College of the Arts
School of Fashion Design and Merchandising
www.kent.edu/fashion

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About This Program

Express your creativity with Kent State's Fashion Design B.A. program. Our program prepares you for a career in the fashion industry by providing a comprehensive curriculum, experienced faculty and state-of-the-art facilities. Enroll now and discover your unique design style. Read more...

Contact Information

• Ja Young Hwang | fashionschool@kent.edu | 330-672-3010
• Speak with an Advisor
• Chat with an Admissions Counselor

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers

• Fashion designers
• CAD designers
• Creative directors
• Illustrators
• Product developers
• Print designers
• Technical designers
• Textile designers
• Product development
• Knit designers
• Knit programmers
• Sourcing

Accreditation

National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Admission to the Fashion Design major is selective.

First-Year Students: Prospective applicants must have a minimum 3.000 overall GPA (on a 4.000 scale)(starting with the fall 2026 admission term, a minimum 2.750 overall GPA is required).

Transfer Students: Prospective applicants must have a minimum 2.750 overall GPA based on minimum 24 credit hours of college-level coursework at an accredited institution. Those students meeting this GPA requirement but with fewer than 24 credit hours will be evaluated as new freshmen.

Students who do not meet the criteria for admission to the Fashion Design major may be eligible for admission to the Pre-Fashion Design and Merchandising non-degree major. Starting with the fall 2026 admission term, students who do not meet the criteria for admission to the Fashion Design major will be admitted to the Exploratory Program in University College.

In addition, students who do not meet the admission criteria may initiate the process for declaring the B.A. degree in Fashion Design after completing minimum 12 credit hours of non-developmental coursework at Kent State University and earning a minimum 2.750 overall GPA.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

²

Students are required to participate in a study away opportunity. Students must have a minimum 2.500 overall GPA to participate in this study away requirement. Choose from the following: FDM 30189; FDM 30190; FDM 30289; FDM 30290; FDM 30389; FDM 30489; FDM 35070; FDM 35080; FDM 35089; FDM 35589; FDM 35689; FDM 35789; FDM 35889; FDM 35989; FDM 36589; FDM 45392; FDM 45589; FDM 45590; FDM 45689; OGE 10095.

³

Maximum 6 credit hours of FDM 45093 can be used as an Additional Major Elective. Maximum 6 credit hours from each non-Fashion Design and Merchandising (FDM) subject area can be used as an Additional Major Elective.

Graduation Requirements

• Participation in a study abroad/away experience
• Minimum 2.500 overall GPA required for internship
• Minimum 2.500 overall GPA required for study away

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

University Requirements

All students in a bachelor's degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation.

NOTE: University requirements may be fulfilled in this program by specific course requirements. Please see Program Requirements for details.

Kent Core Requirements

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Describe the fashion industry, fashion markets, fashion products and services.
2. Integrate conceptual, technical and production design knowledge and skills, leading to a synthesis of the design process from concept to production.
3. Apply skills in the use of basic tools, techniques and processes sufficient to produce work from draft or specifications to finished product, including skills with portfolio preparation.
4. Use conceptual and critical thinking skills that are applicable to the fashion industry.
5. Employ research processes and practices used within the fashion industry.
6. Demonstrate professionalism and communication skills within the appropriate creative industry.

Program Policies

Physical Activity and ROTC Courses

No more than 4 credit hours of Physical Activity, Wellness and Sport (PWS) courses or the first 16 credit hours of ROTC courses—Aerospace Studies (ASTU) and Military Studies (MSCI)—may apply to the 120 credit hours required for graduation.

Veterans who have completed a minimum of one year of active duty may receive PWS credit for military basic training according to branch of service, as follows:

• Army and Marine Corps, 3 credit hours;
• Navy and Coast Guard, 2 credit hours;
• Air Force, 1 credit hour.

Requirement Audit

Upon completion of 60 credit hours, each student is required to contact the College of the Arts Advising office to obtain a current evaluation of progress toward completion of the student’s chosen degree program. Requirement evaluations are not a substitute for meeting with a faculty advisor. Students may access GPS (Graduation Planning System) audit through their FlashLine account which provides them with information about their academic progress. Questions about GPS audits are answered in the College of the Arts Advising office.

Full Description

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Fashion Design integrates conceptual, technical and production design knowledge and skills, leading to a synthesis of the design process from concept to production. These processes include color, design and trend research; technical sketching and rendered illustration; pattern-making and garment construction; analysis of appropriate fit and fabric selection; best practices in sustainable methods and knowledge and the ability to communicate specifications for production using industry standards appropriate to specific markets.

The B.A. degree in Fashion Design promotes an emphasis on the diversity of studio practice and liberal art experiences with the most up to date technology applications. Students have the option to select coursework offerings to gain expertise in a variety of specialties that connect directly to fashion design, such as wearable technology applications, sustainable development and design, garment knitting, illustration and/or accessory design.

The degree program prepares students for professional careers by developing technical competency, creative/independent problem solving and conceptual understanding necessary for the challenges of a career in the creative industries. Students develop portfolios for presentation at industry interviews and are prepared to be strongly competitive for any entry-level design position in the industry.

Students participate in a study abroad/away experience, which includes opportunities to study for a semester in New York City; Florence, Italy; and Paris, France, as well as through collaborative partnership programs with universities in Hong Kong, South Korea and London.

While enrolled in junior-level fashion design studio courses, fashion design students may complete the application process to declare the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree or choose to continue pursuing the B.A. degree. The decision of which degree is best for a particular student depends on the student's educational and career goals, academic standing, performance in studio coursework and an approved B.F.A. proposal.