Creative and Technical Fashion Design - BS
The Bachelor of Science in Creative & Technical Fashion Design offers a rigorous, studio-based curriculum that blends creative vision with advanced technology, technical expertise, and environmental stewardship. The program focuses on transforming conceptual inspiration into innovative, physical and digital garments designed for real bodies and diverse target consumers, spanning mass-market apparel, costume design, studio production, and adaptive clothing.
A defining pillar of the curriculum is market-driven design; throughout all courses, students learn how to analyze, understand, and design specifically for a defined target market, ensuring that creative execution is always paired with commercial and consumer viability.
Grounded in small studio classes and close faculty mentorship, students engage in an educational process that balances aesthetic expression with social and environmental responsibility. The curriculum is designed to challenge students to think critically about the lifecycle of clothing, from material selection and zero-waste patternmaking to ethical production systems.
Technological and Creative Innovation
The department bridges traditional craftsmanship with the digital side of the global fashion industry. Students develop hands-on technical skills in draping, flat patternmaking, and garment construction while mastering industry-standard digital tools. The curriculum deeply integrates technical design and prototyping software, such as Browzwear and the Adobe Creative Suite.
The St. Kate’s Difference
- Inclusive and Adaptive Design: The curriculum emphasizes human-centered design, teaching students to create apparel that considers varied body types, abilities, and cultural contexts.
- The Katwalk Fashion Show: A cornerstone of the program, students have the unique opportunity to present their evolving work at St. Kate’s annual Katwalk fashion show. This student-produced, inclusive runway event is highly regarded within the Twin Cities fashion community as a venue for spotting emerging talent.
- Global and Institutional Partnerships: Through established institutional agreements, students can expand their perspective by studying off-campus for a semester or full academic year. Partner destinations include the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York, the London College of Fashion, and the Accademia Italiana in Florence, as well as the department's short-term global study courses in Europe and Asia.
- Interdisciplinary Flexibility: The structure of the major encourages academic breadth, allowing students to easily pursue a dual degree with Merchandising and Retail Analytics or pair their major with minors in business, art, or sustainability studies.
Career Readiness and Professional Pathways
Through intensive studio work, real-world industry collaborations, and a required professional internship, graduates leave St. Kate’s prepared for an array of creative and technical roles. Alumni are equipped for careers in creative design, technical design, fashion entrepreneurship, patternmaking, historical costuming, styling, and product development.
See also: Merchandising & Retail Analytics - BS
This major is offered in the College for Women only.
Curriculum
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major Courses | ||
| FASH 1000 | Introduction to the Fashion Industry | 2 |
| FASH 2050 | Textiles with Lab | 4 |
| FASH 2100 | Apparel Construction and Analysis | 4 |
| FASH 2150W | Sociocultural Aspects of Dress | 4 |
| FASH 3000 | History of Dress | 4 |
| FASH 3150 | Consumer Behavior & Trend Forecasting | 4 |
| FASH 4602 | Fashion Internship and Leadership | 2-4 |
| or FASH 4603 | Fashion Internship and Leadership | |
| or FASH 4604 | Fashion Internship and Leadership | |
| FASH 4800 | Fashion Portfolio | 0 |
| APPD 2500 | Fashion Illustration & Technical Design | 4 |
| APPD 3050 | Advanced Construction Methods | 4 |
| APPD 3150 | Patternmaking | 4 |
| APPD 3200 | Computer Aided Design & Development | 4 |
| APPD 3400 | Draping and Creative Design | 4 |
| APPD 4400 | Collection Development | 4 |
| APPD 4800 | Capstone Collection | 4 |
| Total Credits | 52-54 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Supporting Courses 1 | ||
| ART 2250 | Art and Technology | 4 |
| ART 1200 | Drawing | 4 |
| or ART 2600 | Figure Drawing | |
| BUSI 2012 | Business Analytics | 2 |
| COMM 1030 | Speaking to Lead and Influence | 4 |
| MKTG 2302 | Introduction to Marketing | 2 |
| or SALE 2332 | Introduction to Selling | |
| MRCH 3200 | Apparel Specifications for Product Development and Manufacturing | 4 |
| MRCH 3300 | Omnichannel Retail | 4 |
| MRCH 4400 | Sustainable Product Development | 4 |
| Total Credits | 28 | |
- 1
Second degree students are only required to complete a minimum of four courses from this list of required supporting courses.
Fashion design majors satisfy the Writing Requirement for Majors by completing FASH 2150W Sociocultural Aspects of Dress. They complete the Liberal Arts and Sciences Core Writing Requirement with three other writing intensive courses (CORE 1000W The Reflective Woman, CORE 3990W Global Search for Justice, and one other writing intensive course in this or another department).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Term | ||
| FASH 1000 | Introduction to the Fashion Industry | 2 |
| Spring Term | ||
| ART 1200 | Drawing | 4 |
| or ART 2600 | Figure Drawing | |
| COMM 1030 | Speaking to Lead and Influence | 4 |
| FASH 2100 | Apparel Construction and Analysis | 4 |
| FASH 2150W | Sociocultural Aspects of Dress | 4 |
| Fall Term | ||
| ART 2250 | Art and Technology | 4 |
| BUSI 2012 | Business Analytics | 2 |
| FASH 2050 | Textiles with Lab | 4 |
| FASH 3000 | History of Dress | 4 |
| Spring Term | ||
| APPD 2500 | Fashion Illustration & Technical Design | 4 |
| APPD 3050 | Advanced Construction Methods | 4 |
| FASH 3150 | Consumer Behavior & Trend Forecasting | 4 |
| Fall Term | ||
| APPD 3400 | Draping and Creative Design | 4 |
| MKTG 2302 | Introduction to Marketing | 2 |
| or SALE 2332 | Introduction to Selling | |
| MRCH 3200 | Apparel Specifications for Product Development and Manufacturing | 4 |
| MRCH 3300 | Omnichannel Retail | 4 |
| Spring Term | ||
| APPD 3150 | Patternmaking | 4 |
| APPD 3200 | Computer Aided Design and Development | 4 |
| MRCH 4400 | Sustainable Product Development 1 | 4 |
| Summer Term | ||
| FASH 4602 | Fashion Internship and Leadership 2 | 2 |
| Fall Term | ||
| APPD 4400 | Collection Development | 4 |
| Spring Term | ||
| APPD 4800 | Capstone Collection 1 | 4 |
| FASH 4900 | Fashion Portfolio | 0 |
| Total Credits | 80 | |
- 1
Offered every other year.
- 2
FASH 4602 can be taken any term during the junior or senior year.