Fashion Design–Special Occasion BFA Degree Program

http://fitnyc.edu/fashiondesign

Plan of Study

Semester 5		Credits
MAJOR AREA	FD 357 - Introduction to Knitwear Design	3
	FD 381 - Stretch Fundamentals	2.5
	FF 311 - Lifestyle Collection Design	2.5
	FF 322 - 20th Century Style for the 21st Century Aesthetic	3
	choice - see Major Area Electives*	2
LIBERAL ARTS	choice - see Liberal Arts/World Languages*	3
Semester 6		Credits
MAJOR AREA	FD 231 - Haute Couture Sewing Techniques	2
	FD 342 - CAD for Fashion Design and Development, FD 400 - 3D Garment Visualization,   or FF 345 - Advanced Digital Fashion Design	2
	FD 368 - Special Occasion Bridal Design	3
	FF 373 - Special Occasion Bridal Design	2.5
RELATED AREA	choice - see Related Area Electives*	4
LIBERAL ARTS	choice - Liberal Arts/World Languages*	3
Semester 7		Credits
MAJOR AREA	FD 383 - Haute Couture Embellishments	2.5
	FD 481 - Structural Design	2.5
	FF 496 - Senior Portfolio: Special Occasion Design	2.5
RELATED AREA	choice - see Related Area Electives*	2
LIBERAL ARTS	choice - see Liberal Arts/Art History	3
	choice - see Liberal Arts	3
Semester 8		Credits
MAJOR AREA	FD 486 - Senior Thesis: Special Occasion Design	3
	FF 491 - Internship	2
	choice - see Major Area Electives*	2
LIBERAL ARTS	choice - see Liberal Arts/Art History	3
	choice - see Liberal Arts*	3
TOTAL CREDIT REQUIREMENTS
	MAJOR AREA	37
	RELATED AREA	6
	LIBERAL ARTS	18
	Total Credits:	61

Fall 2026 Requirements: See below.

Major Area Electives: 5.5 credits minimum. 
CHOICE of any 300- or 400-level major area course (for which prerequisites have been met), or AP 242, AP 243, AP 241, FD 231, FD 281, or FD 282

Related Area Electives: 4 credits minimum.
​CHOICE of any 100- or 200- level related area course from LD, ML, TD, or PH or any   300- level EP course (for which prerequisites have been met) , or AC 114, BE 261, CL 112, CL 132, CL 132, CT 305, CT 322, DE 143,, FA 101, FA 103, FA 104, FA 105,  FM 303, FM 324, IC 497, IN 312, IN 322, IN 342, IN 400, IN 443, JD 101, JD 123, JD 138, MG 301, MG 311, TS 116, or TS 368

Liberal Arts and Sciences Course Content Requirements
(24 AAS credits* + 18 BS credits = 42 credits total)

• English: 6 credits.
  • EN 131 meets SUNY GE: Communication-Written (COMW) and Communication-Oral (COMO)* 
  • CHOICE any 200- or 300-level EN literature or speech course.*
• Mathematics: 3 credits.
  • ​CHOICE of any MA that meets SUNY GE: Mathematics (MATH)*
• Natural Sciences: 3 credits.
  • ​CHOICE of any SC that meets SUNY GE: Natural Sciences (NSCI)*
• Diversity: 3 credits.
  • ​CHOICE of any course that meets SUNY GE: Diversity: Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (DVRS)*
• History of Art: 12 credits. 
  • Any HA course*
  • Any HA course*
  • Any HA Course
  • Any HA course that meets General Education SUNY GE:  World History and Global Awareness (GLBL) See the full list of Art/Design History courses under HA: History of Art and Civilization.
• World Languages: 6 credits. 
  • Two semesters of the same foreign language, one of which must meet SUNY GE: World Languages (WLNG)
• General Education: 3 credits*. CHOICE of one additional SUNY General Education Area:
  • The Arts (ARTS)
  • Humanities (HUMN)
  • Social Sciences (SOCS)
  • U.S. History and Civic Engagement (USCV)
  • World History and Global Awareness (GLBL)
  • World Languages (WLNG)

Liberal Arts Elective(s): 6 credits. Select Liberal Arts courses from the following subject areas: AB (Arabic); CH (Chinese); EN (English); EL (English Language and Literacy); FI (Film and Media Studies); FR (French); HA (History of Art); HE (Health Education) HE 201, HE 301; IT (Italian); JA (Japanese); MU (Music); HI (History); MA (Math); MC (Modern Languages and Cultures); PE (Physical Education and Dance) PE 215, PE 216, PE 217, PE 220; PL (Philosophy); PO (Portuguese); SC (Science); SP (Spanish); and SS (Social Sciences). 

**NOTE: FF 322 is required and may be taken in either 5th or 6th semester.
CHOICE of FD 342 or FD 400 or  FF 345 is required and may be taken in either fifth or sixth semester.

OVERALL BACHELOR'S DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

FIT's 2+2 degree structure requires an earned AAS or equivalent plus all the BS or BFA degree requirements. 

This structure includes the following overall bachelor's degree graduation requirements:

• 120–126 total earned credits 
• 30 credits in General Education credits approved by the State University of New York (SUNY)

BFA degrees NASAD and New York State guidelines:

• 12 credits art/design history
• 30 credits in Liberal Arts/General Studies
• 78–84 credits in major and related area, including a minimum of 24 credits in 300- to 400-level major and related area coursework

Students who successfully complete the Fashion Design BFA program will be able to:

1. Create fashion collections that reflect creativity and innovation through the use of advanced techniques achieved through shape, color, silhouette, proportion and fabrication.
2. Create original design collections for diverse fashion markets, demonstrating proficient artistic ability and utilizing advanced hand and digital rendering techniques.
3. Independently select and apply appropriate, innovative technologies to conceptualize, create, produce and communicate fashion design and related concepts.
4. Apply the knowledge of environmental, social, economic, and political impacts of climate change to design fashion using ethical and sustainable principles.
5. Understand and apply advanced concepts of diversity, equity and inclusion in the fashion design development process that honor communities and people who have been marginalized and excluded from the dominant fashion discourse.
6. Utilize information and communication technologies to research, evaluate, create, and communicate information as it relates to fashion design concepts at an advanced level.