Apparel, housing, and resource management programs joining the School of Design

Virginia Tech’s School of Design is committed to creating a future where people and planet are united by design, a mission that will be strengthened and enhanced by the addition of the former Department of Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management.

Effective July 1, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia has approved the closure and transfer of all academic programs, personnel, and resources of the department, housed within the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, to the School of Design, which is part of the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design (AAD).

The reorganization will align the academic, research, and scholarship portfolios of both colleges, most notably adding the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences programs focused on design disciplines to those already thriving in the School of Design: industrial design, interior design, and landscape architecture.

In addition, the move will foster strategic collaboration between faculty and students across these programs, providing increased opportunities for faculty with similar scholarly and research interests to collaborate and creating shared experiences that will benefit students, such as co-taught courses and experiential learning opportunities.

Matt Powers, director of the School of Design, said the reorganization and enhanced slate of programs will amplify the school’s shared vision of a dynamic academic entity that embraces change and drives innovation across the college, university, and region.

He sees the move as a forward-thinking investment in cross-disciplinary collaboration, in the state’s economy and in the school’s and university’s ability to attract talented students and faculty, research funding, and philanthropic support.

It’s also a key move to serve the public good through providing practical education that will prepare graduates to address real-world challenges through design.

“This vision includes a broad spectrum of disciplines that reflect the diversity and relevance of design in everyday life,” said Powers. “Programs such as landscape architecture, interior design, residential design, and industrial design prepare students to shape the built environment with sustainability and user experience in mind.

“Meanwhile, fields like fashion merchandising and design, consumer studies, and property management equip students to understand market behavior, manage resources, and lead in consumer-driven industries. Together, these programs form a comprehensive ecosystem of design education that is both practical and visionary.”

The Department of Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management (AHRM) was created in 2003. Currently, there are 17 faculty and more than 300 students are pursuing degrees in four majors: fashion merchandising, residential environments and design, property management, and consumer studies.

As a group, the programs have a strong record in preparing students who are well-equipped for their future careers through internships, strong industry partnerships, and events such as the annual Property Management Career Fair.

The property management major was also the first of its kind in the U.S. Students pursuing majors in residential environments and design and consumer studies can pursue additional professional certifications, and the fashion merchandising and design program has been ranked one of the top fashion merchandising schools in the nation.

"I am very excited to welcome the AHRM students, faculty, and staff to our college community,” said Lu Liu, dean of the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design. “I have always believed that a college, a school, or a department is an academic community where people share common thoughts, passion, and knowledge. We feel that the programs and the faculty at AHRM will be a good fit for the AAD community that our college and the School of Design have been building in the last few years. We look forward to working with everyone."