Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Textile Design
San Francisco, USA
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
About: The BFA in Textile Design covers fabric and paper printing—burnout, photographic and screen printing, plus computer-assisted print design—and fabric manipulation. Coursework builds drawing, color, surface design, and technical skills. Students can enter industry competitions, take internships, and seniors may collaborate with fashion and knitwear majors on a runway collection. Degree requires C- in core/major courses, 2.0 GPA, and specified liberal arts units.
Career Outcomes: Graduates can work as textile designers, surface pattern designers, print designers, product developers, visual merchandisers, or freelance studio owners. Keywords: printmaking, screen printing, digital printing, pattern design, color theory, fabric manipulation, internships and portfolio development.
From fabric burnout to photographic screen printing to computer-assisted print designs, students in the BFA Textile Design program design and print on both fabric and paper using various print techniques and fabric manipulation. Students develop their drawing and color skills in coursework that combines excellence in design, artistic vision, and innovative technology to provide students with the skills necessary to realize their creative visions fully. Students are encouraged to participate in industry competitions and internships. Senior students may collaborate with other fashion design or knitwear majors to produce a runway collection for the annual San Francisco Fashion Show.
Unit Requirements
Degree Requirements
BFA Textile Design Degree Requirements
- Minimum grade of C- in all core courses, major courses, and LA 107 Writing for the Multilingual Artist or 108 Composition for the Artist
- Minimum 2.0 GPA and the following general education requirements:
- 1 Written Communication: Composition
- 1 Written Communication: Critical Thinking
- 1 Written Communication: Context & Style
- 2 Art Historical Awareness: Western Art
- 2 Art Historical Awareness: Surveys
- 1 Historical Awareness
- 1 Quantitative Literacy
- 1 Cultural Ideas & Influences
- 1 Employment Communications & Practices
After the above general education requirements are met, take Liberal Arts electives as needed to fulfill the Liberal Arts unit requirement.
Semester 1
- FSH 100: Drawing for Fashion
Core / 3 Units - FSH 111: Introduction to Fashion
Core / 3 Units - FSH 120: Color Science and Fabric Technology
Core / 3 Units - FSH 164: Fashion Sewing Techniques
Core / 3 Units
Semester 2
- FA 143: Silkscreen 1
Major / 3 Units / Recommended for summer - FSH 102: Drawing for Fashion 2
Core / 3 Units - FSH 187: Introduction to Knitwear
Core / 3 Units - FSH 274: Applied Textiles 1
Core / 3 Units - LA 108: Composition for the Artist
Liberal Arts / 3 Units - LA 244: History of Fashion
Liberal Arts / 3 Units / Recommended for summer
Semester 3
- FA 241: Book Arts 1
Major / 3 Units - FSH 101: Fashion Design 1
Core / 3 Units - FSH 112: Drawing for Fashion 3
Core / 3 Units - FSH 220: Construction/Draping/Flat Pattern 1
Core / 3 Units - LA 120: Art History Through the 15th Century
Liberal Arts / 3 Units
Semester 4
- FA 145: Printmaking
Major / 3 Units - FA 345: Advanced Projects in Printmaking 1
Major / 3 Units / Recommended for summer - FSH 135: Graphic Design in Fashion
Major / 3 Units - FSH 276: Applied Textiles 2
Core / 3 Units - LA 121: Art History Through the 19th Century
Liberal Arts / 3 Units - LA 202: English Composition: Creative Persuasion & Argument
Liberal Arts / 3 Units - LA 291: Designing Careers
Liberal Arts / 3 Units / Recommended for summer
Semester 5
- FSH 246: History of Textiles
Major / 3 Units - FSH 374: Applied Textiles 3
Major / 3 Units - JEM 233: Digital Design, Laser Cutting, Milling for Jewelry & Metal Arts
Major / 3 Units - LA 110: Writing the Short Story
Liberal Arts / 3 Units - LA 119: Fabric and Fiber Technology
Liberal Arts / 3 Units
Semester 6
- FA 344: Monotype 1
Major / 3 Units / Recommended for summer - FSH 376: Applied Textiles 4
Major / 3 Units - FSH 398: Computers for Textiles
Major / 3 Units - LA 117: Survey of Landscape Architecture
Liberal Arts / 3 Units / Recommended for summer - LA 124: Physics for Artists: Light, Sound, and Motion
Liberal Arts / 3 Units - LA 171: Western Civilization
Liberal Arts / 3 Units - N/A: Any Course
Elective / 3 Units
Semester 7
- FSH 442: Computer-Aided Design for Textiles
Major / 3 Units - FSH 474: Applied Textiles 5
Major / 3 Units - LA ###: Any LA course
Liberal Arts / 3 Units - LA 127: Topics in World Art
Liberal Arts / 3 Units
Semester 8
- FSH 473: Textile Portfolio
Core / 3 Units - FSH 476: Applied Textiles 6: Senior Collection
Major / 3 Units - LA ###: Any LA course
Liberal Arts / 3 Units - N/A: Any Course
Elective / 3 Units
Undergraduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:
Research and Concept Development
- Produce creative and original designs
- Select concepts appropriate for the market and customer, building on the analysis of design and market research
- Generate ideas that are coherently related to the chosen concept as well as to one another
- Conduct thorough design research, as evidenced in the sketchbook
- Demonstrate evidence of trialing and self-editing designs
Visual Presentation Skills
- Create professional and organized presentations that reflect an individual/personal style
- Effectively communicate their design concepts and philosophy two-dimensionally
Technical Skills
- Work effectively with industry-standard software
- Produce printed textile designs on fabric
Verbal and Written Presentation Skills
- Clearly express their ideas utilizing fashion industry vocabulary
Professional Readiness
- Create a relevant and original portfolio and collateral materials which can be used to market themselves to the industry
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.