Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Costume Design
- San Francisco, USA
- Online
Bachelor's degree
DURATION
8 semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2027
TUITION FEES
USD 1,463 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* per unit for international students / USD 1,239 per unit for domestic students
Key Summary
The costume design emphasis combines a rigorous sewing program with industry-specific design courses, preparing students to work in theater and film. Students are given the opportunity to gain practical experience through collaboration with the School of Motion Pictures & Television and the School of Acting.
Undergraduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:
Research and Concept Development
- Produce creative and original designs
- Select design concepts appropriate for the customer or audience
- Generate ideas that are coherently related to the chosen concept
- Conduct thorough design research
- Demonstrate evidence of trialing and self-editing designs
- Propose designs that are possible to translate from 2D to 3D
Visual Presentation Skills
- Create professional and organized presentations that reflect an individual/personal style
- Effectively communicate design concepts and philosophy two-dimensionally
Technical Skills
- Work effectively with industry-standard software
- Demonstrate technical proficiency in design communication
Verbal and Written Presentation Skills
- Clearly express ideas utilizing industry vocabulary
Professional Readiness
- Create a relevant and original portfolio and collateral materials that can be used to market themselves to the industry
Costume Design Skills
- Demonstrate advanced skills in alterations, distressing, and quick rigging of costume pieces for theatrical productions
- Effectively document and apply director/cast/crew feedback to costume designs
- Prepare a legible, organized production bible including all relevant charts, documents, and photographs
- Maintain consistency in the costume looks and actors’ hair and makeup for the entire production
Academy of Art University Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Academy of Art University will demonstrate the ability to:
- Produce a body of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in their chosen field of art and design.
- Solve creative problems within their field of art and design, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
- Communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral, and written presentation skills relevant to their field.
- Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles.
- Evaluate work in their field, including their own work, using professional terminology.
- Recognize the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on art and design products.
- Learn the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global marketplace for art and design.
Academy of Art University offers some of the best training and hands-on experience to help accelerate your career. We pride ourselves in doing an exceptional job preparing you to excel in your future fashion careers. Our degree programs are designed to equip aspiring fashion professionals with a comprehensive toolbox of marketable skills that lead to success in the fashion industry.
Fashion Designer
Based on your conceptual vision, your grasp of fashion direction, and your ability to anticipate designs that will appeal to consumers, you will transform your fashion inspirations into original collections of clothing. Sketch, select colors and fabrics, and give direction to make the products you design.
Design Director
Oversee trends, color, and fabric direction for upcoming seasons across all product lines as a design director for a fashion label. You will manage design teams, oversee manufacturing and marketing, and set the direction for a brand voice to create the future of fashion.
Knitwear Designer
You will create ideas for a range of products including sweaters, cardigans, knit jackets and coats, knit dresses, and knit accessories. A wide variety of environments will be open to you - from retail brands to boutiques, to freelancing and will work with apparel manufacturers to create men's, women's, and children's fashions for the mass market.
Textile Designer
You will research, draw, and design seasonal prints for fashion, interiors, and other surfaces using both hand-drawing and computer skills. Design repeat patterns and graphic prints for the home and apparel. Create and inspire the next wave of textile designs.
Unit Requirements
| Major | 33 |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts | 42 |
| Elective | 9 |
| Core | 36 |
| Total | 120 |
Degree Requirements
- 1 Written Communication: Composition
- 1 Written Communication: Critical Thinking
- 1 Written Communication: Context & Style
- 2 Art Historical Awareness: Western Art
- 1 Art Historical Awareness: Surveys
- 1 Historical Awareness
- 1 Fashion Historical Awareness Course
- 1 Quantitative Literacy
- 1 Cultural Ideas & Influences
- 1 Employment Communications & Practices
Curriculum
Semester 1
- FSH 100: Drawing for Fashion (Core)
- FSH 140: Introduction to Costume Design (Core)
- FSH 164: Fashion Sewing Techniques (Core)
- LA 101: Freshman Symposium: Artistic Resilience (Liberal Arts)
Semester 2
- FSH 102: Drawing for Fashion 2 (Core)
- FSH 120: Color Science and Fabric Technology (Core)
- FSH 161: Digital Techniques for the Fashion Business (Core)
Recommended for summer - FSH 181: Costume Design for Film (Core)
- LA 108: Composition for the Artist (Liberal Arts)
Recommended for summer - LA 244: History of Fashion (Liberal Arts)
Semester 3
- FSH 241: Costume Production for Film (Core)
- FSH 274: Applied Textiles 1 (Core)
- LA 120: Art History Through the 15th Century (Liberal Arts)
- LA 291: Designing Careers (Liberal Arts)
Semester 4
- FSH 182: Costume Design for the Stage (Core)
- FSH 184: Styling (Major)
- FSH 220: Construction/Draping/Flat Pattern 1 (Core)
- FSH 311: Millinery (Major)
- LA 121: Art History Through the 19th Century (Liberal Arts)
Recommended for summer - LA 202: English Composition: Creative Persuasion & Argument (Liberal Arts)
Recommended for summer
Semester 5
- FSH 230: Construction/Draping/Flat Pattern 2 (Major)
- FSH 242: Costume Production for Stage (Major)
- FSH 243: Costume Design for Dance (Major)
- LA 119: Fabric and Fiber Technology (Liberal Arts)
Semester 6
- FSH 300: Product Development: Shoe Collection (Major)
- FSH 342: Costume Design Production (Major)
- FSH 344: Fabric and Form (Elective)
- Recommended for summer
- LA 110: Writing the Short Story (Liberal Arts)
Recommended for summer - LA 171: Western Civilization (Liberal Arts)
- LA 292: Programming & Culture (Liberal Arts)
Semester 7
- FSH 240: The Classical Tutu: Introduction (Major)
- FSH 390: Professional Practices and Portfolio for Fashion Business (Core)
- LA 124: Physics for Artists: Light, Sound, and Motion (Liberal Arts)
- LA 282: Film History 2: 1940-1974 (Liberal Arts)
Semester 8
- FSH 284: Photo Shoot Production for Stylists (Elective)
- FSH 441: Renaissance Costume Construction (Major)
- FSH 500: Internship in Fashion (Elective)
Recommended for summer - JEM 110: Jewelry & Metal Arts 1 (Major)
- LA 154: Great Performances: Legendary Actors of the Silver Screen (Liberal Arts)
Recommended for summer - MPT 301: Makeup: Street & Special Effects (Major)