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SUNY GCC - Genesee Community College

The Fashion Design program arms you with the necessary principles and techniques of fashion and encourages you to apply your artistic vision to the design of commercial fashions, apparel, and accessories, as well as the management of fashion development projects.

The Fashion Design concentration is a natural outgrowth of GCC’s long standing Fashion Business program.  The reputation and connections the program has established throughout the industry will help you pursue your ‘passion for fashion,’ while carefully sculpting and directing your creative energy. With a Fashion Design degree from GCC, you will be on your unique pathway toward a successful career.

Degree Types

Fashion Design Concentration (AAS)

The Fashion Design Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree allows you enter the world of fashion design and retail in entry- or mid-level positions. Earning an AAS degree also enables you to transfer to many four-year institutions, as indicated below. Your innate design skills and creativity will be enhanced by learning the basic principles of fashion, color, textiles and merchandise management, along with communication, critical thinking and problem solving skills. You will also learn to recognize and apply ethical standards and cultural opportunities within the industry.

AAS Program Learning Outcomes (PLO)

  1. Apply principles of fashion to the design or development of fashion products.
  2. Apply principle of business to a fashion-based enterprise.
  3. Express how ethics frame behaviors in the fashion industry.
  4. Describe how laws and regulation have an impact on the fashion industry.
  5. Employ project management skills.
  6. Communicate effectively as a fashion business professional.
  7. Work cooperatively as part of a team
  8. Assemble a variety of garments

Download the 2024-2025 Curriculum Worksheet for AAS [PDF]

Fashion Design Certificate (CERT)

A Fashion Design Certificate program provides fashion enthusiasts with the core design courses for an entry-level introduction into the fashion industry. Upon completing the certificate, you will understand basic fashion design principles, be able to demonstrate basic sewing techniques, basic apparel fittings, draping and identify many textiles. Certificates can help graduates transfer to a Fashion Design program at a 4-year college and work in a fashion-related business.

CERT Program Learning Outcomes (PLO)

  1. Apply the basic principles of fashion design to actual projects.
  2. Create a garment using basic sewing techniques.
  3. Demonstrate basic apparel draping and fitting of garments.
  4. Identify fabric types and yarns for specific apparel and other uses
  5. Sketch apparel designs using basic fashion principles.
  6. Create a custom pattern using current technology.
  7. Apply business principles to a fashion enterprise.

Download the 2024-2025 Curriculum Worksheet for CERT [PDF]

College Students walking on outside on campus

Career Outlook

After getting your GCC degree, some occupations you may consider are:

  • Accessories designer
  • Fashion Designer
  • Stylist
  • Patternmaker
  • Product-line builder

Transfer Opportunities

Starting at GCC saves many students and their families thousands of dollars in tuition. With an A.S. or A.A. degree you will be able to seamlessly transfer within the SUNY network of 64 college and universities as well as to many 4-year private institutions. GCC’s A.S. and A.A. programs were developed as part of the SUNY seamless transfer initiative allowing students to complete the first two years of a bachelor’s degree as a freshman and a sophomore at a community college, then seamlessly transfer to a SUNY four-year institution to earn a bachelor’s degree. Please reference the SUNY Transfer Pathways for degree programs to learn about any campus specific requirements. Visit the SUNY Core Course Finder to plan out the courses you should complete to transfer to a 4-year SUNY School.

If you are planning to transfer to a 4-year private institution you should work with our Transfer Services office to learn about possible articulation agreements and pathways that exist for many or our degree programs. Some GCC A.A.S. programs also have transfer opportunities.

To learn more about these opportunities and agreements contact the Transfer Services Office, we are more than happy to work with you and answer any questions you may have on building your own personalized transfer plan.

Transfer opportunities include, but are not limited to:

 

  • Fashion Institute of Technology
  • Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising
  • Laboratory Institute of Merchandising
  • SUNY College at Buffalo

*GCC has current transfer agreements with the above noted institutions.