Program Overview
Program Overview
The Fashion Design, BFA program at Washington University in St. Louis is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in fashion design, combining artistic and technical skills with academic coursework. The program is part of the College of Art and allows students to explore various aspects of fashion, from design and production to history and cultural context.
Distribution Requirements
To graduate, students must complete a total of 121 units, including distribution requirements in the following areas:
- Writing (3 units): Students must complete a College Writing course with a C- or better during the first year of study.
- Humanities (3 units): Courses in literature, Classics, History, Philosophy, Religious Studies, and creative arts.
- Natural Sciences or Mathematics (3 units): Courses in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Biology or Policy, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Math, Physics, and some courses from departments such as Anthropology and Psychological & Brain Sciences.
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 units): Courses in Anthropology, Economics, Education, International and Area Studies, Political Science, Psychological & Brain Sciences, and interdisciplinary studies.
Art History and Visual Culture
Students must complete 15 units in Art History and Visual Culture, including:
- Two 3-credit introductory courses: ARTARCH 1515 History of Western Art, Architecture & Design and ARTARCH 2020 Introduction to Modern Art, Architecture and Design.
- Three additional courses at the 2000-level or above in Art History and Archaeology (ARTARCH) or tagged as FA Visual Culture.
Foundations
The Foundations component consists of 13 units, including:
- ART 1050 Drawing I
- ART 1110 2D Design
- ART 1120 3D Design
- DESIGN 1210 Digital Studio
- ART 1101 Practices in Art + Design
Sam Fox Electives
Students must complete 12 units of Sam Fox Electives, which can be any courses in ART, DESIGN, FASHION, ARCH, LANDARCH, or URBDES.
Open Electives
30 units of Open Electives are required, which can be any courses in the Schools of Sam Fox, Arts & Sciences, Business, or Engineering.
Major Requirements
The Fashion Design major requires 39 units, including:
- Sophomore Studio Requirements (12 units)
- Junior/Senior Studio Requirements (21 units)
- Fashion Major Elective (one 3000- to 4000-level course tagged FA Fashion Major Elective)
- Capstone I & II (6 units)
Additional Information
- A maximum of 15 non-Washington University units (including Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and transfer credit) is permitted.
- No more than 9 units may be applied to physical education, lessons, independent study, and internships.
- No units from the School of Continuing & Professional Studies will be accepted.