Fashion (AAS)

Luxury accessories and cosmetics displayed on red lace fabric, including a Chanel shopping bag and high heels.

The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Fashion provides students with entry-level employment skills appropriate for fashion careers. The Associate degree program is a steppingstone to the Bachelor-level program.

Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree
Core Classes

This program is available online and on campus

School of Fashion

FSH 100

Drawing for Fashion Core/3

Develop foundational skills in design sketching through observation and replication. You will become familiar with body proportions, basic human anatomy, and figure balance.

FSH 105

Fashion Industry Decoded: From Concept to Consumer Core/3

Discover how fashion businesses operate from concept to consumer—and beyond. You will dissect the fashion ecosystem and examine key functions and supply chain synergies across design, product development, sourcing, manufacturing, merchandising, marketing, promotion, and distribution. You will cultivate industry fluency to navigate, analyze, and influence the ever-evolving fashion landscape with confidence and creativity.

FSH 110

Creative Concepts for Fashion Core/3

Focus on original and creative hands-on development for collections. Color, fabrics, proportion, silhouette, customer, and wearing occasion are explored through 2D and 3D development.

FSH 120

Color Science & Fabric Fundamentals Core/3

Color and fabric are concepts that drive creativity, novelty, and innovation. You will explore how fashion professionals apply color and design principles at all levels of the industry. You will study how textile fibers and other fabric characteristics affect garment performance.

FSH 161

Fashion Business: Digital Techniques Core/3

Use professional software to communicate visual information. Learn to work fluidly between programs to create fashion line layout, concept boards, and detailed specification for reproduction.

FSH 164

Fashion Construction 1 Core/3

Get the cutting and sewing skills for work in the apparel industry. You will learn both hand finishing and machine sewing techniques in wovens and create a notebook documenting your new skills.

FSH 221

Fashion Design: Sophomore Studio (Spring) Core/3

Learn to represent your creative design ideas as specification drawings (flats) and as fully colored illustrations. Develop the design skills to analyze current design trends and learn to render fabric and color accurately.

FSH 229

Product Development: Digital Design & Sketching Core/3

Use professional digital tools to create garment technical sketches to meet industry standards. You will master the software to create, modify, store, and communicate your design ideas in precise sketches and drawings.

FSH 276

Textile Design: Print Studio 2 Core/3

Expand your skills beyond foundational textile printing. Explore intermediate screen-printing techniques alongside key concepts in textile design and print collection development. (This course is cross-listed with FSH 611.)

FSH 385

Fashion Business: Marketing Promotion Strategy Core/3

Promotional strategies for fashion. You will create an integrated marketing plan including advertising, direct mail, publicity, public relations, personal selling, special events, and social networking.

FSH 391

Fashion Product Styling Core/3

Become a product and e-commerce stylist. You will style garments, accessories, and beauty products without a model for still life fashion photography.

Degree Requirements

Unit Requirements	Units
Core	18
Sophomore Portfolio	3
Major	21
Liberal Arts	18
Total	60

AAS FASHION DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Minimum grade of C- in all major coursework.
Minimum 2.0 GPA and the following general education requirements:
1 Creative Communication course
1 Fashion Historical Awareness course
1 Fundamental Math course
1 Fabric & Fiber Literacy course
1 Employment Communications & Practices course

After above general education requirements are met, take Liberal Arts electives as needed to fulfill the Liberal Arts unit requirement.

Additional Information

Liberal Arts

Program Learning Outcomes

Undergraduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:

Foundational Skills

Create professional and organized presentations
Work effectively with industry standard software
Clearly express ideas utilizing fashion industry vocabulary

Design

Produce creative and original designs
Select design concepts appropriate for the customer
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
Effectively communicate design concepts and philosophy two-dimensionally

Marketing & Merchandising

Conduct basic market and consumer research using industry-standard research tools and methods
Produce creative and original concepts for marketing and merchandising
Source, edit and select the appropriate product for a target customer
Apply merchandising skills and develop product assortments for the selected channels
Identify changes, trends, emerging technologies and opportunities in global fashion business, consumer behavior and products to inform business decision-making

Communication & Styling

Develop mood boards to visually communicate creative concepts and define creative direction
Research and produce content for digital and print platforms
Demonstrate foundational styling techniques, including pinning, steaming, folding, and propping fashion products for photo shoots
Create concept-driven outfits through the selection and combination of garments and accessories
Analyze fashion references to develop concepts that are trend-aware and appropriate for the market

Product Development

Analyze trends and market research to develop products appropriate for target markets and consumers
Identify changes, trends and opportunities in global fashion business, consumer and products
Identify materials, sourcing, and manufacturing processes appropriate for product market (brand, consumer, and price point)
Produce accurate and detailed technical drawings and flat patterns using both traditional medium and computer software
Communicate trends and research analysis, product concepts and details clearly and effectively

Academy of Art University Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Academy of Art University will demonstrate the ability to:

1. Produce a body of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in their chosen field of art and design.
2. Solve creative problems within their field of art and design, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
3. Communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral, and written presentation skills relevant to their field.
4. Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles.
5. Use professional terminology to evaluate their work and work in the field.
6. Recognize the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on art and design products.
7. Learn the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global marketplace for art and design.
8. Engage with a variety of communities beyond the classroom through internship opportunities, study abroad programs, student interest clubs, and participation in collaborative, civic, and pro bono projects.

*Semester plans are subject to change at any time. Semester breakdowns displayed are suggested and additional options are available to help customize your educational experience. Speak to an admissions or student services representative for more information. Please see our catalog for more details at: https://catalog.academyart.edu