Fashion Design–Sportswear BFA Degree Program
http://fitnyc.edu/fashiondesign
School of Art and Design
Students in the Sportswear concentration hone their expertise through applied experiential learning and the creative application of critical problem-solving. They prepare for positions as fashion designers and brand builders by refining their conceptual, aesthetic, and technical skills. An internship is required. The program prepares graduates for careers in the fashion industry and related design fields. Registering for this concentration is based on availability. Curriculum below is for the entering class of fall 2026.
| 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 Requirements*: Major Area Elective(s) | 2 | |
| LIBERAL ARTS | choice - see Liberal Arts/World Languages | 3 |
| Semester 6 | Credits | |
| MAJOR AREA | FD 342 - CAD for Fashion Design and Development, FD 400 - 3D Garment Visualization, or FF 345 - Advanced Digital Fashion Design * | 2 |
| FD 369 - Sportswear Development Concepts | 3 | |
| FF 363 - Design Directions in R-T-W | 2.5 | |
| choice - see Requirements*: Major Area Elective(s) | 2 | |
| RELATED AREA | choice - see Requirements*: Related Area Elective(s) | 2 |
| LIBERAL ARTS | choice - see Requirements*: Liberal Arts/World Languages | 3 |
| Semester 7 | Credits | |
| MAJOR AREA | FD 462 - Designer Sportswear Incubator | 2.5 |
| FF 497 - Senior Portfolio: Sportswear Design | 2.5 | |
| RELATED AREA | choice - see Requirements*: Related Area Elective(s) | 4 |
| LIBERAL ARTS | choice - see Requirements*: Liberal Arts/History of Art | 3 |
| choice - see Requirements*: Liberal Arts | 3 | |
| Semester 8 | Credits | |
| MAJOR AREA | FD 485 - Senior Thesis: Sportswear Design | 3 |
| FF 491 - Internship | 2 | |
| choice - see Requirements*: Major Area Elective(s) | 2 | |
| RELATED AREA | choice - see Requirements*: Related Area Elective(s) | 2 |
| LIBERAL ARTS | choice - see Requirements*: Liberal Arts/History of Art | 3 |
| choice - see Requirements*: Liberal Arts | 3 | |
| TOTAL CREDIT REQUIREMENTS | ||
| MAJOR AREA | 34.5 | |
| RELATED AREA | 8 | |
| LIBERAL ARTS | 18 | |
| Total Credits: | 60.5 | |
Fall 2026 Requirements: See below.
Major Area Electives: 6 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: 8 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, 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:
- Create fashion collections that reflect creativity and innovation through the use of advanced techniques achieved through shape, color, silhouette, proportion and fabrication.
- Create original design collections for diverse fashion markets, demonstrating proficient artistic ability and utilizing advanced hand and digital rendering techniques.
- Independently select and apply appropriate, innovative technologies to conceptualize, create, produce and communicate fashion design and related concepts.
- Apply the knowledge of environmental, social, economic, and political impacts of climate change to design fashion using ethical and sustainable principles.
- 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.
- Utilize information and communication technologies to research, evaluate, create, and communicate information as it relates to fashion design concepts at an advanced level.