Jewelry Design AAS Degree Program
http://fitnyc.edu/jewelrydesign
School of Art and Design
Applications accepted for fall only. NYSED: 00831 CIP: 50.0713
The major in Jewelry Design integrates design ideation and development with traditional jewelry fabrication skills and processes. Students learn 2D graphic design applications for design creation and manipulation, 3D engineering applications for design verification, CAD modeling, gemology, and industry business practices. Students are prepared for positions as designers, artisans, or self-employed jewelers. Curriculum below is for the entering class of fall 2025.
| Semester 1 | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| MAJOR AREA | JD 139 - Jewelry Design & Ideation I | 2.5 |
| JD 142 - Introduction to Gemology and Gem Identification | 3 | |
| JD 174 - Jewelry Fabrications I | 2.5 | |
| RELATED AREA | Related Area: choice | 1.5 |
| GENERAL EDUCATION | EN 131 - English Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| SC 111 - Introduction to the Physical Sciences | 3 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| MAJOR AREA | JD 161 - Changes, Trends & Appraisals | 2 |
| JD 238 - Jewelry Design and Ideation II | 2.5 | |
| JD 272 - Studio Fabrications II | 2.5 | |
| RELATED AREA | Related Area: choice | 1.5 |
| ART HISTORY | choice - see Requirements | 3 |
| GENERAL EDUCATION | choice: see Requirements | 3 |
| Semester 3 | ||
| MAJOR AREA | JD 240 - Jewelry Design Development | 3 |
| JD 271 - Alternative/Sustainable Materials for Jewelry | 2.5 | |
| JD 273 - Studio Fabrication III: Advanced Manufacturing Techniques for Fine Jewelry | 2.5 | |
| ELECTIVE(S) | choice - General Elective(s) | 2 |
| ART HISTORY | choice - see Requirements | 3 |
| GENERAL EDUCATION | choice - see Requirements | 3 |
| Semester 4 | ||
| MAJOR AREA | JD 239 - Design Capstone Portfolio | 2.5 |
| JD 267 - Jewelry Seminar/Best Business Practices | 2.5 | |
| JD 274 - Fabrication Capstone Portfolio | 2.5 | |
| RELATED AREA | Related Area: choice | 1.5 |
| GENERAL EDUCATION | choice - see Requirements | 6 |
| TOTAL CREDIT REQUIREMENTS | ||
| GENERAL EDUCATION | 18 | |
| ART HISTORY | 6 | |
| ELECTIVE(S) | 2 | |
| MAJOR AREA | 30.5 | |
| RELATED AREA | 4.5 | |
| Total Credits: | 61 | |
Fall 2025 Requirements: See below.
Related Area Elective(s): 4.5 credits
CHOICE of any two to four courses (for which prerequisites have been met) totaling 4.5 credits from the following:
Courses from the School of Art and Design:
CG 111, CG 211, CG 214, DE 101, FA 104, FA 107, FA 114, FA 116, FA 141, LD 471, PH 201, TD 141
Courses from the School of Business and Technology:
BE 261, BE 403, BL 343, EP 311, EP 321, FM 231, MG 242
FIT's Liberal Arts Requirements for Associate Degree Programs: 24 credits total
- Three (3) credits EN 131 meets SUNY GE: Communication-Written (COMW) and Communication-Oral (COMO)
- Three (3) credits of any 200- or 300-level English literature or speech course
- Three (3) credits SUNY GE: Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning) (MATH)
- Three (3) credits SC 111 meets SUNY GE: Natural Science (and Scientific Reasoning) (NSCI)
- Three (3) credits SUNY GE: Diversity: Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice (DVRS) excluding History of Art (HA) courses.
- Three (3) credits any 100-level HA course
- Three (3) credits any History of Art course
- Three (3) credits from SUNY General Education courses in any of the following areas excluding History of Art (HA) courses.
-
SUNY GE: The Arts (ARTS)
-
SUNY GE: World History and Global Awareness (GLBL)
-
SUNY GE: Humanities (HUMN)
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SUNY GE: Social Science (SOCS)
-
SUNY GE: US History and Civic Engagement (USCV)
-
SUNY GE: World Languages (WLNG)
-
See list of Gen Ed approved courses under NEW FIT's General Education Requirements and Courses. An FIT Gen Ed course cannot be used to meet more than one General Education area.
Upper Division Alternative(s):
Graduates of this program are eligible to apply for admission to the Bachelor of Fine Arts programs in Footwear and Accessories Design, Textile/Surface Design, and Toy Design.
Upon completion of the Jewelry Design AAS Program, students will be able to:
- Solve design problems, turning concepts into real, functioning jewelry.
- Research and document sources for design and technical inspiration.
- Design jewelry and objects for various markets.
- Engineer jewelry and objects for production.
- Perform cost analysis and product life-cycle management for the production of jewelry.
- Create designs and models using 2D digital technology.
- Use 3D hard- and soft-surface modeling software to create digital models of jewelry for production.
- Present designs, proposals, and projects to clients, peers, and in an industrial board room setting.
- Create collections of jewelry in the genres of fine, fashion, and alternative materials.
- Apply knowledge of sustainability and ethical practices to the choices made in design, sourcing, and fabrication of jewelry.
- Demonstrate and implement safe working practices in a jewelry studio and a production environment.