Master of Arts in Fashion Journalism
- San Francisco, USA
- Online
MA
DURATION
4 semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2026
TUITION FEES
USD 1,615 *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning, On-Campus
* per unit for international students / USD 1,407 per unit for domestic students
Key Summary
The Master of Arts Program in Fashion Journalism equips students with subject-area expertise to help communicate the rising complexity of the global fashion industry. M.A. students develop both: a deep understanding of social media for journalism and a strong fashion industry grounding that enables them to ask more informed questions, situate fashion news and business of fashion events into a larger context, and evaluate fashion collections with a critical, well-informed eye. Students learn to produce cross-platform stories that are nuanced and sophisticated for social, digital, mobile, and print media. The M.A. program is fueled by a deep intellectual understanding of fashion, ethics, and the ability to professionally utilize social media - skills that are required of the leading fashion journalists of tomorrow.
Graduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:
Visual Communication & Digital Tools
- Apply basic design principles to creative work
- Work effectively with industry-standard software
Verbal and Written Communication
- Write compelling material for print, online, or broadcast media
- Clearly convey ideas and concepts using specific fashion industry language
- Effectively pitch ideas
- Conduct effective interviews
- Develop both a personal voice and the ability to adapt voice to fit a variety of print/online publications
Research & Concept Development
- Conduct in-depth research to develop material for print, online, or broadcast media.
- Demonstrate ability to undertake editorial “packages,’’ combining various journalistic features
Social Media & Blogging
- Publish, share, and promote stories to target audiences on social media
- Conceptualize, produce, and package content across social media channels
Collaborative Skills
- Collaborate effectively to produce creative projects
Professional Practices
- Create a relevant and original portfolio and collateral materials that 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.
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.
Executive Editor
Responsible for overseeing, planning, and directing all editorial content, the executive editor is the voice of any fashion publication. You will develop budgets, manage staff and contractors, oversee quality control, and innovate in the print and digital spaces in this fast-paced industry.
Fashion Editor
Supervise the process of creating, developing, and presenting content for a fashion magazine as a fashion editor. You will supervise teams, conceptualize, and style photo shoots, curate photography, research industry trends, and choose items for publication in this fast-paced and exciting career.
Patternmaker
Turn a designer’s vision into a finished garment as a pattern maker. You will break down garment designs into workable patterns, transfer them onto fabric, and create the design blueprints for manufacturing.
Stylist
As a fashion stylist, you will provide on-set art direction for editorial and catalog fashion shoots and support merchandising strategy with the brand and theme-based shoots.
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 you 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.
Visual Merchandising Director
As a visual merchandising director, you will help promote the image, products, and services of retail and wholesale businesses. You’ll create eye-catching displays using visual and graphic elements and organize brand-related special events.
Unit Requirements
| Major | 27 |
|---|---|
| Directed Studies | 6 |
| Elective | 6 |
| Graduate Liberal Arts | 3 |
| Total | 42 |
Degree Requirements
- Successful completion of Final Portfolio Review
- A minimum grade of C in all required 42 units
- Minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and the following Academic Study requirements:
- 1 Art Historical Awareness & Aesthetic course
Curriculum
Semester 1
- FSH 617: Fundamentals of Fashion Journalism (Major)
- FSH 619: Developments & Current Debates in Fashion Journalism (Major)
- GLA 613: Fashion, Arts, and Influence (Graduate Liberal Arts)
Semester 2
- COM 602: Visual Storytelling: Editing for Short-Form Video Content (Major)
- FSH 627: Fashion Research & Reporting (Major)
- FSH 628: Mobile & Social Media Journalism (Major)
- FSH 629: Fashion Styling (Major)
Recommended for summer - FSH 630: Fashion Marketing Strategy (Major)
Recommended for summer
Semester 3
- FSH 626: Digital & Print Magazine Publishing (Major)
- FSH 700: Professional Practices & Portfolio for Fashion (Major)
- FSH 800: Directed Study (Directed Studies)
Semester 4
- FSH 648: Sustainability & Society (Elective)
- FSH 800: Directed Study (Directed Studies)
- FSH 900: Internship: for Fashion Journalism (Elective)