Fashion Design & Technology A.A.S.

School: Business and Professional Careers
Academic Dept: Business
HEGIS: 5012

Important Note about Program Requirements

The requirements listed below are for students entering into this program from Fall 2024 to Summer 2025. Students who entered the program during a prior semester will find their specific requirements listed in the Catalog under which they entered. Archived Catalogs are accessible through the dropdown menu above.

Program Description

The Fashion Design & Technology AAS degree enables students to understand how apparel is produced for various markets considering creative, technical, and costing factors. They learn the technical skills required to check pattern specifications, review samples for fit, and make sure garments are produced correctly before approving the final production sample that will be manufactured into finished products. Students develop skills in critical thinking, textiles, draping, and flat pattern making, garment construction, apparel design, fashion illustrating, computer-aided design and graphic development skills used in the design fields from apparel manufacturing to accessories to home products. This interdisciplinary program gives students an opportunity to develop their creative, technical, and business skills with a heavy focus on the use of computers and technology, reflecting the trend in the new world of fashion.

Graduates of the program will be prepared to fill various positions within the fashion industry, such as: junior patternmakers; design assistants; technical design, tailoring and production assistants; textile specialists; and product development assistants.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, a student will:

Demonstrate the professional knowledge and skills necessary to pursue a career in the fashion industry and/or higher education in fashion design & technology.
Demonstrate design development competency through visual portfolios.
Demonstrate the ability to use industry language and professional demeanor to communicate ideas and concepts necessary for design and product development.
Demonstrate the technical skills required to communicate ideas and concepts visually through fashion illustration and design.
Demonstrate creative self-expression through fashion design and conceptual development of fashion products.

Program Requirements

60 credits are required for the degree:

General Education - 21 credits
Required Degree Courses - 39 credits

General Education Requirements - 21 Credits

Communication - Written and Oral (3 credits): ENG 101 - Writing and Research
Humanities (3 credits): ENG 102 - Writing and Literature
Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning) (3 credits): choose from this category of general education courses
Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) (3 credits): choose from this category of general education courses
Diversity: Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice; and Social Sciences (3 credits): SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology
US History and Civic Engagement OR World History and Global Awareness (3 credits): choose from either category, US History/Civic Engagement or World History/Global Awareness
The Arts (3 credits): ART 101 - Drawing 1

Where specific courses are not listed within the categories above, courses must be selected from the list of all General Education Courses .

Required Degree Courses - 39 credits

Program Map

The program map is a recommended semester-by-semester schedule of courses based on degree requirements and serve as a general guideline to help students complete their program in two years. Although designed for full-time enrollment, these are easily adaptable for part-time study. For additional, individualized guidance, students should review Degree Works and consult an Academic Counselor or Faculty Advisor to ensure they are on track to complete their program.

Semester 1

Course	Credits
ART 101 - Drawing 1	3
ENG 101 - Writing and Research	3
FASH 108 - History of 20th Century Fashion	3
FASH 120 - Garment Construction	3
Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning) Gen. Ed. Course	3
Semester Total Credits	15

Semester 2

Course	Credits
ENG 102 - Writing and Literature	3
FASH 150 - Flat Pattern Making and Design 1	3
FASH 205 - Textiles in the Global Marketplace	3
FASH 230 - Fashion Illustration Techniques 1	3
US History and Civic Engagement OR World History and Global Awareness Gen. Ed. Course	3
Semester Total Credits	15

Semester 3

Course	Credits
FASH 115 - Fashion Design Technology 1	3
FASH 210 - Flat Patternmaking and Design 2	3
FASH 220 - Apparel and Design 1	3
FASH 231 - Fashion Product Development	3
FASH 240 - Fashion Illustration Techniques 2	3
Semester Total Credits	15

Semester 4

Course	Credits
FASH 221 - Apparel and Design 2	3
FASH 245 - Fashion Design Technology 2	3
FASH 270 - Fashion Design Portfolio	3
Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) Gen. Ed. Course	3
SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology	3
Semester Total Credits	15

Minimum Total Credits: 60

Transfer Opportunities

Westchester Community College is committed to facilitating a smooth transfer process to ensure that graduates of the college are prepared to transfer with junior status, and are able to complete a bachelor’s degree within two years of full-time study upon transfer. View 4-year institutions’ transfer agreement information by program here.

Career Opportunities

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