The Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design degree program offers creative opportunities to transform design ideas into garments and accessories. Students are introduced to fundamental skills of garment construction, flat pattern drafting, and draping to provide a solid grounding in the basics of apparel engineering. Design courses are designed to emphasize the principles of good design, textile design and development, and the drawing and illustration techniques essential for design communication. Students have the opportunity to learn to take an idea from the planning stage through the construction process to the finished garment.

Students can hone their creative problem-solving skills through a variety of design challenges utilizing computer-aided design. The combination of professional skills, technical knowledge, and creative problem-solving skills helps students prepare to seek entry-level opportunities into the industry as an assistant in the design or production departments in the fashion industry.

The objective of the Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design degree program is to help students attain a fundamental grounding in fashion design, including an introduction to the theory and practice of tailoring, draping, pattern drafting, construction and sewing, fashion illustration and creative design. These skills are enhanced through computerized pattern making and design hardware and software systems. Advanced courses provide students with the opportunity to focus upon surface design and select a professional direction in women?s, men?s, children?s, or accessory design.

Objectives: Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:
? Demonstrate the ability to analyze and apply appropriate patternmaking techniques and construction methodology utilizing industry standard technology.
? Translate a design from two dimensions to three dimensions and apply the design elements to ensure the aesthetic of the design is appropriate for the target market.
? Articulate and evaluate a garment for quality, including fit and functionality as they relate to design aesthetics.
? Apply textile knowledge to appropriate end use and define current regulations and laws, ethical business practices, and global diversity influences that apply to the textile and apparel industry.
? Demonstrate competency in industry standard software and the ability to apply these standards to the manufacturing processes.
? Identify resources including library, internet, trade journals, and trend reports to research and develop a clothing line.