Curriculum

Students are supported and encouraged to complete internships and gain as much real-world experience as possible while studying at Thomas Jefferson University. Below is a typical course sequence for a fashion design undergraduate student.

Total: 125-127 credits

First Year (31-33 credits)

Major Core

• Design Essentials (Fall)
• Drawing Fundamentals (Fall)
• Fashion Design Research (Spring)
• Figure Drawing (Spring)
• Survey of the Textile Industry (Fall)
• History of Western Art II

Hallmarks Core

• Pathways Seminar: Preparing for Academic & Professional Success
• Writing Seminar I: Written Communication
• Topics in American Studies
• Mathematics

DEC Core

• Process: Integrative Design Process (IDP)

Second Year (30 credits)

Major Courses

• Garment Structures (Fall)
• Fashion Figure Drawing (Fall)
• CAD for Fashion Design (Spring)
• Pattern Development I (Spring)
• History of Costumes & Textiles (Fall)
• History of 20th Century Designers (Spring)

Hallmarks Core

• Writing Seminar II- Multimedia Communication
• Global Diversity
• Scientific Understanding 

DEC Core

• Dec Systems
• Framework: Business Models

Third Year (30 credits)

Major Courses

• Pattern Development II (Fall)
• Fashion Design Development (Fall)
• Sustainable Concepts Fashion Design (Spring)
• Junior Studio (Spring)
• Technical Design OR Fashion Illustration I
• Advanced CAD to Technical Design or Fashion Illustration I or Advanced CAD

Hallmarks Core

• Ethics
• American Diversity
• Global Citizenship
• Debating Global Issues

DEC Methods

• Systems: Ethnographic Research Methods

Fourth Year (34 credits)

Major Core

• Apparel Fabric Performance (Spring)
• Collection Development I (Fall)
• Collection Development II (Spring)
• Apparel CAD/CAM (Spring)
• Portfolio Layout and Development
• Designated Fashion Design Elective
  (FASD300, FASD315, FASD317, FASR317, FASR319)

Hallmarks Core

• Capstone Folio Workshop

Free Electives

• [3] Free Electives (9 credits)