student and instructor in merchandising class

Undergraduate Programs

Fashion Design Majors

Our Fashion Design Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A) degrees prepare you for a career in fashion. You’ll develop your own technical skills, explore creative problem solving and grow an understanding of the challenges in the industry and how to overcome them.

Our graduates are highly sought after for entry-level design positions across the industry. You’ll also have a strong portfolio to use during interviews, helping to set you up for success when you graduate.

During your major degree, you’ll learn about three key stages of fashion design: conceptual, technical and production. Here are some of the key topics our instructors will cover:

Color, design, and trend research
Technical sketching and rendered illustration
Pattern making and garment construction
Fit and fabric selection
Industry standards on production specifications for different markets

Before your senior year, you can decide whether to complete the B.A. or the B.F.A.

B.A. Degree in Fashion Design

The B.A. Degree in Fashion Design offers a diverse and liberal art experience. You can create designs for everything from wearable technology applications to knitwear and accessories.

View the Fashion Design, B.A. Catalog

B.F.A. Degree in Fashion Design

In the B.F.A. Degree in Fashion Design, you’ll create a focused-study thesis project. This major piece of work will be reviewed by faculty and industry designer-critics. It will also be presented publicly in a fashion venue.

View the Fashion Design, B.F.A. Catalog

Fashion Merchandising Major

The Fashion Merchandising major is a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. It gives you an in-depth understanding in the business side of fashion. By the time you graduate, you will have the work ready skills and knowledge needed for a variety of roles in the industry.

During your course, you’ll learn about:

Fashion theory
Retail operations
Management and buying
Fashion forecasting and promotion
Merchandising for manufacturing
Development and marketing of products

Combined Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising(B.S)/Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)

If you study the Fashion Merchandising major, you’ll have the opportunity to enroll in the combined program with the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree. For those interested in a Master’s, this route can speed up how quickly you start in Graduate School and complete the degree, as you’ll complete some hours of study in your senior year.

On the combined degree program, you’ll complete up to 12 hours of graduate-level coursework during your senior year, which will count towards your M.B.A. degree. It is a challenging study option, so to be eligible, you’ll need to be achieving strong grades on your degree when you apply.

View the Fashion Merchandising, B.S. Catalog

Fashion Media Minor

The Fashion Media Minor is open to Fashion Merchandising students and those studying majors from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. With this course, you’ll gain a better understanding of the role that media and publishing play in the fashion industry.

If your major is in Journalism and Mass Communication, you’ll need to participate in the School of Fashion’s "Study-Away" experience in New York City.

View the Fashion Media Minor Catalog

Admissions Criteria

Freshman Students

To join our undergraduate programs as a freshman, you’ll need at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale)

If you’re a transferring applicant, you’ll need at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA based on 24 or more semester hours of college-level coursework at an accredited institution. You could still join us without these criteria, but you’ll need to start your degree as a Freshman.

Study-Away Experience Requirement

All our fashion students participate in a ‘Study-Away’ or overseas experience as part of their degree. You’ll usually undertake your ‘study-away’ during your junior year. You’ll need a minimum 2.500 GPA before you can embark on a study away experience.

Explore our Study-Away Programs

Learn about career opportunities in the fashion industry