Fashion Design Master’s Degree Program

What is 21st Century Fashion Design?

The Drexel Westphal Master's program in Fashion Design is recognized as one of the top fashion programs in the world by Fashionista and Business of Fashion. This Fashion Design Master’s program is ideal for students who have a passion for personal creative expression and who have Bachelor's degrees in various academic disciplines from fine arts, sciences, liberal arts, business and other areas of study. Upon completion of the three-year, full-time program, graduates earn a Master of Science in Fashion Design.

The MS Fashion Design program fuses art, design, science, and technology for a collaborative and trans-disciplinary approach to designing 21st century fashion. Within an individualized studio environment, students acquire knowledge about the creative process, industrial production, advanced technologies in design, and the marketing and merchandising of clothing.

The Fashion Design Master’s program lays a foundation in the traditional making of apparel and accessories while integrating the cutting edge of design technology with the sociological and psychological influences of community and fashion culture. All courses are guided by philosophies of inclusivity and sustainability in the ethical workplace.

The program presents opportunities for individualized instruction from renowned faculty like Genevieve Dion, Director of the Center for Functional Fabrics and industry-leading designer of smart textiles for wearable technologies and Kathi Martin, fashion/textile designer and innovator in the integration of virtual/augment reality and fashion design. Fashion Design graduate students work in state-of-the-art facilities that provide access to cutting-edge technology like Shima Seiki knitting machines and SDS-ONE APEX3 workstations. Learn more about our industry-leading faculty.

Why Pursue a Master’s Degree in Fashion Design at Drexel Westphal?

The Master’s in Fashion Design aims to train visionary designers to use an integrated approach to the creation of contemporary fashion. Building on Drexel University’s reputation for experiential learning and professional development, the MS Fashion Design program requires students to pursue a fashion industry internship, participate in international fashion design competitions, and develop a capstone collection for showcase at the annual Drexel Fashion Show.

Graduates of Drexel’s Fashion Design Master’s program are prepared for a broad range of careers in the fashion industry and related fields such as education, retail, costume design, computer-aided design, and curatorial work with historic clothing and textiles.

The Fashion Design graduate program is a first professional degree that welcomes seasoned designers who hold bachelor’s degrees in design fields as well as emerging designers with degrees from other disciplines. Prerequisite courses in fashion design foundations—drawing, design, production, patternmaking—prepare students for graduate coursework.

Incoming students who hold undergraduate degrees in fashion, art or design may be waived from some of the prerequisite courses via portfolio and transcript review and a skills test. All students will work with faculty advisors on curriculum placements that reflect their skill level and career aspirations.

Drexel Westphal Fashion Design alumni go on to careers in various areas of the fashion business and related fields—often becoming industry leaders in fashion technology, inclusivity, and sustainability. Adriana Galijasevic, Denim & Sustainability Expert and designer at G-Star RAW, has spoken at numerous conferences and was recognized by Forbes Magazine and Women’s Wear Daily for pushing boundaries on innovation and sustainability in the denim industry.

What Do You Learn in the MS in Fashion Design Program?

The fusion of art, design, science and technology within the MS Fashion Design program represents a multi-disciplinary approach and a springboard for the production of unique apparel for the 21st century. The graduate Fashion Design curriculum emphasizes the aesthetics and philosophies of fashion while training designers in the technical skills needed to support an innovative career in the fashion industry.

Within an individualized studio environment, students acquire knowledge and experience in:

• Design fundamentals: construction, patternmaking, tailoring, etc.

• Knitwear design

• Industrial production of clothing

• Advanced design technologies

• Fashion marketing and merchandising

• Computer-aided design (CAD)

• Textile design, research, and development

• Fashion illustration

• History of fashion design

• Sustainable practices in design

• Inclusive and adaptive fashion design

• Professional presentation and portfolio development

• Business of fashion

Students pursuing a Master’s in Fashion Design can take electives in accessory design, machine knitting, technical design, or many other topics according to their personal interests and career aspirations. The hands-on curriculum includes frequent critiques from renowned faculty and industry professionals, and culminates in the annual Drexel Fashion Show, which is attended by press, regional and national designers, and other fashion industry representatives.