.
HDFS 117 Lifespan Human Development
This introductory course is designed to give students an understanding of human development across the lifespan. Topics covered include theories of development, research methods for studying human development, physical growth and development, cognitive development, personality development, as well as social and moral development across the lifespan. The emphasis of the course is on addressing a topical approach to normative lifespan development and learning how research and theories help elucidate these topics.
FITS 145 Basic Sewn Product Production
The purpose of this course is to introduce basic hand and machine sewn product techniques and how they are used to produce a sewn product. Students will develop a working knowledge of the sewing machine, terms, supplies and skills used in the assembly of the sewn product. Evaluating sewing quality, and developing written instructions for a specific sewn project will also be addressed. The course will cover sewing machine basics such as changing the needle, winding the bobbin, adjusting tension, sewing a straight line and various seam finishes used in the production of a sewn product. No sewing experience is necessary.
RCSC 150B1 Consumers, Environment and Sustainability
Explore consumption and sustainability from personal, household, community, and global perspectives and examine the role of shoppers, retailers, manufacturers and producers, regulators, and environmental organizations in promoting environmentally sustainable consumption. Use individual assessments and personal reflections to understand how your own consumption choices impact the Earth, natural resources, other cultures, and global climate change. The course includes diverse perspectives, discussions, interactive and group activities, and a service learning team project with a community organization.
FSHD 150B1 Men, Fatherhood & Families: Biocultural Perspectives
This course provides a synthesis of our understanding of men in their role as fathers in families from biological and cultural perspectives. The biological perspective explores the evolutionary history and adaptive dimensions of human fatherhood, including comparisons with forms of parenting and family life in other primate species, male life history strategies, and the contributions of genetic, developmental, physiological and ecological factors to fatherhood. The cultural perspective examines the ways in which fatherhood, marriage, and families vary across cultures, in relation to differences in social traditions and practices, socio-political systems, and modes of subsistence. The synthesis of these two perspectives consists of understanding socio-cultural variability in human paternal behavior in the context of human evolutionary adaptations to past and ongoing social and ecological pressures. Through in-class group activities and homework assignments students will apply current theories and data concerning fatherhood to their own lives, and will pursue their implications for society at large.
HDFS 150B1 Men, Fatherhood & Families: Biocultural Perspectives
This course examines factors that contribute to variability in men's fatherhood roles, and the effects of fatherhood and fathering roles on men, their children, and their families. This is a topic with which we all have some experience and personal knowledge. This course will provide students with the tools and knowledge to expand their understanding of fathers in their own lives and across society utilizing several disciplinary lenses. The course is grounded in three theoretical perspectives to help us understand fatherhood as an adaptive human behavior across time and place. Applying a synthesis of these theoretical perspectives helps us to understand variability in paternal behavior in the context of human development and human adaptations to social and ecological conditions
PFFP 150B2 Personal Finance Foundations
This course describes the prominent characteristics of consumption behavior, societal change that has influenced consumer-driven societies and pressures for change in the future. The course will examine the important economic variables that, on the one hand, have led to a rapidly growing worldwide consumer demand for goods and services and, on the other hand, have resulted in increased debt, overspending and an inability to achieve long term personal financial goals. An objective analysis of both personal and global consumption habits will provide the transition into sustainable strategies to increase personal financial solvency. The course will not provide you with the answers to achieving your personal financial goals, but rather will examine our consumer society and expose you to the major reasons why people spend and save. The aim of the course is to provide you with sufficient information to make judgments for yourself about your consumption patterns and long-term financial health.
RCSC 195 Introduction to the Retailing & Consumer Science Program
Successfully transition into the Retailing and Consumer Science (RCSC) major. Explore ethical and professional behavior within the RCSC program, content and sequencing of courses, and careers in retailing and fashion through discussions, in-class activities, and writing assignments.
FITS 195 Introduction to the Fashion Industry's Science & Technology Program
Successfully transition into the Fashion Industry's Science and Technology (FITS) major. Explore ethical and professional behavior within the FITS programs, content and sequencing of courses, and careers in the fashion industry through discussions, in-class activities, and writing assignments.
PFFP 196A The MONEY Class: Financial Well-Being in College and Beyond
This course is designed to introduce students to challenges and opportunities associated with managing money. The course will cover key personal finance topics and money management strategies relevant for college students in the early stages of their financial journey. This course will approach money topics from a personal point-of-view and students can expect to gain objective financial knowledge as well as insight into their own individual approaches to money. By the end of the semester, students will have a clear understanding of how they can set and achieve financial goals.
RCSC 197A RCSC Academic Culture
Successfully transition into the Retailing and Consumer Sciences (RCSC) major. Explore ethical and professional behavior within the RCSC program, content and sequencing of courses, and careers in retailing through discussions, in-class activities, and writing assignments.
FSHD 197A Introduction to Family Studies and Human Development
The focus of this 1-unit workshop is to help students successfully transition into the Family Studies & Human Development (FSHD) pre-major. Topics include: student success and time management, exploration of campus resources, professionalism, FSHD academic advising and graduation planning, academic writing, and personal exploration of careers and internships related to FSHD. This class combines activities, discussions, and guest speakers to help students explore interests, develop goals, and create meaningful experiences.
HDFS 197A Introduction to Family Studies and Human Development
The focus of this 1-unit workshop is to help students successfully transition into the Family Studies & Human Development (FSHD) pre-major. Topics include: student success and time management, exploration of campus resources, professionalism, FSHD academic advising and graduation planning, academic writing, and personal exploration of careers and internships related to FSHD. This class combines activities, discussions, and guest speakers to help students explore interests, develop goals, and create meaningful experiences.
FITS 200 Design Warrior
This course is intended to prepare students to use Adobe Creative Cloud applications in Fashion Studies. Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign will be used to create and manipulate digital images of apparel designs.
Students will practice using photo correction tools; layers, masks, and channels; selection tools; vector drawing and paint tools; and advanced layer techniques to create designs and mockups, learning to select the appropriate Adobe CC tools for each step, moving seamlessly between applications. Students will learn to create and publish completed designs in print or web formats with attention to layout designs in each medium.
FITS 204 Fashion Consumers and the Shopping Economy
A study of consumer behavior and fashion adoption processes in contemporary society, the nature of fashion theories, the life-cycle, social and cultural processes and evolution of fashion, and the role of fashion in the global economy in general and in the fashion business industry in particular. In addition, because of the size and reach of fashion we will recognize the cause and effects of this industry on the world's environment and inhabitants.
RCSC 205 Merchandise Planning and Control
This course is essential for anyone seeking a career in the retailing industry in fields such as merchandising, buying, planning, retail marketing, operations, sales, and brand management. Topics include retail planning and control procedures, computing prices and markups, inventory control, sales reporting, productivity metrics, and retail calendar impact. It includes discussions on current industry developments and students learn about practical business decisions that increase profitability.
RCSC 205A Merchandise Planning and Control/Buying Lab
This introduction to Microsoft Excel for merchandising and retail buying decision making includes the use of basic mathematical operations, formulas and functions, formatting, and creating charts and graphs. This lab is designed to support the learning objectives and related activities in RCSC 205: Merchandise Planning and Control.
FITS 215 Mechanics of Fashion
A comprehensive overview of how the fashion business works. The course will feature topics covering the past and present in fashion personalities, fads, pop culture, product development and retail. The class will go through examples of people, principles, management practices, and retailer. In addition, we will examine fashions ethical awareness of the twenty first century.
PFFP 216A MSExcel and Financial Services Analysis
This course is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of financial services analysis in the context of developing and managing a client's financial and strategic direction. The core focus of the course will cover such business analytic tools as basic financial performance analysis, pro forma financial projections, business model simulation, and sensitivity analysis. Particular attention will be given to the financial performance metrics and standards used within the financial services industry.
RCSC 220 Markets, Finance and Retailing
Survey of financial concepts and principles in the context of the consumer marketplace and retailing business. Students will use economic theory and financial analysis to relate consumer actions, business decisions, and financial performance. Topics include demand and supply, price elasticity, consumer choice, and profit maximization, along with accounting principles, financial statement analysis, and business opportunity evaluation.
HDFS 237 Love, Intimacy, and Relationships
Behavioral science approach to close relationship development.
RCSC 240 Consumer Behavior
Explore consumer behavior and the decision-making processes involved when individuals or groups, select, purchase, use or dispose of products and services to satisfy needs and desires. Discuss consumer behavior theories and practical applications of the concepts to real-world consumption activities.
FSHD 257 Contemporary Families
Family relationships can be rewarding, challenging, complicated, and more. This course overviews research from the family science field covering topics related to contemporary family life including gender roles, work/family balance, marriage, parenthood, divorce, blended families, family violence, and related topics.
HDFS 257 Contemporary Families
Family relationships can be rewarding, challenging, complicated, and more. This course overviews research from the family science field covering topics related to contemporary family life including gender roles, work/family balance, marriage, parenthood, divorce, blended families, family violence, and related topics.
RCSC 294 Practicum
The practical application, on an individual basis, of previously studied theory and the collection of data for future theoretical interpretation.
RCSC 295A Career Exploration
Personal and professional development for RCSC students. This course prepares students to apply for internships and to enter the workforce by providing tools and resources for internship and career success. Topics include personal branding, professional dress, resumes, cover letters, and success factors in interviews and internships.
FITS 296 Introduction to Special Topics in the Fashion Industry's Science & Technology
This course provides an introductory exploration of varying special topics within the fashion industry's science and technology field. The topics of the course vary depending on instructor and semester. Each course will overview core concepts, foundational knowledge, and practical applications about the topics presented. The course will focus on contemporary issues in the field and those issues' contextual positioning within industry, community, and societal contexts.
FITS 300 The Business of Beauty
An introductory course which will provide students with a dynamic overview of the global beauty industry. Students will gain an understanding of the different sectors of the business and will experience through assignments, and case studies, the many unique aspects of beauty as a business. The course will explore the history of the beauty industry, the distinctive aspects of beauty marketing, and the role of cultural differences, which mold the business of beauty throughout the world. Prominence will be given to the influencer phenomenon and its impact on global beauty trends.
RCSC 305 Advanced Retail Planning
Real-world industry practices in retail buying, planning, allocation, and control. Forecast customer needs and determine how to maximize profit by utilizing the industry data, analytics, and intuition. This course also covers pricing, inventory planning, negotiation, merchandise promotions, and vendor management.
RCSC 310 Retail Management and Operations
Contemporary concepts, principles, and practices of retail operations management. Real-world cases and perspectives for store, digital, and omnichannel retailing. Topics include operations strategy, process design, capacity planning, inventory control, loss prevention, and project management. The topics are integrated using the retail profit model and a systems model of the operations of a retail organization.
PFFP 310 Fundamentals of Personal and Family Financial Planning
This course is designed to introduce students to a broad overview of personal and family financial planning, with specific emphasis the financial planning process, financial strategies, savings and cash flow management, insurance, investments, taxes, use of credit, and time value of money.
PFFP 311 Applied Family Investment Planning and Savings Strategies
This course is designed to familiarize students with the understanding and evaluation of investment options, plus the risks and rates of return of each type of investment. Study will also incorporate, among other topics, cash flow management, time value of money, measurement of investment returns, investment strategies, asset allocation and portfolio diversification, and alternative investments.
PFFP 314 Risk Management and Insurance Planning
This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to the techniques and issues of risk management and insurance. While businesses will be included in the discussion, the emphasis of the course will be on personal risk management and insurance. Topics to be examined include life, disability, and health risks, social insurance, real and personal property liability risk, insurance companies and product markets, insurance pricing, insurance taxation, government regulation of insurance, legal principles in risk and insurance, types of insurance contracts and the contents thereof, and professional ethics and market conduct.
RCSC 315 Retail Communications Strategy
Apply integrated marketing communications (IMC) in the retail environment. Explore the IMC planning process to effectively use advertising, public relations, direct marketing, sales promotion, personal selling, visual merchandising, and digital/social media. Research, create, organize, and present marketing communication campaigns.
PFFP 315 Applied Personal and Family Income Tax Planning
This course is designed to introduce students to federal income taxation and the role of the tax code in financial planning for individuals, businesses, and business owners. Topics addressed include fundamentals of income tax planning, the measurement of taxable income, the taxation of business income, individual income taxation, and the tax compliance process.
RCSC 316 Retail Business Analysis
Develop competencies essential in retail business analysis. Explore the fundamentals of business analysis and apply analysis techniques in retail situations, including basic financial performance analysis, pro-forma financial projections, business model simulation, sensitivity analysis, and return on investment (ROI) analysis. Particular attention will be given to practical techniques used by business analysts in the retailing industry.
RCSC 316A Retail Business Analysis Lab
Intermediate retail business analysis using Microsoft Excel and other computer applications. Identify, define, assess, and apply business analysis techniques and practice competencies important to retail business analysis, including forecasting, sensitivity analysis, data management, and data visualization. This lab is designed to support the learning objectives and related activities in RCSC 316 Retail Business Analysis.
RCSC 320 Retail Brand Strategy
Brand management within the retailing industry incorporates retailer brand management, owned and private label brands, vertically-integrated brands, and marketing of branded merchandise and services. Explore brand positioning, brand identity, the planning and implementing of brand marketing programs, growing and sustaining brand equity, and the brand issues and challenges commonly faced by retail brand managers and merchants.
PFFP 320 Client Communication and Counseling for Financial Planners
This course is designed to familiarize students with the relevant communication and counseling skills for enhancing client-financial planner relationships and building successful financial planning practice. The course focuses on developing and strengthening the soft skills (rather than the technical skills) aspect of financial planning.
HDFS 323 Infancy/Child Development
Growth, development, and socialization of the child within the family setting, from conception to the middle school years; observations of infants and preschoolers.
RCSC 324 Customer Experience Management
Understanding customers and delivering optimized, personalized experiences can increase customer satisfaction, engagement, and loyalty. This course will cover customer experience (CX) design, testing and evaluation, and management for real-world, digital, and omnichannel shopping environments. Students will use CX consumer research tools including ethnography, video analysis, emotion detection, and digital usability testing (UX) incorporating professional UX applications, eye movement tracking and biometrics. Students will also explore CX management processes including service quality evaluation and management, service blueprinting, customer journey mapping, customer lifecycle model analysis, and customer lifetime value. In this hands-on course, students will learn how to use prototype, develop, and test websites, mobile apps, and store experience concepts for testing and build a CX/UX portfolio.
RCSC 325 Retail Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Creating a new, innovative retailing venture can be both challenging and rewarding. Explore theories and practices of innovation and entrepreneurship in the retailing industry. Learn about what it takes to be an entrepreneur, how to identify new opportunities, the role of innovation, and how to launch and manage the growth of a new retail venture. Students will create and develop an innovative, new retailing concept.
RCSC 326 Product Development
The development and successful launch of new products (goods or services) is essential in contemporary retailing. An overview of innovation process management, concept evaluation, principles and practices for the development, design, marketing and introduction of new products and services. Students research, create, organize, and present a new product development concept and its new product launch strategy.
RCSC 330 Food Retailing
Examine food retailing principles, food consumption behavior, and strategic management of food retailing establishments. Learn about merchandising planning and control, food product development, pricing and promotion, operations, supply chain, and human resources in food retailing. Explore current global issues affecting the food industry including production agriculture, sustainability and environmental impact, and waste reduction.
FITS 330 Fashion Trend in Time
The class will consist of a systematic exploration of the various realms: Egyptians to present where the relationship between fashion and history can be observed. These realms include gender, race, class, law, capital, religion, and the like. A thematic exploration of the topic of the class should serve as a double introduction to fashion history, Arizona history (expands from indigenous cultures that have contributed to Arizona fashion) and fashion theory (especially from the post-structuralist era onwards). The class will be about fashion as theory, rather than theory applied to fashion.
FITS 333 Fashion Promotion
The fashion industry is, ever-changing and a greater understanding of all aspects of fashion promotion is necessary for student success. Communicating effectively across a range of platforms with respect to the consumer and maintaining consistency to navigate the global landscape in fashion communication along with managing emerging trends in social marketing and event planning is necessary for all fashion promotion.
Use of current news, events, and personalities as a basis for writing and evaluating institutional and product publicity releases for news and feature stories. Students plan publicity campaigns and create a press kit. Students plan and develop sales promotion activities in order to achieve specific marketing and communications objectives. Both business-to-business and business-to-consumer sales promotion campaigns are developed
This online course provides an analysis of the principles and practices of e-commerce in fashion retailing and their relationship to customer service integrated as fashion promotion. Topics included a survey of brick & mortar fashion customer, its technology underpinnings; understanding and communicating with the e-customer. Case studies and projects will be used to apply the concepts.
FITS 335 Fashion Forecasting and Research Trends
Develop the science of predicting future fashion trends. Learn the relationship between forecasting, trend prediction, external, social changes, and historical style movements. Analyze past styled movements and establish an understanding of historical context, consumer trends, buying patterns, fads, and cults. Research color palettes, surface and fabric trends and concepts, form and silhouette changes, and product shifts. Learn to synthesis trends for new product by gaining insight into consumers' attitudes and lifestyles phases. Group and individual projects are used to access the students learning. This course is not intended for RCSC majors. No RCSC credit will be given for this course.
FITS 345 Science of Textiles
This course integrates the chemical composition, molecular arrangement, and physical structure of natural and manufactured fibers. Yarn and fabric manufacturing processes as well as finishing techniques are included. Attention is given to how these characteristics and techniques affect function, performance, and quality of textile products.
RCSC 346 Fundamentals of Marketing
Marketing principles and practices for the retailing and services sectors. Learn how to manage the marketing mix (product, price, promotion, distribution) to create competitive advantage and deliver value to consumers, firms, and society at large in a semester-long marketing planning project. Discuss some of the opportunities and major challenges marketing managers face.
RCSC 350 Supply Chain Management
Supply chain management is the design and management of seamless, value-added processes across organizational boundaries to meet the real needs of the end customer. With increasing competition around the globe, supply chain management is both a challenge and an opportunity for retailers. Investigate supply chain challenges, including how to cope with demand and supply uncertainty, how to build and optimize the supply chain organization, global perspectives, and optimization of logistics, inventory, and international trade-related costs.
RCSC 360 Digital Retailing
Survey of digital retailing methods and practices for marketing products and services in direct-to-consumer business models. The course will cover website and mobile design, digital authoring and publishing tools, e-commerce business models, electronic merchandising theory, terminology, resources, and practices. Students will learn about digital commerce via applied learning activities and development of a fully functional digital store.
RCSC 361 Social Media, Influencers and Consumers
Social media and digital influencers have a direct effect on consumer decisions, attitudes, and satisfaction. Learn about the role of social media and digital influencers in consumer decision making, brand awareness and associations, and the theory and practices of digital word-of-mouth (WOM). In this hands-on workshop course, students will engage in applied learning activities and digital experiments including developing a socially-native brand, creating a content marketing campaign, building an influencer persona, and designing a social commerce site. Students will use professional authoring tools to create videos and other multimedia content.
PFFP 370 Legal and Ethical Issues in Retail Services
This course is designed to introduce students to an overview of the ethical, legal, and social environment of the retail services marketplace. Topics, among others, to be covered include social responsibility, sustainability, ethics, and the basic concepts of law, structure, and characteristics of the retail services marketplace.
FITS 375 The Business of Fashion
This course provides an overview of the business aspects of the fashion industry. Students will explore fashion brand creation, design development, sourcing, production, global supply chain management and distribution. Students will also examine the legal aspects of fashion businesses including the law and copyright protections of patents, trademarks, trade dress, service marks, copyrights and licensing.
FSHD 377 Adolescence
This course is designed to provide you with an in-depth understanding of adolescent development, including the relationships between theory, research, and practice. We will examine various aspects of adolescent development, focusing on the major developmental milestones (such as identity, intimacy, and sexuality), transitions, strengths, and challenges of adolescents, as well as the contexts in which these occur. Additionally, this course will introduce you to the practice of working with adolescents and their caregivers, and provide opportunities for you to apply research and theory to specific issues of adolescent development (such as best practices for structuring out of school programs).
HDFS 377 Adolescence
This course is designed to provide you with an in-depth understanding of adolescent development, including the relationships between theory, research, and practice. We will examine various aspects of adolescent development, focusing on the major developmental milestones (such as identity, intimacy, and sexuality), transitions, strengths, and challenges of adolescents, as well as the contexts in which these occur. Additionally, this course will introduce you to the practice of working with adolescents and their caregivers, and provide opportunities for you to apply research and theory to specific issues of adolescent development (such as best practices for structuring out of school programs).
RCSC 380 Sustainable Consumption
Examine consumer behavior in the context of global environmental and social challenges. Sustainability requires a critical shift in consumers' mindset to effectively respond to these challenges. We will discuss adaptation and mitigation strategies for consumers with special emphasis on overconsumption as the main driver of climate change, the reduction of individual and collective ecological footprints, the boundaries in effectively adapting materialist lifestyles, and the intersection of economic, ecological and social inequity. The course provides an introduction into environmental and social sustainability, including the science, theoretical concepts, and practical approaches used to analyze and reduce negative impacts of consumer behavior.
RCSC 384 Leadership, Management and Ethics
Explore leadership and management concepts and practices that lead to more effective, ethical and socially-responsible organizations. Build your professional leadership capabilities in organizational planning, business decision making, negotiation and influence, teamwork, employee motivation and training, organizational goal setting, and business communications. Develop skills for managing the challenges and opportunities of diversity and cultural differences within organizations and the global marketplace. Evaluate and reflect on your career path and career development.
FSHD 384 Leadership, Ethics, and Professional Practices
Theories and applications of leadership and communication applied to professional decision-making, planning and control in the workplace. Examination of personal and professional qualities essential for successful internship and career planning. Roles, responsibilities, and ethical standards for professionals will be examined.
HDFS 384 Leadership, Ethics, and Professional Practices
Theories and applications of leadership and communication applied to professional decision-making, planning and control in the workplace. Examination of personal and professional qualities essential for successful internship and career planning. Roles, responsibilities, and ethical standards for professionals will be examined.
RCSC 393 Internship
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of training and practice in actual service in a technical, business, or governmental establishment.
FITS 397 Fashion Collaborations - Fashion for a Purpose
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to working with a non-profit & for-profit organization creating a fashion event. Many non-profits & for profits today partner with fashion houses, company, brands or designers for many reasons. Some of the reasons include to increase awareness, giving back to the community, marketing a fashion product and sharing mutual interests in current challenges within different cultures. This course will have a physical event which is in-person held within the University of Arizona Campus. Students will work in committees that will address specific areas of the event. Committees will be formed, but not limited to research, accounting, promotion, staging, logistic planning and public relations. The final project for the class will an in-person event on the UA campus. The focus of the event will be determined by the type of organization the class will be working with at the time.
RCSC 399 Independent Study
Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
FITS 400 Digital Revolution and Cultural Trends: The Influencer Phenomenon
The rise of the digital influencer has propelled billions of marketing and advertising dollars into the social media economy. The construction and cultivation of influencers has resulted in self-branding, micro-celebrities who are Instafamous. The fashion industry has greatly benefited from this rapidly growing, dynamic, new digital space. This course will examine the influencer industry through close readings, videos, and in-depth analysis. Students will learn about how influencers create online personas, perform digital labor, and participate in the attention economy to commodify their labor. The course will further unpack the pros and cons of influencer culture, and question whether the future of human influencers will be replaced by CGI influencers (Computer Generated Imagery).
FSHD 401 Basic Skills in Counseling
Selected counseling skills and their applications. Designed for students needing basic skills in counseling as an adjunct to other primary occupational functions. Approved as: Interdisciplinary course in FSHD major--Advanced Complementary perspectives.
HDFS 401 Basic Skills in Counseling
Selected counseling skills and their applications. Designed for students needing basic skills in counseling as an adjunct to other primary occupational functions. Approved as: Interdisciplinary course in HDFS major--Advanced Complementary perspectives.
PFFP 402 Personal and Family Estate Planning
This course is designed to familiarize students with the principles and fundamentals of the estate planning process for individuals and families, as well as the various strategies and techniques available for generating a constructive estate plan. Course topics will include: gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes coupled with planning techniques to minimize taxes on wealth transfers; strategies to transfer property, real and personal; non-tax characteristics of estate planning, including, probate, estate administration, and property ownership; and estate planning documentation.
PFFP 403 Retirement Savings and Income Planning
This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge of both public and private retirement plans, with an appreciation of the usefulness of employee benefits and the ability to counsel others on important retirement and employee benefit decisions. Discussion will include corporate pension and profit sharing plans, self-employed Keogh plans, IRAs, annuities, health insurance, and social security, as well as additional issues individuals face in retirement, including insurance, medical, and life-style and community choices.
RCSC 405 Merchandising Systems
Offering the right mix of products at the right time and place is one of the best ways for retailers to drive sales and build customer loyalty. Learn about advanced merchandise management systems and processes within the context of omnichannel retail enterprises. Students will apply and utilize a retail software system which provides businesses with a quicker and more efficient process for creating and executing retail enterprise plans. By translating customer knowledge, software allows students to practice to develop better corporate merchandising, thereby increasing profitability.
FSHD 405 Theories of Counseling
Techniques for the study of human behavior; implications for improving adult-child relationships, applying various theories of counseling.
HDFS 405 Theories of Counseling
Techniques for the study of human behavior; implications for improving adult-child relationships, applying various theories of counseling.
PFFP 406 Professional Conduct and Fiduciary Responsibility
This course is designed to introduce students to an overview of the ethical, legal, and fiduciary environment in financial planning and wealth management. It is based on the assumption that financial planning, like business and law, is a profession whose practitioners carry out an important role not only in the financial planning industry, but also in society in general. As individuals enter the profession, they take on a distinctive set of responsibilities that go with the role. The purpose of the course is to provide students a pragmatic understanding of professional conduct, ethics, and fiduciary responsibility, and to provide students an array of functional tools to meet the expected standards of the industry.
FSHD 408 Program Planning and Evaluation
The overall objective of this course is to guide and assist students as they conduct a thorough case study of an existing or proposed social service, educational or community program/agency. The course is designed to provide students with applied knowledge of program planning components as well as program evaluation techniques.
HDFS 408 Program Planning and Evaluation
The overall objective of this course is to guide and assist students as they conduct a thorough case study of an existing or proposed social service, educational or community program/agency. The course is designed to provide students with applied knowledge of program planning components as well as program evaluation techniques.
FSHD 413 Issues in Aging
This course addresses major issues facing older adults and their families, society, and how earlier life experiences influence our older adult years. This class will tackle questions such as: What opportunities and challenges do adults face as they age? What resources and barriers shape their lives? How do physiological, psychological, interpersonal/family, economic, and socio-historical factors affect the experience of aging? How do gender, social class, and ethnicity influence the experience of aging? How do government policies, community services, the healthcare system, and health interventions affect the lives and well-being of older adults?
HDFS 413 Issues in Aging
This course addresses major issues facing older adults and their families, society, and how earlier life experiences influence our older adult years. This class will tackle questions such as: What opportunities and challenges do adults face as they age? What resources and barriers shape their lives? How do physiological, psychological, interpersonal/family, economic, and socio-historical factors affect the experience of aging? How do gender, social class, and ethnicity influence the experience of aging? How do government policies, community services, the healthcare system, and health interventions affect the lives and well-being of older adults?
RCSC 415 Retail Store Design, Planning and Display
Explore visual merchandising as retail communication strategy. Learn about concepts, tools, and techniques for retail store design and merchandise display. By participating in creative activities and practical projects, you will practice the visual merchandising process to determine effective visual strategies that improve shopping convenience and customer experiences in sophisticated retail environments.
FITS 425 Apparel Production
This course presents an overview of the apparel production cycle, product design, creation, and distribution. Various assembly equipment used in the production process along with the importance of the technical package's relationship to the process will be stressed. Students will analyze garment design and construction features in order to understand their relationship to apparel cost and quality. Garment specification, time and motion studies, sourcing and sustainability are also covered. An introduction to the HIGG Index and how it is applied to apparel production will be discussed.
FSHD 427A Mental Health & the Family: Adulthood
This course overviews a variety of mental illnesses and relationship problems in adulthood, with specific focus on how those issues impact individuals and their family systems. Prevention and treatment approaches for these issues are discussed, including research-supported therapeutic approaches and family-based strategies.
HDFS 427A Mental Health & the Family: Adulthood
This course overviews a variety of mental illnesses and relationship problems in adulthood, with specific focus on how those issues impact individuals and their family systems. Prevention and treatment approaches for these issues are discussed, including research-supported therapeutic approaches and family-based strategies.
HDFS 427C Mental Health & the Family: Childhood & Adolescence
This course overviews intellectual disability, learning disabilities, and a variety of mental illnesses in childhood and adolescence, with specific focus on how those issues impact individuals and their family systems. Prevention and treatment approaches for these issues are discussed, including play-based and other therapeutic interventions, family-based methods, and school and community strategies.
FITS 435 Society, Culture & Fashion
Universally, people make daily choices about what to or not to wear. This course presents a comparative examination of fashion across different cultural perspectives using Western and non-Western examples; we will take a three-pronged approach to distinguish dress across cultures, uncovering its relationship to human beings as biological, aesthetic, and social creatures. We will review readings collected from course text books, academic journals and other current articles from magazines and newspapers. In addition we will analyze the complexity of dress from a multidisciplinary perspective. Therefore we will explore topics that include anthropology, sociology, economics, fine arts, religion , natural sciences and technological changes.
RCSC 440 Customer Research and Insights
Design, interpret, and apply primary and secondary research techniques used to generate customer insights and guide retailers' decision-making. The course combines textbook learning with real-world examples and applications so that students can engage in consumer research in practice.
FSHD 447A Sociocultural Context of Development
In-depth examination of human development from a sociocultural perspective; focus on socialization processes in childhood and adolescence and the role of the social and cultural context in those processes.
HDFS 447A Sociocultural Context of Development
In-depth examination of human development from a sociocultural perspective; focus on socialization processes in childhood and adolescence and the role of the social and cultural context in those processes.
FITS 450 Fashion and Technology
An in-depth look at how technology impacts the fashion industry. Examines uses of technology in the fashion design process, the emergence of wearable tech, the use of smart textiles, wearer-friendly interactive clothing, body scanners, and the Quantified Self (QS). The course further explores the revolutionary relationship between contemporary fashion and technology and how it translates into highly aspirational products that focus on self-expression.
FSHD 450 Human Sexuality and Relations
Overview of human sexuality from development and interpersonal perspectives, topics to include reproductive physiology and health, sexual function and dysfunction, educational and intervention strategies.
HDFS 450 Human Sexuality and Relations
Overview of human sexuality from development and interpersonal perspectives, topics to include reproductive physiology and health, sexual function and dysfunction, educational and intervention strategies.
PFFP 476 Retail Financial Services
This course provides an introduction to the retail financial services industry. The primary focus will be on firms and markets that provide retail credit (e.g., consumer loans, auto loans, credit cards, mortgages) and other banking services, with some occasional examples from the insurance and investment/retirement products sectors. The early weeks will cover determinants of consumer demand and market supply, trends in new product development, new account acquisition strategies, target-market supply, trends in new product development, new account acquisition strategies, target-marketing tools and cross-selling. The second half of the course will focus on public policy issues related to improving consumer access to credit and banking services. The focus will be on regulatory constraints, reputation risk, and ethical challenges that profoundly affect marketing in the financial services industry.
RCSC 480 Sustainable Retailing
Examine and develop retailer strategies in response to global environmental and social challenges. Sustainability requires a critical shift in how retail businesses operate, in particular with respect to climate change mitigation and adaptation. The course provides an introduction into the business perspective on environmental and social sustainability, the concept of the circular economy, industry standards, integration of sustainability across the supply chain and customer management, and best practice cases.
FSHD 487 Theories of Interpersonal & Family Relationships
Critical analysis of selected studies and current research in family relations.
HDFS 487 Theories of Interpersonal & Family Relationships
Critical analysis of selected studies and current research in family relations.
RCSC 491 Preceptorship
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of instruction and practice in actual service in a department, program, or discipline. Teaching formats may include seminars, in-depth studies, laboratory work and patient study.
FITS 491 Preceptorship
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of instruction and practice in actual service in a department, program, or discipline. Teaching formats may include seminars, in-depth studies, laboratory work and patient study.
FSHD 491 Preceptorship
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of instruction and practice in actual service in a department, program, or discipline. Teaching formats may include seminars, in-depth studies, laboratory work and patient study.
HDFS 491 Preceptorship
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of instruction and practice in actual service in a department, program, or discipline. Teaching formats may include seminars, in-depth studies, laboratory work and patient study.
RCSC 492 Directed Research
Design and conduct research projects as part of a research team. Gain applied experience in essential components of research work, including for example the theoretical basis of research work, identifying suitable research methods, conducting literature and data base reviews, devising sampling techniques, applying survey or experimental research techniques, transcribing and coding qualitative data, coding quantitative data, data management and basic analysis, developing and presenting research reports, among other activities.
FSHD 492 Directed Research
Individual or small group research under the guidance of faculty.
HDFS 492 Directed Research
Individual or small group research under the guidance of faculty.
PFFP 493 Internship
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of training and practice in actual service in a technical, business, or government establishment.
FITS 493 Internship
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of training and practice in actual service in a technical, business, or governmental establishment.
FSHD 493 Internship
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of training and practice in actual service in a technical, business, or governmental establishment.
HDFS 493 Internship
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of training and practice in actual service in a technical, business, or governmental establishment.
RCSC 493B Retailing and Consumer Science Internship
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of training and practice in actual service in a technical, business, or governmental establishment.
FSHD 494 Practicum
The practical application, on an individual basis, of previously studied theory and the collection of data for future theoretical interpretation.
PFFP 495A Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam Prep
Introduction to the FINRA-sponsored Security Industry Essentials (SIE) exam, a new introductory level exam for prospective financial services industry professionals. Its purpose is to assess a candidate's basic knowledge of products, rules, structure, and foundation of the securities industry and regulatory agencies, their functions, and prohibited practices.
PFFP 496 Special Topics in Personal and Family Financial Planning
This course provides an in-depth exploration of varying special topics within the family financial planning field. The topics of the course vary depending on instructor and semester. Each course will overview core concepts, foundational knowledge, and practical applications about the topics presented. The course will focus on contemporary issues in the field and those issues- contextual positioning within industry, family, community, and societal contexts.
FITS 496 Special Topics in the Fashion Industry's Science & Technology
This course provides an in-depth exploration of varying special topics within the fashion industry's science and technology field. The topics of the course vary depending on instructor and semester. Each course will overview core concepts, foundational knowledge, and practical applications about the topics presented. The course will focus on contemporary issues in the field and those issues' contextual positioning within industry, community, and societal contexts.
RCSC 496A Topics in Retailing and Consumer Science
The development and exchange of scholarly information, usually in a small group setting. The scope of work shall consist of research by course registrants, with the exchange of the results of such research through discussion, reports, and/or papers.
FSHD 496Z Topics in FSHD
In-depth coverage of special topics in Family Studies and Human Development (rotating topics).
HDFS 496Z Topics in HDFS
In-depth coverage of special topics in Human Development and Family Science (rotating topics).
FSHD 497A Preparing for Graduate School
This course focuses on the process of identifying and preparing students to apply to Master's and PhD programs in graduate and professional school. This includes identifying programs of interest, mapping out plans on applying to them, constructing needed documents for applying, and information on the adjustment to and paying for graduate school. It also includes the importance of the development of alternative plans than one's identified program.
HDFS 497A Preparing for Graduate School
This course focuses on the process of identifying and preparing students to apply to Master's and PhD programs in graduate and professional school. This includes identifying programs of interest, mapping out plans on applying to them, constructing needed documents for applying, and information on the adjustment to and paying for graduate school. It also includes the importance of the development of alternative plans than one's identified program.
RCSC 498 RCSC Senior Capstone
A culminating experience for majors involving a substantive project that demonstrates a synthesis of learning accumulated in the major, including broadly comprehensive knowledge of the discipline and its methodologies. Senior standing required.
PFFP 498 Capstone: Family and Personal Family Plan Development
This capstone course bridges academic coursework with actual practice management, introducing students to the skills and tools needed for developing a comprehensive financial plan for a client. The first part of the course provides a review of the financial planning CFP Board topics, including ethics and principles of communication and counseling. Classes also review/apply the process and techniques for preparing and presenting a financial plan in an environment of non-liability.
RCSC 498H Honors Thesis
An honors thesis is required of all the students graduating with honors. Students ordinarily sign up for this course as a two-semester sequence. The first semester the student performs research under the supervision of a faculty member; the second semester the student writes an honors thesis.
FSHD 498H Honors Thesis
An honors thesis is required of all the students graduating with honors. Students ordinarily sign up for this course as a two-semester sequence. The first semester the student performs research under the supervision of a faculty member; the second semester the student writes an honors thesis.
HDFS 498H Honors Thesis
An honors thesis is required of all the students graduating with honors. Students ordinarily sign up for this course as a two-semester sequence. The first semester the student performs research under the supervision of a faculty member; the second semester the student writes an honors thesis.
RCSC 499 Independent Study
Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
PFFP 499 Independent Study
Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
FITS 499 Independent Study
In this course, qualified students work on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
FSHD 499 Independent Study
Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
HDFS 499 Independent Study
Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
HDFS 507A Research Methods in Family Studies and Human Development
In this course, we will read about and discuss the central research methods used in family studies and human development (FSHD). We will cover a range of data collection techniques (e.g., observational, daily diary, interview) and will consider their purposes, advantages, and challenges. We will also consider some key methodological issues in the design of research and will expose you to a number of styles of research (e.g., secondary/archival data analysis, applied/action-oriented, experimental intervention programs). We will also address some of the pragmatic skills needed to successfully engage in research, such as proposal writing and peer reviewing.
HDFS 537B Intermediate Quantitative Analysis
Focus on intermediate univariate and multivariate statistics as applied to research in Family Studies and Human Development. This material builds upon the topics covered in HDFS 537A, and provides a foundation for the study of more advanced quantitative techniques.
HDFS 546 Foundations of Family and Interpersonal Theory
The purpose of this course is to build an understanding of the major theoretical frameworks used in the disciplines of family studies and interpersonal relations. Students will gain a critical understanding of the major theoretical frameworks used to study family and interpersonal relationships, learn the basic principles and concepts associated with these frameworks, and begin to learn how to apply these theories to a variety of situations as well as a career path that includes growth in knowledge and use of family theoretical frameworks.
FSHD 567 Theories of Human Development
The study of human development is a diverse interdisciplinary field that includes psychology, sociology, biology, and anthropology. Across these disciplines is the emerging dominant paradigm of developmental science. At its core, developmental science perspectives and theories of human development consider the complexity of individual, group, and species-level development as it unfolds across contexts and the lifespan. There are four overarching goals for this course: 1. The primary goal is to provide a general introduction to key theoretical concepts informing the study of human development and shaping the field of developmental science. 2. You will apply these concepts in order to understand some of the dominant modern theories of human development. 3. You will critically and meaningfully evaluate the theoretical and empirical work of others. 4. You will ground your own work, including research question selection, hypothesis development, and methodology in key theoretical perspectives or approaches to human development.
FSHD 600 Career Planning and the PhD Job Market
This course covers professional, ethical, and career development issues for advanced-stage Ph.D. students in Family Studies and Human Development and related social science fields. We will cover a wide range of topics including career planning, the development of your academic dossier, how to obtain a job in and outside of academia, effective teaching and mentoring, and work-life integration techniques. The structure of this course includes in-class exercises, discussion, and a few interactive guest panels. Through these activities, students will have the opportunity to develop, practice, and strengthen professional skills.
FSHD 602 Topics in Family, Interpersonal Relationships and Well-Being
This course covers various topics in family, interpersonal relationships and well-being. Exact topics will vary across semesters, students should contact instructor regarding exact course focus.
HDFS 602 Topics in Family, Interpersonal Relationships and Well-Being
This course covers various topics in family, interpersonal relationships and well-being. Exact topics will vary across semesters, students should contact instructor regarding exact course focus.
HDFS 604 Topics in Diverse Contexts for Development and Relationships
This course covers various topics in diverse contexts for development and relationships. Exact topics will vary across semesters, and students should contact instructor regarding exact course focus.
HDFS 606 Topics in Methodology and Data Analysis
This course covers various topics in methodology and data analysis. Exact topics will vary across semesters, and students should contact the instructor regarding exact course focus.
HDFS 607 Topics in Family Studies and Human Development
Advanced seminar class covering a variety of topics relevant to Family Studies & Human Development. Contact instructor for more information.
FSHD 617A Advanced Data Analysis: Structural Equation Modeling
This course covers basic and intermediate topics of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM). Within these topics, we will consider both traditional approaches and state of the art innovations. The focus will be applied, so that students will (a) acquire an understanding of how SEM (and related latent variable models) can be used in human development and family research (and related research areas); (b) gain an appreciation of the conceptual and, to a lesser extent, the mathematical, basis of SEM; (c) develop the ability to formulate and evaluate models; and (d) become proficient in using the lavaan package in R for the analysis of statistical models.
FSHD 696Z Family and Consumer Sciences
The development and exchange of scholarly information, usually in a small group setting. The scope of work shall consist of research by course registrants, with the exchange of the results of such research through discussion, reports, and/or papers.
HDFS 696Z Family and Consumer Sciences
The development and exchange of scholarly information, usually in a small group setting. The scope of work shall consist of research by course registrants, with the exchange of the results of such research through discussion, reports, and/or papers.
FSHD 699 Independent Study
Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work. Graduate students doing independent work which cannot be classified as actual research will register for credit under course number 599, 699, or 799.
HDFS 699 Independent Study
Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work. Graduate students doing independent work which cannot be classified as actual research will register for credit under course number 599, 699, or 799.
FSHD 799A Independent Study for Comprehensive Examination
Independent Study for major written Comprehensive Examination. To receive a passing grade in the class, the student will need to take their written comprehensive exam that semester (before the grade is due). This requirement will be written into the Independent Study Proposal Form that is used to describe the student's plans and goals for their independent work over the semester. If there are extenuating circumstances, a student can potentially take an Incomplete (I) for the course, given the approval of their major advisor.
HDFS 799A Independent Study for Comprehensive Examination
Independent Study for major written Comprehensive Examination. To receive a passing grade in the class, the student will need to take their written comprehensive exam that semester (before the grade is due). This requirement will be written into the Independent Study Proposal Form that is used to describe the student's plans and goals for their independent work over the semester. If there are extenuating circumstances, a student can potentially take an Incomplete (I) for the course, given the approval of their major advisor.
FSHD 900 Research
Individual research, not related to thesis or dissertation preparation, by graduate students.
HDFS 900 Research
Individual research, not related to thesis or dissertation preparation, by graduate students.
FSHD 909 Master's Report
Individual study or special project or formal report thereof submitted in lieu of thesis for certain master's degrees.
HDFS 909 Master's Report
Individual study or special project or formal report thereof submitted in lieu of thesis for certain master's degrees.
FSHD 910 Thesis
Research for the master's thesis (whether library research, laboratory or field observation or research, artistic creation, or thesis writing). Maximum total credit permitted varies with the major department.
HDFS 910 Thesis
Research for the master's thesis (whether library research, laboratory or field observation or research, artistic creation, or thesis writing). Maximum total credit permitted varies with the major department.
FSHD 920 Dissertation
Research for the doctoral dissertation (whether library research, laboratory or field observation or research, artistic creation, or dissertation writing).
HDFS 920 Dissertation
Research for the doctoral dissertation (whether library research, laboratory or field observation or research, artistic creation, or dissertation writing).