Students who joined the program prior to Fall 2019 must refer to the BA in Fashion Design curriculum here. The BA in Fashion Design is no longer offered as of Fall 2019. 

Overview

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Fashion Design, in collaboration with Elie Saab and the London College of Fashion, is modeled on the best fashion design programs offered at leading universities in the UK and the USA, and based on a rigorous four-year curriculum.

Students enrolled in this major are required to first complete the common one-year foundation study program. The degree requires both traditional and computer-aided design skills and hands-on construction and production training, which are introduced in the foundation year and then further developed during the following three years.

The proposed curriculum balances theoretical and creative processes of fashion design with the technical and practical components required for success. Students are taught to become designers with a unique vision centered on their own approaches to fashion and to further develop skills necessary for success, including entrepreneurship and business skills.

Mission

The BFA in Fashion Design program is committed to academic excellence, student centeredness and the formation of leaders in the fashion industry.

Program Objectives

The program aims to:

1. provide a comprehensive framework for individual fashion perspectives in a supportive learning environment,
2. nurture students’ exploration of the diverse meanings of culture, identity and heritage with sensitivity to the region,
3. facilitate a multidisciplinary environment that sees students engaging with the fashion industry and community-based initiatives,
4. explore creative entrepreneurship for viable routes to market within the fashion sector, and
5. demonstrate professional practice through skills and behaviors necessary to succeed in a global fashion platform.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the BFA in Fashion Design, students will be able to:

1. apply critical analysis and process when undertaking design projects and industry-based assignments,
2. demonstrate advanced design practices and skill sets as expected in a globalized fashion industry,
3. instigate sensitive and holistic approaches to fashion practice with attention to the development and promotion of heritage and cultural identity unique to the region,
4. acquire and implement comprehensive skill sets with understanding of emerging economies, technological advances and artisanal approaches to fashion practice, and
5. demonstrate skills that enhance the relationship between creative practice and the financial rigor essential for growth and sustainability.

Curriculum

A total of 128 credits are required to graduate, after Freshman Year [or the equivalent Lebanese Baccalaureate Part II], distributed as follows:

• Foundation Requirements (25 credits)
• Program Core Requirements (72 credits)
• Professional Electives (6 credits)
• Art History Electives (6 credits)
• LAS Requirements (18 credits)
• PED Requirement (1 credits)

Foundation Requirements (25 credits)

• See Foundation Studies

Program Core Requirements (72 credits)

• FAS250 Introduction to Practice and Process (3 cr.)
• FAS251 Thematic Workshop I (1 cr.)
• FAS331 Fashion Design I (5 cr.)
• FAS332 Fashion Design II (5 cr.)
• FAS341 Construction I (3 cr.)
• FAS342 Construction II (3 cr.)
• FAS361 Pattern Cutting I (4 cr.)
• FAS362 Pattern Cutting II (4 cr.)
• FAS371 Fashion History and Theory I (3 cr.)
• FAS421 Fashion Internship (3 cr.)
• FAS431 Fashion Design III (5 cr.)
• FAS441 Construction III (3 cr.)
• FAS461 Pattern Cutting III (4 cr.)
• FAS471 Fashion History and Theory II (3 cr.)
• FAS521 Fashion Entrepreneurship I (2 cr.)
• FAS522 Fashion Entrepreneurship II (2 cr.)
• FAS523 Fashion Entrepreneurship III (1 cr.)
• FAS531 Fashion Collection I (5 cr.)
• FAS532 Fashion Collection II (5 cr.)
• FAS541 Construction IV (3 cr.)
• FAS551 Thematic Workshop II (1 cr.)
• FAS561 Pattern Cutting IV (4 cr.)

Professional Electives (6 credits)

Fashion Design Electives - 300 level (3 credits)

• FAS381 Fashion Illustration (3 cr.)
• FAS382 Contour Design (3 cr.)
• FAS383 Styling (3 cr.)
• PHO344 Fashion Photography (3 cr.)

Fashion Design Electives - 400 level (3 credits)   

• FAS481 Specialist Cutting Techniques (3 cr.)
• FAS482 Accessory Design (3 cr.)
• FAS483 Designer Fabrics (3 cr.)

• ART331 History of Art I (3 cr.)
• ART332 History of Art II (3 cr.)
• ART431 Modern Art (3 cr.)
• ART335 Islamic Art of the Middle East (3 cr.)
• JSC224 Social Media (3 cr.)
• JSC312 Media and Society (3 cr.)
• PHO231 History & Theory of Photography (3 cr.)
• TVF221 Art of Film (3 cr.)
• TVF324 History of Film (3 cr.)

LAS Requirements (18 credits)

PED Requirement (1 credit)

Recommended Study Plan

Year One

Fall (16 credits)

• FND201 Drawing for Foundation (3 cr.) OR FND202 Photography for Foundation (3 cr.)
• FND231 Design Studio IA (3 cr.)
• FND232 Design Studio IB (3 cr.)
• FND235 Shop Techniques (1 cr.)
• FND251 Digital Media (3 cr.) OR FND281 Design Culture (3 cr.)
• LAS (3 cr.)

Spring (15 credits)

• FND201 Drawing for Foundation (3 cr.) OR FND202 Photography for Foundation (3 cr.)
• FND236 Design Studio II (6 cr.)
• FND251 Digital Media (3 cr.) OR FND281 Design Culture (3 cr.)
• LAS (3 cr.)

Summer (7 credits)

• FAS250 Introduction to Practice & Process (3 cr.)
• FAS251 Thematic Workshop I (1 cr.)
• LAS (3 cr.)

Year Two

Fall (15 credits)

• FAS331 Fashion Design I (5 cr.)
• FAS341 Construction I (3 cr.)
• FAS361 Pattern Cutting I (4 cr.)
• FAS371 Fashion History and Theory I (3 cr.)

Spring (18 credits)

• FAS332 Fashion Design II (5 cr.)
• FAS342 Construction II (3 cr.)
• FAS362 Pattern Cutting II (4 cr.)
• Art History Elective (3 cr.)
• LAS (3 cr.)

Summer (7 credits)

• Professional Elective (3 cr.)
• LAS (3 cr.)
• PED Requirement (1 cr.)

Year Three

Fall (18 credits)

• FAS431 Fashion Design III (5 cr.)
• FAS441 Construction III (3 cr.)
• FAS461 Pattern Cutting III (4 cr.)
• FAS471 Fashion History and Theory II (3 cr.)
• Professional Elective (3 cr.)

Spring (3 credits)

• FAS421 Fashion Internship (3 cr.)

Summer (6 credits)

• Art History Elective (3 cr.)
• LAS (3 cr.)

Year Four

Fall (15 credits)

• FAS521 Fashion Entrepreneurship I (2 cr.)
• FAS531 Fashion Collection I (5 cr.)
• FAS541 Construction IV (3 cr.)
• FAS551 Thematic Workshop II (1 cr.)
• FAS561 Pattern Cutting IV (4 cr.)

Spring (8 credits)

• FAS522 Fashion Entrepreneurship II (2 cr.)
• FAS523 Fashion Entrepreneurship III (1 cr.)
• FAS532 Fashion Collection II (5 cr.)