Focused on art, business, design, and technology for the fashion industry since 1944, Fashion Institute of Technology offers specialised courses that integrate academia with industry-relevant practice – be it Fashion Design, Fabric Styling, Textile Development or International Trade and Marketing. Here are the top courses offered at the FIT, New York.
Fashion Institute of Technology: Top Courses. Image: FIT
The Fashion Institute of Technology is a hub for aspiring fashion professionals, with courses that combine creative innovation with industry skills. The institute, ranked among the top fashion schools worldwide, encourages students to participate in projects and research opportunities, providing funding to support certain collaborative and sustainable initiatives. More than 2,000 students live on campus and FIT is home to more than 60 student organisations.
In 2025, Fashion Institute of Technology continues to lead with comprehensive programs across fashion design, textile development, fabric styling, marketing, and business management. Whether students are passionate about designing cutting-edge apparel, developing innovative textiles, or mastering the intricacies of global fashion markets, FIT’s top courses are designed to nurture talent and prepare graduates for successful careers. This article explores the most sought-after programs at Fashion Institute of Technology, highlighting their unique features, industry connections, successful alumnus, and the opportunities they open for future fashion leaders.
Fashion Institute of Technology: Top Courses
Fashion Design
Fashion Institute of Technology: Top Courses. Image: FIT
FIT offers Associate in Applied Science (AAS) and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree programs in Fashion Design. The AAS program provides an essential foundation in computer-aided design, sketching, draping, pattern-making, construction, sewing techniques, and textiles. Once students earn AAS, they can apply for a BFA in Fashion Design.
The BFA program offers concentrations in kidswear, intimate apparel, knitwear, special occasion, and sportswear. Students will create designs informed by market research and inspired by history, art, and culture. Throughout, they will master advanced technologies, build presentation skills, and choose from a menu of design electives to customise their studies. The program culminates in an internship and a senior collection guided by acclaimed fashion designers and their work could be showcased in FIT’s runway show, Future of Fashion.
Students have interned at Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Kors, and Victoria’s Secret and graduates work at Donna Karan, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Giorgio Armani. Other graduates manage and run boutiques or launch their own fashion labels. They may even decide to earn an advanced degree, such as a Fashion Design MFA at FIT.
Fabric Styling BFA
The Fabric Styling program brings together the worlds of styling, trend forecasting, and related industries such as product development, branding, image consulting, and art direction. Stylists are the link between concept, design, presentation, and finished product. To apply for this program students are required to have an AAS, or equivalent college level credits, in an Art and Design program.
Fabric Styling BFA provides a strong foundation in research, concept development, art direction, styling, and trend forecasting. Targeting specific markets, students learn fundamental design concepts and gain project management skills to create styling and forecasting projects based on references ranging from historical and cultural trends to the socio-economic climate. In addition to the core curriculum, the program offers courses in art history, fashion history, design, photography, business development and marketing. An internship gives students the experience necessary to launch a successful career upon graduation.
Sadia Seymour is the lead instructor for FIT’s Fashion Styling certificate. After seven years in production, she transitioned to fashion styling in 1998. With more than twenty years of experience under her belt, Seymour works in commercial print and television advertising, editorial, catalog, e-commerce, runway, bridal, press previews, and is a mannequin expert. Currently, she is the CEO of boutique fashion service company, ‘Behind The Rack’. Graduates work as trend forecasters, product development managers, style editors, wardrobe managers and stylists. Some go on to master’s degree programs in visual culture and costume.
Textile Development and Marketing
The two-year AAS program will help students to jumpstart your career in textile development and fashion. The curriculum teaches the fundamentals of producing textiles for the apparel and home products industries, with an emphasis on global sourcing. Students work hands-on in textile labs, using the latest professional-grade equipment.
The BS curriculum provides advanced study, with a more comprehensive view of the textile supply chain, including courses in product management, styling, and international marketing. FIT’s New York City location provides internships at Polo Ralph Lauren, Cotton Incorporated, Liz Claiborne, Armani Exchange, and Marc Jacobs. Students also have the opportunity to study abroad in Italy.
Textile—Surface Design
In the AAS program, students build a strong technical and conceptual foundation in colour theory, drawing, painting, screen printing, weaving and computer-aided design as well as textile history. They will create patterns and fabric collections for use in apparel and home furnishings. Professional-level studios are available for painting, screen printing, and weaving, and students can access laser-cutting technology and specialised software. The curriculum integrates theory with traditional and digital hands-on application using computer-aided design techniques. Students also learn about the business of textile and surface design with courses in project management, costing, and sourcing.
The two-year Bachelor of Fine Arts program offers more advanced study and includes a required internship. Integrating traditional drawing and painting techniques with digital design, weaving, and screen printing, this hands-on program encourages students to develop their own creative vision, and explore specialised design areas such as carpets, knit design, jacquard fabrics, paper products, and dish-ware. A required internship will give them the experience necessary to launch a successful career upon graduation. Study abroad programs in Canada, England, Australia, and Scotland give them a global perspective on the international market for textile—surface design.
Master of Arts in Fashion and Textile Studies
The Master of Arts in Fashion and Textile Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice is an interdisciplinary, fifty-credit program that offers comprehensive training in fashion and textile history, conservation theory and practice. In the second year, students have the option to concentrate in curatorial or conservation studies.
The program prepares students to enter the museum field as a curator, conservator, collections manager, or educator; to teach fashion and textile history; and to work in fashion and textile archives, auction houses, or vintage dealerships. In courses that examine the role of textiles, dress, and fashion in different societies and cultures, students are encouraged to take an innovative approach to costume and textile history.
Global Fashion Management Master of Professional Studies
The Global Fashion Management Master of Professional Studies graduate program, offered in collaboration with Institut Français de la Mode in Paris, Centro in Mexico City, and academic institutions in Asia, prepares students for top managerial and leadership positions in the international fashion industry. The program emphasizes leadership, applied creativity, problem-solving, and analytical thinking along with effective writing and presentation skills.
The curriculum includes courses in production management and supply chain, global marketing and fashion brand management, culture and international business, corporate finance, politics and world trade, business policy, global retail management, entrepreneurship, and leadership. This selective program is tailored to professionals in retail, design, marketing and merchandising, supply chain, or related fields.
In addition to design, FIT provides a robust set of business-focused courses that address marketing, retail management, and global supply chains. Fashion Business Management has interesting topics that provide a comprehensive study of the business of fashion, including Product Knowledge for Merchandising, Social Media Applications for Fashion Business, Business Intelligence in Planning and Buying, Fashion Marketing and Digital Technology, Direct and Digital Marketing for Fashion Business.
Footwear And Accessories Design
Fashion Institute of Technology: Top Courses. Image: FIT
Associate-level students design and produce a line of accessories, from footwear to handbags to belts. This program prepares them for an entry-level position in design, sample making, or pattern-making. The Associate in Applied Science curriculum focuses on developing students’ drawing and pattern-making skills and accessories design and production techniques. They will also learn the business of accessories design.
Many students undertake Bachelor of Fine Arts in Footwear and Accessories Design for advanced technical training and in-depth study in specialized areas such as sports-specific accessories and theatrical footwear. The curriculum includes a required internship and a senior project that concentrates on research, design and production, and oral presentation skills. Students visit showrooms, studios, and production sites. A required internship provides industry experience before they graduate with a professional-quality portfolio.
Students have interned at Kenneth Cole, Coach, Converse, The Row, Steve Madden and Kate Spade. AAS Graduates become designers, stylists, product-line builders, merchandisers, and production assistants. BFA graduates hold positions as lead designers, creative directors, senior merchandisers, stylists, sample makers, technical designers, head pattern-makers, heads of multi-division companies, and vice presidents.
Fashion Business Management
The industry-driven AAS program focuses on the skills and knowledge students need to succeed in the fashion business: research, technology, analytics, teamwork, ethics, and critical thinking. A two-semester First-Year Experience exposes students to all segments of the industry, from concept to consumer, enabling them to plan their academic path to suit their career goals. Students learn presentation and merchandising skills, and explore issues important to consumers, such as sustainability and corporate social responsibility. While building the foundation they need to apply to the bachelor’s degree program, they will create a digital portfolio that they can show when applying for internships or jobs.
In the oldest degree program of its kind in the country, students of Fashion Business Management BSA study fashion business, marketing, product development, buying, planning, fashion forecasting, sourcing, styling, management, AI, social media, and analytics. New York serves as their extended classroom as they visit flagships, pop-up shops, fashion exhibits at museums, and go behind the scenes at New York Fashion Week. They also have the option of an internship at a leading company, providing real-world experience.
Communication Design Foundation
Fashion Institute of Technology: Top Courses. Image: FIT
Part of the Communication Design Pathways Department, this Associate in Applied Science degree program will introduce students to the diverse means and tools of visual communication, including digital design, design process, typography, and colour theory. Students have the opportunity to work on real-world design projects as part of Guided Experiential Learning — past GEL projects have included designing FIT’s 75th anniversary logo and redesigning the logos for all the NFL teams.
The major in Communication Design is a foundation program that provides qualified students an opportunity to advance to BFA programs in Advertising and Digital Design, Graphic Design, and Packaging Design, as well as prepare for entry-level positions in advertising agencies, graphic and corporate communications firms, department stores, art studios, publications, and digital agencies. The Communication Design AAS curriculum focuses on concept development, layout systems and information systems, digital design foundation, web design, research, typography, photography and presentation skills.
International Trade and Marketing for the Fashion Industries
In the BS program, students navigate the international marketplace, including the financial, legal, logistical, and intercultural aspects of import and export, with emphasis on sustainability and social responsibility. They study international finance, business strategies, fashion law, compliance, management, and market research. Classroom studies are supplemented with visits to corporate, customs, finance, government and international sites.
The two-year curriculum prepares students to compete in the global marketplace. Mentoring and internship programs at Bergdorf Goodman, U.S. Department of Commerce, European Textile Trading Corp, Donna Karan, Prada, and Coty complement their studies, offering on-the-job experience. The bachelor of science online degree program is open to students with an associate’s degree or sixty hours of college credit.
Menswear AAS
Fashion Institute of Technology: Top Courses. Image: FIT
There’s a whole industry devoted to designing and creating stylish, functional clothes for men and the specialised FIT’s Menswear program has faculty with extensive industry experience, who teach students how to design and construct garments and how to analyze the market and assemble a balanced lifestyle collection that targets their specific customer.
Students learn how to develop contemporary menswear products, create original designs, and analyze trends while honing their design aesthetic. They will master hand sketching and computer-generated design, basic sewing, and advanced tailoring techniques. In the final semester, they will participate in a required internship and graduate with a comprehensive understanding of menswear, from originally conceived sketches through to pattern-making, fabricating, sewing, and tailoring the final collection of garments.
Students have interned at Helmut Lang, Thom Browne, Nordstrom, Theory, Alexander Wang, Rick Owens, Target, Ralph Lauren, Nautica, Gucci, Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, DKNY, Tommy Hilfiger, and Supreme. Graduates work at Calvin Klein, Supreme, Thom Browne, Theory, Ralph Lauren, Rick Owens, Abercrombie and Fitch, DKNY, Marc Jacobs, Helmut Lang, and Macy’s. Their roles include design associates, assistant designers, stylists, image consultants, and technical designers.
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Jasmeen Dugal is Associate Editor at FashionABC, contributing her insights on fashion, technology, and sustainability. She brings with herself more than two decades of editorial experience, working for national newspapers and luxury magazines in India.
Jasmeen Dugal has worked with exchange4media as a senior writer contributing articles on the country’s advertising and marketing movements, and then with Condenast India as Net Editor where she helmed Vogue India’s official website in terms of design, layout and daily content. Besides this, she is also an entrepreneur running her own luxury portal, Explosivefashion, which highlights the latest in luxury fashion and hospitality.
