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Fashion Design (B.A.)

The fashion design major prepares students for assistant designer and pattern/drafting/tailoring specialist positions in the fashion industry as well as positions in apparel manufacturing and product development and merchandising and buying opportunities in the garment industry.

Students in fashion design participate in an annual juried fashion show, Portfolio in Motion, featuring garments they have designed and constructed. The program culminates in a noted designer’s professional evaluation of the student’s original designs. Opportunities to cultivate professional skills are developed through participation in the Marymount Fashion Club and the Pattern Makers Club; affiliations with the Fashion Group International of Greater Washington, DC, Inc.; and internships.

Upon successful completion of the fashion design program, students will be able to

  • conduct design research with an in-depth understanding of various customer profiles and global and domestic fashion markets to critically analyze a design problem and explore various design solutions in the creation of a fashion line that meets the needs of the specified target market;
  • critically assess and research a design problem to appropriately source fabrics and notions for a fashion line based on specific criteria;
  • demonstrate skills in drawing the fashion figure, rendering fabrications, and applying color in a professional manner for presentation in a professional portfolio upon entry into the industry;
  • demonstrate digital communication skills (digital/CAD software) in the presentation of detailed technical flats and tech packs for a professional presentation to factories for successful product manufacturing on- and/or offshore; and
  • create a cohesive line of garments that demonstrate quality construction and workmanship, functional properties, and aesthetic merits that the fashion industry would submit to seasonal runway shows.

Minimum Grade Requirements: To continue in the Fashion Design program, a C or better must be earned in each of the following courses: FD 102, FD 203, FD 265FD 305, FD 307, FD 308, FD 485, VIS 224, GMD 308, VIS 101, VIS 111, and VIS 121.

Degree Requirements - Fashion Design

This degree requires a total of 120 credits.

Liberal Arts Core Requirements

See the Liberal Arts Core for details.

Major Requirements

To fulfill the requirements of the major, all students in this program will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with an advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core requirements.

FD 102Sample Room Techniques

3

FD 203Apparel Design I

3

FD 251Textiles

3

FD 265Fashion Illustration I

3

FD 305Draping

3

FD 307Product Development I

3

FD 308Advanced Problems in Fashion Design I

3

FD 355CAD/CAM Fashion Design Fundamentals

 

FD 361Survey of Fashion

3

OR

VIS 204History of Modern Design

3

 

FD 400Internship

3

OR

FD 414Fashion Show Production

3

OR

FD 421Project

3

 

FD 407Product Development II

3

FD 409Advanced Problems in Fashion Design II

3

FD 485Senior Design Research and Development

 

GMD 308Web and Social Media Design

3

OR

VIS 224Digital Publishing

3

 

VIS 101Introduction to Design Thinking

3

VIS 111Intro to Color and Design *

3

VIS 112Drawing I *

3

VIS 121Intro to Digital Tools

3

VIS 225Digital Photography

3

VIS 327Portfolio

3

Sample Degree Plan - Fashion Design

Please note that this is a sample plan; all students must consult with an advisor in making course selections.

Year One - Fall

EN 101Composition I *

3

FD 102Sample Room Techniques

3

VIS 101User Centered Design

3

VIS 121Intro to Digital Tools

3

HI History (HI) core course *

3

 

Year One - Spring

EN 102Composition II *

3

TRS 100Theological Inquiry *

3

VIS 111Intro to Color and Design *

3

VIS 112Drawing I *

3

MA Mathematics (MT) core course *

3-4

 

Year Two - Fall

FD 203Apparel Design I

3

FD 251Textiles

3

 

GMD 308Web and Social Media Design

3

OR

VIS 224Digital Publishing

3

 

Philosophy (PH) core course *

3

One (1) elective

3

 

Year Two — Spring

FD 265Fashion Illustration I

3

 

FD 361Survey of Fashion

3

OR

VIS 204History of Modern Design

3

 

Literature (LT) core course *

3

Social Science (SS) core course *

3

Natural Science (NS) core course with lab *

4

 

Year Three — Fall

FD 305Draping

3

FD 355CAD/CAM Fashion Design Fundamentals

3

VIS 225Digital Photography

3

Social Science (SS) core course *

3

Depth in Faith and Reason core course *

3

 

Year Three — Spring

FD 307Product Development I

3

FD 308Advanced Problems in Fashion Design I

3

Depth in Sciences (DSCI) core course *

3

Two (2) electives

6

 

Year Four — Fall

FD 407Product Development II

3

FD 485Senior Design Research and Development

Depth in Humanities core course

3

Two (2) electives

6

 

Year Four — Spring

FD 400Internship

3

OR

FD 414Fashion Show Production

3

OR

FD 421Project

3

 

FD 409Advanced Problems in Fashion Design II

3

VIS 327Portfolio

3

Two (2) electives

6

Note: Students need 120 credits to graduate.  One of the elective courses could be 2 credits. 

* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core Requirements. See the Liberal Arts Core and Course Descriptions for further information.