Concept and Message

• Produce innovative and original designs
• Understand design elements: color, line, texture, silhouette
• Use research to inform design development
• Appreciation for historical reference

Personal Development

• Understanding of the creative process
• Build collaborative skills
• Build verbal and written communication skills
• Time management
• Professionalism

Critical Thinking

• Understanding of the creative process
• Build collaborative skills
• Build verbal and written communication skills
• Time management
• Professionalism

Technical Competency

• Development and understanding of clothing construction and craft
• Development and understanding of flat pattern drafting and draping techniques
• Work effectively with industry standard software (Illustrator, Photoshop, Gerber)

Industry Awareness

• Understanding apparel manufacturing and production procedures
• Market understanding through category and customer
• Connecting through internships and project collaborations
• Social consciousness

Presentation

• Create professional and organized presentations that reflect individual style
• Effectively communicate two- and three-dimensional design
• Produce accurate and detailed technical flat drawings by hand and computer
• Produce a body of work: Apparel lines/collections and portfolio suitable for seeking professional opportunities

All Fashion Design certificate students take six required Foundation courses that cover fashion fundamentals. The elective courses offer options for either a Specialty or Technical Track in Fashion Design Certificate. All students must complete a Professional Portfolio course before receiving a certificate. Each course is on a rotating schedule, allowing students to complete the Fashion Design certificate in two years and one summer.

The following grid is just a sampling of possible scenarios. Electives can be taken any semester. Required courses are only offered during the semesters as listed.

There are a number of reasons to enter the Fashion Design Certificate program (FDC). Individual courses can help build an existing portfolio in fashion design or advance your skills in a particular area, but the FDC offers a comprehensive set of classes that address the industry as a whole and provides access to resources only available to certificate students.

The FDC will help you develop and hone your skills to showcase your creative design and technical ability in a final portfolio (the Portfolio course is only open to FDC students). FDC students can broaden their global understanding by participating in fashion directed travel courses that are offered through the undergraduate program. The FDC program provides you with access to advising support and networking, special events, email updates to inform you about opportunities and resources, and internships and access to job opportunities, all of which are not available to non-program students.

No. Although the program sequence enables students to take 2 courses each fall and spring, and 2 courses during the summer between the first and second year, there is flexibility for students who do not wish to do so. Your advisor will work with you to plan your program in a way that works for your life schedule and time constraints.

You must be registered for at least 6 credits to qualify for a student loan.

Up to 6 credits (2 courses) taken pre-program can be counted towards the Fashion Design Certificate. Grades must be C or higher to count towards certificate completion.