The Textiles concentration in the B.F.A. program fosters textile art as an academic, artistic and professional endeavors. The program’s mission is the life-enhancing education of the professional artist and designer in the field of contemporary textiles. Textiles program student interests are multi-faceted, impelled by the love for material, pattern, design and sculptural processes. These interests range from creative work as an artist producing woven and embellished fabrics and textile products, garments and costumes, to creating three-dimensional installations to be viewed as human environment. The Textile program graduates develop skills and qualifications as textile designers, artists and crafts people, as well as a portfolio suitable for graduate school to continue with the study in the field. Once accepted into the program, students in the Textiles program begin with basic textile design courses providing a foundation in surface design and basic structures. At the intermediate and advanced levels, students broaden their technical experience by learning hand and digital processes in quilting, embroidery, pattern design, pattern printing, hand and machine tufting, sublimation printing, and hand and loom weaving. Students are then encouraged to direct their study into individual areas of interest, fine art, 2D design and 3D fiber and mixed-media, culminating in Portfolio I & II capstone courses in which they execute a developed body of work suitable for senior exhibition, and professional portfolio presentation. The program is enhanced with professional studio visits, a variety of internship opportunities in the Atlanta-area textile industries and museums, and the Visiting Artist/Designer lecture series sponsored by the School of Art and Design and Art Student Union. Areas of study include textile design, mix-media three-dimensional fiber, textile history, textile conservation, industrial and digital technology-interfaced output. Students are encouraged to develop multi-media and inter-disciplinary approaches, and take electives in other disciplines.