Advising
Faculty and professional advisors are committed to helping all students succeed. Students in the Apparel Merchandising and Product Development program receive advising from AMPD faculty and from the College of Education and Human Development's Undergraduate Student Services office, which provides a variety of services to assist students in meeting their personal and professional goals.

Alumni
There are diverse career opportunities for AMPD graduates. Alumni from the program are currently employed as:

• Product Developers for companies such as    the Limited, Express, Too, Graco, FDI, and    Wal-Mart.
• Store Managers for a variety of retailers    including Kohl’s, Wet Seal, Gap, American
   Eagle Outfitters, Eddie Bauer, Bloomingdale’s,    Abercrombie & Fitch, Ann Taylor, Talbots,    Nordstrom, and Victoria’s Secret.
• Buyers for retailers including the Limited,    Express, Kaufmann’s, Elder-Beerman,
   Jo-Ann Stores, Lazarus, and Dillard’s.
• Planners/Analysts for companies such as       Jo-Ann Stores, Limited, and Express.
• Merchandise Coordinators or Brand   Representatives for corporations such as Levi,    Columbia, Izod, and Liz Claiborne.

Contact Information

Coordinator:
Diane Frey
414 Johnston Hall
419-372-7842
dfrey@bgnet.bgsu.edu

Secretary:
Kathy Beattie
202 Johnston Hall
419-372-3823
kbeatti@bgnet.bgsu.edu

Degree
The Apparel Merchandising and Product Development major is a four-year program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Apparel Merchandising and Product Development degree. Students must select and complete one of two options: the marketing minor, or one year of study at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.

Entrance to the Program
Admission to the program is contingent upon admission to Bowling Green State University. (Click here to access the BGSU Office of Admissions Online Application.)

Financial Aid
Approximately 60 percent of BGSU students receive financial aid. (Click here to link to the Student Financial Aid office.)

Grant and Research Activity

• Dr. Diane Frey, associate professor, is   conducting research on how product   development divisions are using apparel   technology skills to create store-branded   products.
• Dr. Jean Hines, associate professor, is   conducting research in curriculum assessment   and in consumers' evaluation of apparel quality.
• Dr. Hyun-Hwa Lee, assistant professor, is   conducting research on consumer behavior and   multi-channel retailing.
• Dr. Karen Marchione , assistant professor, is   conducting research in ethics and consumer   behavior.

Services and Resources
The AMPD program is housed primarily in the Family and Consumer Sciences building. The building has five AMPD labs and classrooms. In addition, the program uses the College of Education and Human Development computer lab for its computer classes.

Students
There are approximately 270 students enrolled in the AMPD program. About 65 students enter the program each year.

Unique Characteristics of the Program
Students in the Apparel Merchandising and Product Development major have the opportunity to choose between two options. One option is to complete the marketing minor on campus, the other is to spend one year studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.) in New York City. Students who apply and are accepted at F.I.T. select one of two programs of study, Advertising and Marketing Communications, or Textile Development and Marketing.

AMPD students participate in a co-op program to gain experience working with buyers, store managers, or product developers. Students have completed co-op experiences in a number of cities including Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo, Cincinnati, Chicago, New York City, and London.

Study abroad opportunities are available in cities such as London, Florence, and Paris. These international exposures allow students to see and experience the global nature of the apparel industry.