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Fashion Design - B.A.

COLLEGE: College of the Arts
DEPARTMENT: School of Fashion Design and Merchandising
226 Rockwell Hall
Tel: 330-672-3010
E-mail: fashionschool@kent.edu
Web: www.kent.edu/artscollege/fashion

Resources:

 
DESCRIPTION: The Bachelor of Arts in fashion design consists of two concentration, conceptual concentration and technical design and production concentration.

Conceptual Design provides an understanding of the design process, from concept to creation, including research, illustration, flat sketches and garment construction appropriate to a specific market. Conceptual designers’ responsibilities are most directly related to the preliminary design concepts and ideas for any given season. This includes an understanding and mastery of research, color and story boards, the creation of original designs and the presentation of designs

Technical Design and production provides an understanding of garment construction, including the ability to analyze a garment and communicate to a factory how to construct it using the industry finishes appropriate to a specific market. This includes an understanding and mastery of tech packs, the creation of spec sheets and correcting fit.

Technical designers’ responsibilities are to communicate to factories the process required to perfect a design into a style and make the style producible so that the quality is appropriate for a specific market. Technical designers are extremely proficient in solving problems and paying attention to detail.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES:
Fashion designers held about 22,700 jobs in 2008. About 31 percent of fashion designers worked for apparel, piece goods, and notions merchant wholesalers; and 13 percent worked for apparel manufacturers. Many others were self employed.

Employment of fashion designers tends to be concentrated in regional fashion centers. In 2008, the highest numbers of fashion designers were employed in New York and California.

(Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)

ADMISSION
REQUIREMENTS:
Freshman Students: Applicants must have at least a 2.75 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and a minimum ACT composite score of 21 (or an SAT combined critical reading plus math score of 980).

Transfer Students: To be considered for admission, transfer applicants need at least a 2.50 cumulative GPA based on 24 or more semester hours of college-level coursework at an accredited institution. Those students meeting this GPA requirement but with less than 24 semester hours will be evaluated as new freshmen.

GRADUATION
REQUIREMENTS:
Minimum 126 total credit hours, minimum 39 upper-division hours. Minimum 2.50 GPA in the major and 2.50 GPA overall required for graduation. Minimum 2.50 GPA overall required for internship. Courses with an FDM prefix must be passed with minimum C (2.00) grade. Students are deregistered from FDM classes when minimum C (2.00) grade has not been attained in the course prerequisite.

LANGUAGE
REQUIREMENT:

Yes
STUDY ABROAD/AWAY OPPORTUNITIES:

There are many Study Abroad/Away Opportunities, for more information contact the Office of Global Education.
PROGRAM FEE: $100/semester

ACCREDITATION:

National Association of Schools of Art and Design
STUDENT
ORGANIZATIONS:

Fashion Student Organization (FSO); Modista: Minority Fashion Group
GRADUATE
PROGRAMS:
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)