Art School Programs and Courses

Learning the Business of Fashion

Many style-savvy students combine their fashion training with business or marketing course, to prepare for someday developing their own retail stores or clothing lines. Design schools and some more traditional colleges offer bachelor's degrees in various aspects of fashion. These programs include courses in sewing, tailoring, color, textiles, and fashion history. Classes in computer aided design (CAD) are increasingly popular in these programs. Many fashion design and merchandising degrees also offer internship opportunities with a company in the industry.

Fashion Career Outlook

With the industry only expecting five percent growth through 2016, the most job opportunities are with firms that specialize in designing clothing for the mass market. California and New York had the highest concentration of jobs in the fashion industry in 2006. Employers are looking for fashion designers who have a two- or four-year degree and the necessary knowledge of fashion trends and textile fabrics.