University Catalog 2024-2025

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

Orientation
E 101Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 21
E 115Introduction to Computing Environments1
T 101Strategies for Success in the Wilson College of Textiles1
Mathematical & Physical Science
MA 141Calculus I 14
MA 241Calculus II 14
MA 242Calculus III4
MA 341Applied Differential Equations I3
CH 101Chemistry - A Molecular Science 13
CH 102General Chemistry Laboratory 11
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 102Engineering in the 21st Century2
TE 105Textile Engineering: Materials and Systems2
TE 110Computer-Based Modeling for Engineers 23
TE 200Introduction to Polymer Science and Engineering3
TE 201Fiber Science4
TE 205Analog and Digital Circuits4
TE 301Engineering Textile Structures I: Linear Assemblies3
TE 302Textile Manufacturing Processes and Systems II4
TE 303Thermodynamics for Textile Engineers3
TE 401Textile Engineering Design I4
TE 402Textile Engineering Design II4
TE 404Textile Engineering Quality Improvement3
TE 424Textile Engineering Quality Improvement Laboratory1
ST 370Probability and Statistics for Engineers3
PCC 301
PCC 304
Technology of Dyeing and Finishing
and Technology of Dyeing & Finishing Laboratory
4
GC 120Foundations of Graphics3
MAE 206Engineering Statics3
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 201Structure and Properties of Engineering Materials3
MAE 214Solid Mechanics3
or CE 225 Mechanics of Solids
TE 463Polymer Engineering3
Concentration Elective9
GEP Courses
Acad Writing Research 24
GEP Humanities6
GEP Social Sciences3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies2
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion3
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives3
GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
World Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
Total Hours125
1

C or better

2

C- or better

Concentration Electives

Machine Design (Min: 9 Units)
MAE 208, TE/CHE 435, and one other elective with an MAE or TE prefix (selected with the approval of advisor). In addition, students wishing to pursue the machine design focus area should take MAE 206 for their Statics requirement and MAE 214 for their Solids requirement.
CE 282Hydraulics3
CHE 435Process Systems Analysis and Control3
ECE 482Engineering Entrepreneurship and New Product Development I3
ECE 483Engineering Entrepreneurship and New Product Development II3
MAE 200Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Design1
MAE 208Engineering Dynamics3
MAE 250Introduction to Aerospace Engineering1
MAE 361Dynamics & Controls3
MAE 420Dynamic Analysis of Human Movement3
MAE 421Design of Solar Energy Systems3
MAE 426Fundamentals of Product Design3
MAE 430Applied Finite Element Analysis3
OR 562Simulation Modeling3
TC 589Special Studies In Textile Engineering and Science1-4
TE 435Process Systems Analysis and Control3
TE 440Textile Information Systems Design4
TE 466Polymeric Biomaterials Engineering3
TE 467Mechanics of Tissues & Implants Requirements3
TE 492Special Topics in Textile Engineering1-3
TE 505Textile Systems and Control3
TE 540Textile Information Systems Design4
TE 550Clothing Comfort and Personal Protection Science3
TE 561Human Physiology for Clothing and Wearables3
TE 562Simulation Modeling3
TE 565Textile Composites3
TE 566Polymeric Biomaterials Engineering3
TE 570Polymer Physics3
Medical Textiles (Min: 9 Units)
Choose three from the following list. Students pursuing this track should also complete BIO 183.
BME 418Wearable Biosensors and Microsystems3
BME 425Bioelectricity3
BME 444Orthopaedic Biomechanics3
BME 484Fundamentals of Tissue Engineering3
BME 540Nanobiotechnology Processing, Characterization, and Applications3
TE 466Polymeric Biomaterials Engineering3
TE 467Mechanics of Tissues & Implants Requirements3
TE 561Human Physiology for Clothing and Wearables3
TE 565Textile Composites3
TE 566Polymeric Biomaterials Engineering3
MSE 485Biomaterials3
Materials & Sci Engineering (Min: 9 Units)
MSE 300 & 455, and one other elective with an MSE or TE prefix (selected with the approval of advisor). In addition, students wishing to pursue the materials science and engineering focus area may take MSE 301 instead of TE 303.
MSE 255Experimental Methods for Structural Analysis of Materials2
MSE 260Mathematical Methods for Materials Engineers3
MSE 300Structure of Materials at the Nanoscale3
MSE 301Introduction to Thermodynamics of Materials3
MSE 335Experimental Methods for Analysis of Material Properties2
MSE 355Electrical, Magnetic and Optical Properties of Materials3
MSE 360Kinetic Processes in Materials3
MSE 380Microstructure of Organic Materials3
MSE 420Mechanical Properties of Materials3
MSE 455Polymer Technology and Engineering3
MSE 456Composite Materials3
MSE 460Microelectronic Materials3
MSE 465Introduction to Nanomaterials3
MSE 480Materials Forensics and Degradation3
MSE 485Biomaterials3
MSE 489Solid State Solar and Thermal Energy Harvesting3
TE 435Process Systems Analysis and Control3
TE 440Textile Information Systems Design4
TE 466Polymeric Biomaterials Engineering3
TE 467Mechanics of Tissues & Implants Requirements3
TE 492Special Topics in Textile Engineering1-3
TE 540Textile Information Systems Design4
TE 550Clothing Comfort and Personal Protection Science3
TE 561Human Physiology for Clothing and Wearables3
TE 562Simulation Modeling3
TE 565Textile Composites3
TE 566Polymeric Biomaterials Engineering3
TE 570Polymer Physics3
TE 589Special Studies In Textile Engineering and Science1-4
Protective Textiles (Min: 9 Units)
Choose three courses from the following list
TE 550Clothing Comfort and Personal Protection Science3
TE 466Polymeric Biomaterials Engineering3
TE 566Polymeric Biomaterials Engineering3
TE 565Textile Composites3
TE 589Special Studies In Textile Engineering and Science1-4
TE 561Human Physiology for Clothing and Wearables3

Acad Writing Research

Acad Writing Research
ENG 101Academic Writing and Research4
WLEN 101Academic Writing and Research4
Transfer Sequence
ENG 1GEP3
ENG 202Disciplinary Perspectives in Writing3

Semester Sequence 

This is a sample.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
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
 Hours15
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
 Hours16
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
 Hours17
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
Engineering Statics
or Engineering Mechanics-Statics
3
 Hours17
Third Year
Fall Semester
TE 301 Engineering Textile Structures I: Linear Assemblies 3
TE 303 Thermodynamics for Textile Engineers 3
MAE 214
Solid Mechanics
or Mechanics of Solids
3
ST 370 Probability and Statistics for Engineers 3
GEP Humanities 3
 Hours15
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
 Hours16
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
 Hours16
Spring Semester
TE 402 Textile Engineering Design II 4
Select two Engineering Elective courses 6
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives 3
 Hours13
 Total Hours125
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

Learn More About Careers

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Occupational Outlook Handbook
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Focus 2 Career Assessment (NC State student email address required)
This career, major and education planning system is available to current NC State students to learn about how your values, interests, competencies, and personality fit into the NC State majors and your future career. An NC State email address is required to create an account. Make an appointment with your career counselor to discuss the results.

Careers in the Textile Industry

The Fiber Society

American Society of Quality

National Society of Professional Engineers