Pedagogy and Professional Development

Are Apparel Design and Merchandising Programs’ Curriculum Building Students’ Soft Skills? A Pilot Study Regarding the Presence of Communication and Leadership Skills

Authors: Amrut Sadachar (Auburn University) , Emily Dance (Auburn University) , Jane Teel (Auburn University) , Susan Hubbard (Auburn University)

Abstract

The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the soft skills education, specifically communication and leadership skills, in the higher education curriculum within undergraduate apparel design and merchandising programs. Student learning outcomes and/or course objectives in course syllabi from three southeastern universities in the United States were reviewed and analyzed to evaluate education opportunities or lack thereof for students to learn and develop soft skills within the courses in the curriculum. A majority of courses (59.5%) had at least one student learning outcome and/or course objective related to the soft skills of communication or leadership. The study revealed there is much improvement to be made regarding the presence of education of soft skills within apparel design and merchandising programs in undergraduate higher education.

Keywords: soft skills, apparel programs, leadership

How to Cite: Sadachar, A. , Dance, E. , Teel, J. & Hubbard, S. (2019) “Are Apparel Design and Merchandising Programs’ Curriculum Building Students’ Soft Skills? A Pilot Study Regarding the Presence of Communication and Leadership Skills”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings. 76(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.8804