Read about bachelor's degree programs in fashion design, including curricula and internships. Learn where to find programs and jobs, as well as what you might earn as a professional fashion designer.
What Is a Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Design?
A bachelor's degree program in fashion design will take you four years to complete and may consist of about 120-128 credits. Depending on the school, you might earn a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Fine Arts or Bachelor of Professional Studies with a major in fashion design or design and production. Typical courses you might find in a program include sketching and illustration, principles of art and design, computer-aided design (CAD) for fashion design, pattern generation, draping, accessories design, product development, apparel construction and fashion business practices.
Nearly every program contains an internship component. You'll likely complete an internship associated with a school-approved or school-partnered design or manufacturing firm. You may be required to participate in one or more internship seminars. Senior-year design projects are also common.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Common Courses</b></td><td> Pattern generation, draping, product development, apparel construction, accessories design</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Program Availability</b></td><td> Bachelor degree programs are available at more than 80 accredited institutions in the United States</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Median Salary (2020)</b></td><td>$75,810* (<i>for fashion designers</i>)</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Job Outlook (2019-29)</b></td><td>-4% decline* (<i>for all fashion designers</i>)</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---WhereCanIEarnIt">Where Can I Earn It?</h3><p>In 2016, the National Center for Education Statistics' online directory listed more than 80 schools that offer bachelor's degree programs in fashion design (<i>www.nces.ed.gov</i>). These schools range from large universities to small art and design academies. Some schools offer combined bachelor's degree programs in fashion design and production, and some schools may allow you to specialize in one type of apparel design, such as children's clothing, knits or sportswear. Because of the hands-on nature of design instruction, the large number of lab or practical courses and the necessity of internships, reputable online bachelor's degree programs in fashion design are extremely rare.
</p><h3 id="section---CareerAndSalaryInformation">Career and Salary Information</h3><p>The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that most fashion design jobs are concentrated in New York and California, which tend to be fashion centers. Though working in a high-end design house might be your ultimate goal, you'll have a better chance of getting hired by firms that target mass-market, middle-income departments or chain stores (<i>www.bls.gov</i>).
</p><p>The BLS projects that employment opportunities for fashion designers would decrease by four percent from 2019-2029. This decline is largely because of overseas manufacturing. Also in 2020, the BLS determined the mean annual wage for fashion designers to be $87,210.</p>
