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Textile Engineering

Department of Textile Engineering
College of Engineering

Description | Skills | Experience | Sample Careers/Work Settings | Salary
Double Majors/Minors | Advanced Degrees | NCSU Orgs | Prof. Orgs | Links | Next Steps

Description of Major

The Textile Engineering Program is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Textile engineering courses deal with the application of scientific and engineering principles to the design and control of all aspects of fiber, textile, and apparel processes, products, and machinery. These include natural and man-made materials, interaction of materials with machines, safety and health, energy conservation, and waste and pollution control. Additionally, students are given experience in plant design and layout, machine and wet process design and improvement, and designing and creating textile products. Throughout the Textile Engineering curriculum, students take classes from other engineering and disciplines including: Mechanical, Chemical, Materials and Industrial Engineering Departments.

The TE Curriculum provides a broad base of fundamental engineering courses as a foundation for studies in textile engineering. There are four concentrations in the TE Program:

  • Information Systems Design
  • Machine Design
  • Textile Product Engineering
  • Chemical Processing

Courses include:

Textile Engineering Systems, Textile Engineering Design, Mechanics of Fibrous Structures, Textile Engineering Quality Improvement, Textile Information Systems Design, Polymer Engineering, Polymeric Biomaterials Engineering, Mechanics of Tissues & Implants Requirements, Special Topics in Textile Engineering, Dynamics of Fabric Production Systems, Textile Composites, Polymeric Biomaterials Engineering

The Undergraduate Catalog shows a listing of Textile Engineering courses, and the degree audit shows the curriculum course requirements for this major. If you are interested in expanding your career options, consider double-majoring and/or adding a minor.

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Skills You Develop In This Major

  • Solid foundation in basic science, mathematics, and engineering science and the ability to apply this knowledge to the solution of problems.
  • Demonstrate the ability to design and develop useful products, processes, machines, and/or systems.
  • Demonstrate the ability to use modern tools of engineering to solve problems.
  • Design and conduct experiments and analyzing and interpreting data related to problem solving in the areas encompassed by textile engineering.
  • Practice in teamwork, understand how to help a team operate effectively, and appreciate the value of diversity in team-based problem solving.
  • An appreciation for and commitment to life-long learning, and an ability to adapt and to change.
  • Understanding of the importance of integrity and ethics in engineering practice and in life.
  • Written and oral communication, and the ability to communicate effectively.
  • An awareness of the global nature of the textile industry and the modern world.
  • A broad educational experience enabling you to pursue careers within or outside of textile engineering.

Gaining Career-Related Experience

You are strongly encouraged to gain career-related experience prior to graduation in the form of an internship, summer job, or co-op. Textile Career Services is available to all Textile students to assist in finding complimentary work experience. The college provides a specialized career placement office and conducts helpful programs like resume and interview skills workshops throughout the academic year. Over 60% of Textile Seniors have completed work experiences outside the classroom by graduation. Although course credit is available for this experience through the College of Textiles, many students simply complete their internships for the experience, as well as for helping them determine potential career paths. Textile students participate in both paid and unpaid work experiences.

Co-op is a program of alternating semesters of work and school. Paid work terms of increasing responsibility enable students to graduate with the minimum equivalent of one year of relevant work experience. Full-time enrollment during the semester prior to the first work term is required. You can begin co-op after completion of at least two semesters (30 credit hours) at NC State (one semester for transfers and graduate students). An NC State transcript must show grades and admission to a degree program. A minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.50 (3.00 for graduate students) is required. The Co-op Office web site lists the Orientation Schedule, which is the first step to program participation.

Internships are typically full-time during the summer or (for some) part-time during the semester. You can start interning or seeking summer jobs related to your field, whenever you are ready. The University Career Center provides services to help you get started.

Participate in ePack, the Career Center's on-line system that connects employees with students through internship postings, on-campus interviews, information sessions, and resume searches. You may activate your ePack account at any time.

Internship Example

The College of Textiles does have a formal internship program for students between their junior and senior years. Academic credit is only awarded when a student goes through this formal internship program.

During the past summer, many Textile students participated in internships and summer jobs with companies like Milliken & Company, Belk Department Stores, Sara Lee Knit Products, Polo Ralph Lauren Childrenswear, BCBG Max Azria, Rebecca Taylor, Tuleh, & Marc Jacobs.

Internship projects ranged from working with fashion photographers to market a new clothing line to developing a new apparel product line for the Fall season to creating and engineering new equipment for a manufacturing process that will save thousands of dollars for a company to developing new, environmentally-friendly dyes for coloring fabricsˇand list continues!

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Sample Career Titles and Possible Work Settings

The following lists provide a brief sampling of the kind of jobs and work environments you might find with a degree in this major. These titles and work settings are by no means an exhaustive listing. Because the world of work is always changing, over time job titles and work settings can change. The below listing is provided in hopes of giving you initial insight into a particular career field that would employ the skills and knowledge gained through this major.

Sample Career Titles Sample Work Settings
Process Engineer Manufacturing Facility
Quality Control Supervisor Office/Plant
Technical Services/Sales Manager Traveling
Operations Trainee Lab/Plant
Process Improvement Engineer Design Lab/Plant
Medical Textiles Engineer Lab Environment

Careers Needing Advanced Degrees

  • Research Engineer
  • Product Development Engineer
  • Biomedical Engineer

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Salary

Baccalaureate - $ 54,450 (47,000-60,000)
From Textile Career Services (TCS) - 2009

The salary listed above is an average starting salary based on skills and experiences gained at the Bachelors level. Keep in mind that salary level typically increases with additional experience and/or educational degrees.

Furthermore, you may have the opportunity to mold an entry-level position into your dream job and subsequently increase your salary as you learn more, add responsibilities and gain experience.

NC State Related Organizations & Clubs

Textiles Student Activities

Textiles Student Organizations (list of 10)
Faculty Adviser: Contact club president as listed on page.

Professional Resources (Outside NC State)

These resources include organizations, clubs, and conferences not affiliated with NC State and can be an important part of your career pursuit.

Links to Related Resources

 

Next Steps

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Coordinator of Advising.

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Last updated: 4th of October, 2009 at 10:21:26 AM

 
 
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