The Fashion Studies program provides students the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of creative design, merchandising and entrepreneurship and applying their knowledge to the design, retail, wholesale and business side of the fashion industry.
Determine Your Path
Use your passion to gain knowledge and learn technical skills for a career in the fashion industry.
Prepare for a career in fashion, transfer to a four-year college or university or update your skills. College of DuPage offers:
- Dedicated instructors with years of practical industry experience and certification.
- Instruction in top-notch facilities and on cutting-edge equipment.
- Flexible course schedules with day, evening and online learning.
- Practical, hands-on experience as well as classroom-based studies.
- Affordable programs that get you on the fast track to success without breaking the bank.
- An annual fashion show and other industry events.
Fashion Design
The Fashion Design Associate of Applied Science program allows students to be exposed to the constant changes in the fashion field by offering up-to-date classes that reflect the fashion industry in its current form. Classes will prepare you to design, develop and make clothing by focusing on hands-on production and technical skills needed in the industry.
Course curriculum will introduce you to the fundamentals of design, construction, pattern making, draping, product development, computer and hand illustration and textiles. Students can choose from a variety of elective classes that focus on their desired educational and career goals. Design students will continue on to our capstone class where designs are made from concept to finished runway ready garments.
Fashion Merchandising
The Fashion Merchandising Associate of Applied Science program introduces students to the fashion industry and its varied channels of employment. Classes cover the foundations of wholesale, retail and production along with branding, forecasting and promotion.
Course curriculum offers a range of classes that allow students to explore the careers of fashion merchandising. Classes offered include textiles, fashion business, production, branding, retail practices, visual and digital marketing. Students will choose from a wide selection of electives that allow them to focus on their natural skills and interests to gain knowledge of the emerging needs and constant changes of the industry.
Fashion Design
The Fashion Design certificate is for students seeking in-depth knowledge of the fashion industry for their own career goals without the desire to further their education in the field.
Course curriculum will introduce you to the fundamentals of design, construction, pattern making, illustration and textiles. Elective choices allow students to customize their education to support their career goals.
Fashion Entrepreneurship
The Fashion Entrepreneurship certificate covers the basics of examining a small business startup. Students will learn the fundamentals of garment construction and product development. Elective choices allow students to customize their education to support their career goals.
Fashion Merchandising
The Fashion Merchandising certificate is for students seeking in-depth knowledge of the fashion industry for their own career goals without the desire to further their education in the field.
Classes cover the foundations of wholesale, retail, and production along with branding, forecasting and promotion. Elective choices allow students to customize their education to support their career goals.
Get Started Today
The first step to getting started in Fashion Studies is to apply for admission.
Academic and Career Pathways give you a roadmap to achieving your career goals. Follow a pathway based on your degree or certificate that outlines which classes you need to take and when so you graduate on time or move on to the next phase in your career.
Fashion Design
Students taking fashion design courses will:
- Formulate a strategy to launch or expand a fashion product.
- Recognize consumer behavior trends and their influence on sales and marketing plans.
- Distinguish between retail and wholesale channels.
- Develop a marketing plan using price, distribution, promotional strategies, and networking opportunities.
- Create a preliminary prototype.
- Assemble basic financial statements.
- Effectively communicate ideas through written, verbal, and presentation methods.
- Consider global effects when solving design problems.
- Demonstrate neat and understandable sketching techniques to effectively communicate creative ideas in a digital or non-digital format.
- Use their developing artistic voice and learned creative techniques to design items by means of the process of research, analysis of trend information and understanding of apparel markets.
- Use learned knowledge of fabrics, drafting, draping, sewing & embellishment to make their creative work.
- Present visually pleasing finished work in sketch or fabric form using industry vocabulary to describe their creative process and market expectations.
- Understand the retail and wholesale business of fashion and importance of schedules, markets and sales in the retail industry of brick and mortar & online.
- Determine the time frame needed for completion of projects that recognize their creative potential to its fullest.
Fashion Merchandising
Students taking fashion merchandising courses will:
- Understand fashion trend reports, and their effect on current and historical markets.
- Promotion via social media, event planning or fashion shows.
- Knowledge of the interaction between wholesale and retail markets.
- Demonstration of visual merchandising techniques.
- Understand the need for strong computer, math and problem-solving skills as needed for buyers and wholesale sales.
- Identify clothing fabric and construction as a determination for quality level.
- Be able to demonstrate styling and merchandising knowledge.
College of DuPage has several fashion studies transfer opportunities in place with four-year colleges and universities to save you time, money and make the transfer process easier.
Many of these agreements with other colleges and universities have specific course requirements and a pre-determined course plan that needs to be followed to be eligible to transfer. Contact a program faculty member or academic advisor to learn more as course requirements vary by institution.
Career Information
Explore careers based on your interest, location and salary range or view top occupations by income.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to your frequently asked questions regarding the Fashion Studies program.
A degree in fashion may be the right fit if you have a strong eye for trends, are organized yet adaptable, and bring creativity and artistry to your work. Successful fashion students thrive under pressure, work quickly and communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
To succeed in fashion, you’ll need a solid understanding of garment construction, strong technical abilities and sketching skills, along with knowledge of textiles and garment fit.
With experience, advancement opportunities increase. Entry-level design team roles can lead to positions such as designer, trend director, technical designer, or print and color designer. Other career paths include quality control management, freelance work and self-employment.
Graduates with fashion merchandising degrees typically pursue roles in visual merchandising, fashion styling, retail buying and fashion marketing. Students begin networking with industry professional through classroom experiences and campus events, leading to job and internship opportunities.
