Textile Engineering (BS): Product Engineering Concentration
If you’ve ever relied on a tent to keep you warm and dry, put on a bandage or driven a car, you’ve benefited from the work of a textile engineer.
Textiles are everywhere, and a B.S. in Textile Engineering trains you to combine an engineering perspective with knowledge of fiber science, product development, dye chemistry and more. You’ll wrap up your college career by working with textile technology students and industry partners on a year-long Senior Design project.
Our bachelor’s degree in textile engineering is a joint degree between the Wilson College of Textiles and the College of Engineering.
The Product Engineering concentration is one of three concentrations students in textile engineering can choose from. This concentration focuses on product design and development but is the most multidisciplinary and flexible in terms of curriculum. You can specialize based on your interests, such as biomedical textiles, sports textiles and composites. Students in this concentration commonly also choose to major in biomedical engineering or minor in material science.
The textile engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Contact
Dr. Philip Bradford
Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science Department
Wilson College of Textiles
919.515.1866
philip_bradford@ncsu.edu
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orientation | |||
| E 101 | Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 2 | 1 | |
| E 115 | Introduction to Computing Environments | 1 | |
| T 101 | Strategies for Success in the Wilson College of Textiles | 1 | |
| Mathematical & Physical Science | |||
| MA 141 | Calculus I 1 | 4 | |
| MA 241 | Calculus II 1 | 4 | |
| MA 242 | Calculus III | 4 | |
| MA 341 | Applied Differential Equations I | 3 | |
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 | 3 | |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 1 | |
| PY 205 & PY 206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1 | 4 | |
| PY 208 & PY 209 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | 4 | |
| Major Requirements | |||
| E 102 | Engineering in the 21st Century | 2 | |
| TE 105 | Textile Engineering: Materials and Systems | 2 | |
| TE 110 | Computer-Based Modeling for Engineers 2 | 3 | |
| TE 200 | Introduction to Polymer Science and Engineering | 3 | |
| TE 201 | Fiber Science | 4 | |
| TE 205 | Analog and Digital Circuits | 4 | |
| TE 301 | Engineering Textile Structures I: Linear Assemblies | 3 | |
| TE 302 | Textile Manufacturing Processes and Systems II | 4 | |
| TE 303 | Thermodynamics for Textile Engineers | 3 | |
| TE 401 | Textile Engineering Design I | 4 | |
| TE 402 | Textile Engineering Design II | 4 | |
| TE 404 | Textile Engineering Quality Improvement | 3 | |
| TE 424 | Textile Engineering Quality Improvement Laboratory | 1 | |
| ST 370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 3 | |
| PCC 301 & PCC 304 | Technology of Dyeing and Finishing and Technology of Dyeing & Finishing Laboratory | 4 | |
| GC 120 | Foundations of Graphics | 3 | |
| MAE 206 | Engineering Statics | 3 | |
| or CE 214 | Engineering Mechanics-Statics | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | ||
| Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | |||
| Principles of Microeconomics | |||
| Fundamentals of Economics | |||
| Concentration Requirements | |||
| MSE 201 | Structure and Properties of Engineering Materials | 3 | |
| MAE 214 | Solid Mechanics | 3 | |
| or CE 225 | Mechanics of Solids | ||
| TE 463 | Polymer Engineering | 3 | |
| Concentration Elective | 9 | ||
| GEP Courses | |||
| Acad Writing Research 2 | 4 | ||
| GEP Humanities | 6 | ||
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | ||
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | ||
| GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 3 | ||
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | ||
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | |||
| World Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | |||
| Total Hours | 125 | ||
- 1
C or better
- 2
C- or better
Concentration Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machine Design (Min: 9 Units) | |||
| CE 282 | Hydraulics | 3 | |
| CHE 435 | Process Systems Analysis and Control | 3 | |
| ECE 482 | Engineering Entrepreneurship and New Product Development I | 3 | |
| ECE 483 | Engineering Entrepreneurship and New Product Development II | 3 | |
| MAE 200 | Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Design | 1 | |
| MAE 208 | Engineering Dynamics | 3 | |
| MAE 250 | Introduction to Aerospace Engineering | 1 | |
| MAE 361 | Dynamics & Controls | 3 | |
| MAE 420 | Dynamic Analysis of Human Movement | 3 | |
| MAE 421 | Design of Solar Energy Systems | 3 | |
| MAE 426 | Fundamentals of Product Design | 3 | |
| MAE 430 | Applied Finite Element Analysis | 3 | |
| OR 562 | Simulation Modeling | 3 | |
| TC 589 | Special Studies In Textile Engineering and Science | 1-4 | |
| TE 435 | Process Systems Analysis and Control | 3 | |
| TE 440 | Textile Information Systems Design | 4 | |
| TE 466 | Polymeric Biomaterials Engineering | 3 | |
| TE 467 | Mechanics of Tissues & Implants Requirements | 3 | |
| TE 492 | Special Topics in Textile Engineering | 1-3 | |
| TE 505 | Textile Systems and Control | 3 | |
| TE 540 | Textile Information Systems Design | 4 | |
| TE 550 | Clothing Comfort and Personal Protection Science | 3 | |
| TE 561 | Human Physiology for Clothing and Wearables | 3 | |
| TE 562 | Simulation Modeling | 3 | |
| TE 565 | Textile Composites | 3 | |
| TE 566 | Polymeric Biomaterials Engineering | 3 | |
| TE 570 | Polymer Physics | 3 | |
| Medical Textiles (Min: 9 Units) | |||
Choose three from the following list. Students pursuing this track should also complete BIO 183. | |||
| BME 418 | Wearable Biosensors and Microsystems | 3 | |
| BME 425 | Bioelectricity | 3 | |
| BME 444 | Orthopaedic Biomechanics | 3 | |
| BME 484 | Fundamentals of Tissue Engineering | 3 | |
| BME 540 | Nanobiotechnology Processing, Characterization, and Applications | 3 | |
| TE 466 | Polymeric Biomaterials Engineering | 3 | |
| TE 467 | Mechanics of Tissues & Implants Requirements | 3 | |
| TE 561 | Human Physiology for Clothing and Wearables | 3 | |
| TE 565 | Textile Composites | 3 | |
| TE 566 | Polymeric Biomaterials Engineering | 3 | |
| MSE 485 | Biomaterials | 3 | |
| Materials & Sci Engineering (Min: 9 Units) | |||
| MSE 255 | Experimental Methods for Structural Analysis of Materials | 2 | |
| MSE 260 | Mathematical Methods for Materials Engineers | 3 | |
| MSE 300 | Structure of Materials at the Nanoscale | 3 | |
| MSE 301 | Introduction to Thermodynamics of Materials | 3 | |
| MSE 335 | Experimental Methods for Analysis of Material Properties | 2 | |
| MSE 355 | Electrical, Magnetic and Optical Properties of Materials | 3 | |
| MSE 360 | Kinetic Processes in Materials | 3 | |
| MSE 380 | Microstructure of Organic Materials | 3 | |
| MSE 420 | Mechanical Properties of Materials | 3 | |
| MSE 455 | Polymer Technology and Engineering | 3 | |
| MSE 456 | Composite Materials | 3 | |
| MSE 460 | Microelectronic Materials | 3 | |
| MSE 465 | Introduction to Nanomaterials | 3 | |
| MSE 480 | Materials Forensics and Degradation | 3 | |
| MSE 485 | Biomaterials | 3 | |
| MSE 489 | Solid State Solar and Thermal Energy Harvesting | 3 | |
| TE 435 | Process Systems Analysis and Control | 3 | |
| TE 440 | Textile Information Systems Design | 4 | |
| TE 466 | Polymeric Biomaterials Engineering | 3 | |
| TE 467 | Mechanics of Tissues & Implants Requirements | 3 | |
| TE 492 | Special Topics in Textile Engineering | 1-3 | |
| TE 540 | Textile Information Systems Design | 4 | |
| TE 550 | Clothing Comfort and Personal Protection Science | 3 | |
| TE 561 | Human Physiology for Clothing and Wearables | 3 | |
| TE 562 | Simulation Modeling | 3 | |
| TE 565 | Textile Composites | 3 | |
| TE 566 | Polymeric Biomaterials Engineering | 3 | |
| TE 570 | Polymer Physics | 3 | |
| TE 589 | Special Studies In Textile Engineering and Science | 1-4 | |
| Protective Textiles (Min: 9 Units) | |||
| Choose three courses from the following list | |||
| TE 550 | Clothing Comfort and Personal Protection Science | 3 | |
| TE 466 | Polymeric Biomaterials Engineering | 3 | |
| TE 566 | Polymeric Biomaterials Engineering | 3 | |
| TE 565 | Textile Composites | 3 | |
| TE 589 | Special Studies In Textile Engineering and Science | 1-4 | |
| TE 561 | Human Physiology for Clothing and Wearables | 3 | |
Acad Writing Research
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acad Writing Research | |||
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 | |
| WLEN 101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 | |
| Transfer Sequence | |||
| ENG 1GEP | 3 | ||
| ENG 202 | Disciplinary Perspectives in Writing | 3 | |
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 | 3 |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| E 101 | Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 2 | 1 |
| E 115 | Introduction to Computing Environments | 1 |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 2 | 4 |
| MA 141 | Calculus I 1 | 4 |
| T 101 | Strategies for Success in the Wilson College of Textiles | 1 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| TE 105 | Textile Engineering: Materials and Systems 1 | 2 |
| MA 241 | Calculus II 1 | 4 |
| PY 205 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I 1 | 3 |
| PY 206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory | 1 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| E 102 | Engineering in the 21st Century (GEP Req) | 2 |
| EC 201 | Principles of Microeconomics or Fundamentals of Economics or Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| MA 242 | Calculus III | 4 |
| PY 208 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II | 3 |
| PY 209 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | 1 |
| TE 110 | Computer-Based Modeling for Engineers 2 | 3 |
| TE 200 | Introduction to Polymer Science and Engineering | 3 |
| GC 120 | Foundations of Graphics | 3 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MA 341 | Applied Differential Equations I | 3 |
| MSE 201 | Structure and Properties of Engineering Materials | 3 |
| TE 201 | Fiber Science | 4 |
| TE 205 | Analog and Digital Circuits | 4 |
| MAE 206 or CE 214 | Engineering Statics or Engineering Mechanics-Statics | 3 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| TE 301 | Engineering Textile Structures I: Linear Assemblies | 3 |
| TE 303 | Thermodynamics for Textile Engineers | 3 |
| MAE 214 or CE 225 | Solid Mechanics or Mechanics of Solids | 3 |
| ST 370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 3 |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| TE 302 | Textile Manufacturing Processes and Systems II | 4 |
| TE 404 | Textile Engineering Quality Improvement | 3 |
| TE 424 | Textile Engineering Quality Improvement Laboratory | 1 |
| PCC 301 & PCC 304 | Technology of Dyeing and Finishing and Technology of Dyeing & Finishing Laboratory | 4 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| TE 401 | Textile Engineering Design I | 4 |
| TE 463 | Polymer Engineering | 3 |
| Engineering Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| TE 402 | Textile Engineering Design II | 4 |
| Select two Engineering Elective courses | 6 | |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Total Hours | 125 | |
- 1
Must be completed with grade of C or higher.
- 2
Must be completed with grade of C-or higher.
Career Opportunities
The interdisciplinary nature of textiles means that textile engineers are needed everywhere. As the only ABET accredited textile engineering program, our graduates have unmatched expertise. The result? Top employers in just about every industry recruit our alumni to help them solve problems and make a difference. These are just a few of the places our graduates go:
- Government Agencies/National Defense: NASA, The U.S. Army, Lockheed Martin, Natick, United States Patent and Trademark Office
- Athletics and Apparel: Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, The North Face, Lululemon, Patagonia, Levis, Peter Millar, HanesBrands
- Healthcare/Medical Textiles: ATEX, Merck & Co., Stryker, Medline, Secant Medical
- Automotives: Tesla, BMW, Volvo Trucks, Nissan, Goodyear, Michelin, Firestone
- Homewares: Home Depot, Lowes, Mohawk Flooring, Hunter Douglas
- Traditional Textiles: Milliken, Unifi, Contempora Fabrics, Elevate Textiles, SteinFibers
- Advanced Materials: Technimark, DuPont, Eastman, Honeywell
Career Titles
- Materials Developer / Specialist / Designer
- Research and Development Engineer
- Product Development Specialist
- Strategic Sourcing Manager
- Logistics Manager / Inventory Manager
- Data Scientist
- Design Engineer / Process Improvement Engineer
- Production Manager / Project Engineer / Product Manager
- Quality Control Engineer
- Technical Marketing Manager
- Technical Service / Sales
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