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Undergraduate Bulletin College of Arts and Sciences
Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design

Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design

Students on Summer 2022, Fall 2022, or Spring 2023 requirements FSDSBA1

The Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design educates students in the art, philosophy, theory, process, and product of fashion design in the 21st Century. The curriculum provides an artistic and intellectual approach to the design process, focusing on the interaction of technique, function, technology, and individual creative expression. Coursework concentrates on traditional and experimental techniques, as well as the history and theory of fashion as a significant aesthetic language. The program builds on the essential foundations of the arts and sciences, and encourages students to be multidisciplinary thinkers and skilled communicators. Career opportunities are available in the areas of apparel design, accessories design, technical design, pattern making, product design, computer-aided and technical drawing, merchandising, theatrical costuming, and wardrobe management.

Requirements

The major requires at least 40 credit hours (54 with the Addenda requirements), including the requirements listed below.
  1. Introductory Courses.
    1. SOAD Pathways. One (1) course:
      • SOAD-A 100 Pathways: Introduction to Art, Design and Merchandising
    2. Textile Science. One (1) course:
      • SOAD-F 202 Introductory Textile Science: Laboratory
    3. Materials for Fashion Design. One (1) course:
      • SOAD-F 203 Materials for Merchandising and Fashion Design
  2. Fashion Design Foundations.
    1. Fashion Studio I. One (1) course:
      • SOAD-F 207 Fashion Studio I
    2. Fashion Design I. One (1) course:
      • SOAD-F 213 Fashion Design I: Research and Illustration
    3. Fashion Design II. One (1) course:
      • SOAD-F 317 Fashion Design Research
    4. Fashion Studio II. One (1) course:
      • SOAD-F 303 Fashion Studio II
    5. Fashion Studio III. One (1) course:
      • SOAD-F 305 Fashion Studio III
    6. Experimental Fashion Studio. One (1) course:
      • SOAD-F 328 Experimental Fashion Studio: Digital Applications
    7. History of Fashion. One (1) course:
      • SOAD-F 340 History of Fashion
    8. Fashion Design III. One (1) course:
      • SOAD-F 417 Fashion Design III: Presentation and Analysis
  3. Advanced Courses. Nine (9) credit hours:
    1. Experimental Fashion Studio. One (1) course:
      • SOAD-F 306 Experimental Fashion Studio: Tailoring
      • SOAD-F 325 Experimental Fashion Studio: Shape and Foundation
      • SOAD-F 326 Experimental Fashion Studio: Accessories
      • SOAD-F 408 Experimental Fashion Studio: Draping
    2. Dress Studies. One (1) course:
      • SOAD-F 301 Fashion Studies: Topics in Cultural Analysis
      • SOAD-F 311 History of Dress
      • SOAD-F 312 Dress Studies: Autobiographies of Dress
      • SOAD-F 352 Fashion Studies: Aesthetic Analysis
      • SOAD-F 401 Fashion Studies: Fashion and Social Issues
      • SOAD-F 402 Collection Management for Historic Textiles and Costumes
      • SOAD-F 406 Fashion Studies: Fashion Theory
      • SOAD-F 411 Fashion Studies: Behavioral Analysis
      • SOAD-F 485 Advanced Special Topics in Fashion Design
    3. Elective. One (1) course:
      • Additional course from the Experimental Fashion Studio list
      • Additional course from the Dress Studies list
  4. Addenda Requirements*.
    1. Mathematics. One (1) course:
      • MATH-D 117 Introduction to Finite Mathematics II
      • MATH-J 113 Introduction to Calculus with Applications
      • MATH-M 106
      • MATH-M 118 Finite Mathematics
      • MATH-M 119 Brief Survey of Calculus I
      • MATH-M 211 Calculus I
      • MATH-M 213
      • MATH-S 118 Honors Finite Mathematics
      • MATH-S 211
      • MATH-V 118 Finite Mathematics with Applications (Approved topics: "FINITE & CONSUMER MATHEMATICS" (TPC 2); "FINITE MATH FOR SOCIAL & BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES" (TPC 1); "FINITE MATH IN ACTION" (TPC 3))
      • MATH-V 119 Applied Brief Calculus I (Approved topics: "BRIEF CALCULUS FOR THE LIFE SCIENCES" (TPC 1))
    2. Studio Art Courses. Six (6) credit hours:
      • SOAD-A 101 Creative Core: Color
      • SOAD-A 102 Creative Core: Drawing
      • SOAD-A 103 Creative Core: 3D Design
      • SOAD-A 211 Cross-Disciplinary Workshops in Art, Design, and Merchandising
      • Any SOAD-S 100–499
    3. Art History Courses. Six (6) credit hours:
      • Any ARTH-A 100–499
  5. Major GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. Major GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the major—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
    2. Major Minimum Grade. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the major.
    3. Major Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 300–499 level.
    4. Major Residency. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
    5. College Breadth. At least 58 credit hours must be completed in courses from College of Arts and Sciences disciplines outside of the major area.

Major Area Courses

  • Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:

    • Any course at the 100–499 level with the SOAD-F subject area prefix—as well as any other subject areas that are deemed functionally equivalent
    • Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements at the time the course is taken—as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent—except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
    • Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception

This program of study cannot be combined with the following:

  • Minor in Fashion Design (FSDSMIN)

Exceptions to and substitutions for major requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.