Minor in Clothing, Textiles and Material Culture Non-degree Program Guide

BEGINNING ENROLLMENTS IN FALL TERM 2025

This minor covers how textiles and clothing are designed, produced, distributed, and used, and examines issues such as sustainability and fair labour practices in the global fashion and textile industry. You’ll develop an understanding of how textiles and clothing affect our comfort, sense of well-being and identity, and how they’ve been used throughout history.

This minor is available to any student in the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Arts Honors programs, which have additional regulations and requirements. This minor is offered in collaboration with the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences, Department of Human Ecology.

Academic Requirements for Clothing, Textiles and Material Culture Minor students

General Requirements and Information
  • A minor in Clothing, Textiles and Material Culture requires a minimum of 21 units and a maximum of 30 units including a minimum of 6 units at the 300- or 400-level
Required Courses
  • HECOL 100 - Introduction to Principles and Practice in Human Ecology
  • 15 units from your choices of:
    • HECOL 170 - Introduction to Textiles
    • HECOL 201 - Introduction to Material Culture
    • HECOL 241 - Fashion Industries
    • HECOL 250 - Design Studies and Practices
    • HECOL 268 - Survey of Historic Dress in the Western World
    • HECOL 270 - Applications of Textile Science
    • HECOL 301 - Program Planning and Evaluation
    • HECOL 333 - Cross-Cultural Textiles
    • HECOL 360 - Dress and Culture
    • HECOL 368 - Fashion History: Interpretations & Exhibitions
    • HECOL 370- Quality Assurance for Textiles and Apparel
    • HECOL 372 - Environmental Sustainability in Textiles
    • HECOL 441 - Textiles and Apparel in the Global Economy
    • HECOL 462 - Material Culture in Home and Community
    • HECOL 465 - Research Methods for Material Culture and Design Studies
    • HECOL 469 - Material Culture in Practice
    • HECOL 470 - Advanced Materials for Protective Clothing
    • HECOL 474 - Introduction to Nanotechnologies and Smart Textiles
    • HECOL 476 - Textile Analysis and Care
Indigenous Content Course Requirements
  • 3 units from your choice of:
    • NS 200 - Indigenous Canada: Looking Forward/Looking Back (or) 
    • NS 201 - Indigenous Canada: Looking Forward/Looking Back
    • NS 260 - Contemporary Indigenous Art

OR

  • Proof of demonstrated Indigenous content provided from one of the following:
    • Aboriginal Studies 30 (or equivalent) taken at the high school level
    • Cree 30 (or equivalent) taken at the high school level
    • 3 units of coursework with Indigenous content completed elsewhere in the degree program
    • Proof of completion of the Indigenous Canada MOOC
NOTE: Contact the Faculty of Arts Undergraduate Student Services Office for more information on approved courses that will meet this requirement

The University of Alberta Calendar will always contain the most up-to-date degree requirements for your program, and your requirements are determined by the calendar year you were admitted in.

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