Fashion Design Degree Programs

Kent State University New York City Fashion recognizes the power of fashion to transform culture and communities through social commentary, thoughtful creation and the understanding of the industry that is currently in place. As we continually reexamine and reimagine our curriculum, we take on the responsibility of nourishing your passions through an exploratory educational program. Along with the cultivation of a diverse, inclusive and socially responsible class of students that will go on to become the next generation of industry professionals. 

We believe that your education should be about you and the role that you want to play in the future. We provide a comprehensive, superior and flexible education in the study and practice of fashion design, fashion merchandising and fashion journalism and more often than not, a blended curriculum of all these disciplines. There is no one size fits all here, it is about finding what fits you best. 

Summer Courses

Fashion in the Media - 35080 (3 Credits):
Analysis of key fashion magazines and in-depth examination of how they are created. Students learn the fundamentals of different forms of communication and the contributions editors, writers, stylists and photographers make toward the finished product. Exploration of how various media interrelate and contribute to the fashion industry is included. Different forms of writing, editing and interviewing as well as the roles of photography, design and styling are examined. Online outlets, television commentary, fashion advertising and Public Relations are discussed. Prerequisite: none.  

Internship in Fashion Design and Merchandising - 45192 & 45292 (3 Credits):

(Repeatable for credit) Supervised practical experience in the fashion industry. Eligibility requirements available from the school of fashion design and merchandising field studies coordinator. Prerequisites: FDM 30083, junior standing and special approval.  

NY Study Tour - 45492 (3 Credits): *Required*

Required of all students. Guided site visits each week to domestic or foreign fashion markets, including design and fabric houses or showrooms, retail stores, buying offices and other areas of the fashion industry.  

Visual Merchandising and Display - 35063 (3 Credits): 

Theory and practice of merchandise presentation for the purpose of promotion and sales.  In this course students will articulate the importance, organization, and function of visual merchandising including use of design principles, fixtures and lighting, effective signage, implementation of mannequins and display techniques as well as understanding budget and retail traffic patterns. Prerequisite: Fashion merchandising major. 

Fall and Spring Courses

Computer Applications in Retailing - 35270 (3 Credits):
The application and use of the microcomputer to solve problems in assortment planning, merchandise management, trading area and site analysis, store planning, plano-gramming and media planning. Prerequisites: FDM 20263 and MATH 11009, MATH 11010 or MATH 11012. 

Contemporary Fashion Designers - 35010 (3 Credits):

This course examines and analyzes international fashion design within the 20th and 21st centuries. As a follow up to Costume History, this course will focus on the history, development and present context of fashion. A significant portion of the course will examine the influential designers of the last century. Prerequisite: FDM 20013.  

Fashion Entrepreneurship - 35280 (3 Credits):

In-depth study of entrepreneurship content as applied to manufacturers and retailers of apparel, including product development, accounting and control merchandising and buying, operation and management advertising and promotion.  Prerequisite: junior or senior standing.  

Fashion Forecasting - 35011 (3 Credits):

Identifying trends to develop fashion forecasts. Interrelationships of forecasting promotion, public relations and the fashion media will be explored. Prerequisite: FDM 25011. Please note: Guest students who are planning to sign-up for the Fashion Forecasting class must complete the Prerequisite Confirmation Form, with required signatures.  

Fashion in the Media - 35080 (3 Credits):

Analysis of key fashion magazines and in-depth examination of how they are created. Students learn the fundamentals of different forms of communication and the contributions editors, writers, stylists and photographers make toward the finished product. Exploration of how various media interrelate and contribute to the fashion industry is included. Different forms of writing, editing and interviewing as well as the roles of photography, design and styling are examined. Online outlets, television commentary, fashion advertising and Public Relations are discussed. Prerequisite: none.

Internship in Fashion Design and Merchandising - 45192 & 45292 (3 Credits):

(Repeatable for credit) Supervised practical experience in the fashion industry. Eligibility requirements available from the school of fashion design and merchandising field studies coordinator. Prerequisites: FDM 30083, junior standing and special approval.  

NY Fashion Design Studio I - 30190 (6 Credits): *Fall Semester Only*

This course teaches the importance of research and creative exploration in fashion design. Students will focus on research and design development of a fashion line/collection while learning about industry seasons, markets and practices.  From this place of researched inspiration, students will create garments for presentation where both process and execution will be evaluated in tandem during the final critique. 

NY Fashion Design Studio II - 30290 (6 Credits): *Spring Semester Only*

NY Fashion Design Studio II is a continuation of the open fashion studio concept to support the entire creative process to produce design work. Students explore fashion markets, selling seasons, and specific construction techniques; and they further develop fashion design process approaches. Content specific to the New York City fashion design experience. Prerequisites: FDM 30161, 30171 or 30181 and special approval. 

New York Study Tour - 45590 (3 Credits):   *Required*

Required of all students. Guided site visits each week to domestic or foreign fashion markets, including design and fabric houses or showrooms, retail stores, buying offices and other areas of the fashion industry.

Product Development in the Fashion Industry - 30260 (3 Credits):
Researching, planning, developing and presenting a fashion product line for an identified target market with regard to prices, styling and timing. Prerequisites: FDM 20030 and fashion merchandising (FM) major. 

Visual Merchandising and Display - 35063 (3 Credits):

Theory and practice of merchandise presentation for the purpose of promotion and sales.  In this course students will articulate the importance, organization, and function of visual merchandising including use of design principles, fixtures and lighting, effective signage, implementation of mannequins and display techniques as well as understanding budget and retail traffic patterns. Prerequisite: Fashion merchandising major

Senior Coursework (Fall Semester Only)

Fashion Marketing - 40270 (3 Credits):

Examination of fashion producers' and retailers' roles in fashion marketing research. Analysis of consumer motivation through research to develop sales strategies in relationship to marketing strategies. Prerequisites: FDM 35011, MATH 10041 and MKTG 25010. 

Fashion Portfolio I - 40121 (3 Credits):

Students in the course develop a professional design portfolio that will emphasize in-depth individual investigation of specific apparel markets, target customers and seasons, displaying various illustrative techniques. Croquis books, technical packets and line plans will be used. Prerequisites: FDM 30161 or FDM 30171 or FDM 30181; and FDM 30162 or FDM 30172 or FDM 30182. 

Fashion Studio III - 40141 (3 Credits):

Development of pattern work, specification sheets and muslins for original line. Faculty and external professional critiques. Prerequisite: FDM 30161 and FDM 30162; or FDM 30171 and FDM 30172; or FDM 30181 and FDM 30182.  

Knitwear Design - 30155 (3 Credits):

Attention Design majors!  Knitwear Design will be offered for the first time at the New York City Studio in the Fall '20 semester.  In this course, focus is placed on the design and development of knitwear and students will learn about how to recognize and communicate knit design through graphs and stitch notation as well as what yarns, fibers and machines are appropriate. The New York City-based instructor will bring a wealth of current industry knowledge and practices to the course, and students will engage with industry connections and participate in critiques of their work. Prerequisite: Fashion Design major.  Junior or Senior standing. 

Study Tour: Field Experience NYC Studio Senior Students - FDM 45392 (3 Credits) *Required* 

Required of all Senior students.  Guided site visits each week to domestic or foreign fashion markets, including design and fabric houses or showrooms, retail stores, buying offices and other areas of the fashion industry.  Focus on career development and planning in preparation for graduation and employment in the fashion industry.

Seminar in Fashion Merchandising (WIC) - 40291 (3 Credits):

(Repeatable for credit) Capstone course in Fashion Merchandising. Builds and expands on all merchandising-related coursework with the goal of integrating content and applying it to real-life scenarios through critical thinking and analysis. A coherent portfolio demonstrating student efficacy with overall program content is completed. Prerequisites: FDM 30260, FDM 30262, FDM 35011 and FDM 35270. 

Textiles and Apparel in the Global Economy - 45012 (3 Credits):

Global perspective on the production and marketing of textiles and apparel; historical geographic and economic factors that influence the world trade in soft goods. Prerequisite: FDM 30262 and 35270.