Costume Design (MFA)

The MFA Costume Design program provides graduates with key technical skills and opportunities to practice their craft at an advanced level in active production environments. By combining a rigorous sewing program with industry specific design courses, the students will be equipped for success in any number of positions in either theatre or film. Graduate students will have opportunities to design costumes for short and feature length films, collaborating with the director, fellow designers and the actors to create costumes that support the needs of the film. Graduates will have excellent problem solving skills and advanced success in sewing, pattern drafting, draping, and specialty construction skills like millinery, tutu, and jewelry making. Each graduate student will produce a final thesis project and portfolio that showcases the range of their talents in design and construction of garments and specialty items.

Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Degree
Major Classes

This program is available online and on campus

School of Fashion

FSH 601

3D Design 1 Major/3

Build a foundation in 3D design and garment development. You will be introduced to pattern shape manipulation and learn core principles of pattern drafting and garment construction to meet commercial fashion standards.

FSH 603

3D Design 2 Major/3

Master the art of tailoring. You will draft and construct tailored garments to meet industry standards using advanced pattern making, construction, and sewing techniques. Get professional instruction on handling fashion fabrics and using industrial sewing equipment.

FSH 640

Fashion Drawing Major/3

Communicate by drawing. You will gain a better understanding of the human body by drawing the clothed figure for fashion and general illustration.

FSH 661

Costume Design for Theater Major/3

Take a costume designer's approach to creating theater. You will explore dramatic texts to learn story structure, character, plot development, and all steps of the costume design process. You will apply your research, renderings, and textiles to original conceptual designs.

FSH 662

Experimental Costume Design Major/3

Create costumes for musical, dance, and experimental theatre. You will learn to connect design to movement and voice and see how performance can break down the wall between audience and actor. Develop your portfolio to show a range of design capabilities across a number of theatrical mediums.

FSH 663

Costume Design for Film Major/3

Design costumes for film and TV. Examining comedy, horror, and drama, you'll learn how color and silhouette affect the audiences' perception of character and how continuity and fabric choices can address the specific needs of film design.

FSH 664

Advanced Costume Design for the Film Industry Major/3

Create costumes for three specific film genres: fantasy, period drama, and science fiction. You will learn to manipulate traditional research, explore unconventional costume materials, and investigate specific details for increased accuracy as you transform your 2D paper projects into 3D samples and realized designs.

FSH 665

Costume Design Production Major/3

Theatre is a collaboration. You will work with the script, directors, actors, lighting crews, fellow costume designers, and others to produce original costumes for a real production locally or at the Academy. Learn to develop designs on paper, realize them in 3D, and provide appropriate documentation. (This course is cross-listed with FSH 342.)

FSH 676

Cosplay Crafts Major/3

Explore cosplay as a form of artistic practice. You will learn mask-making, armor-making, sewing, painting, distressing, and other craft techniques to create a full, head-to-toe costume of a character. You will present a complete look in a photo shoot or class-organized comic convention. (This course is cross-listed with FSH 396.)

FSH 700

Professional Practices and Portfolio for Fashion Major/3

Explore and prepare for your career in fashion. You will develop professional personal branding, job search materials, digital and physical portfolios, and prepare for job interviews.

Degree Requirements

Unit Requirements	Units
Major Coursework	30
Directed Study	18
Electives	6
Graduate Liberal Arts	9
Total	63

MFA COSTUME DESIGN DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Successful completion of Final Thesis Project.
Minimum grade of C in all required 63 units.
Minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and the following Academic Study requirements:
1 Art Historical Awareness & Aesthetic Sensitivity course
1 Cross Cultural Understanding course
1 Major Designated Graduate Liberal Arts course

Additional Information

Graduate Liberal Arts

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:

Costume Design Thesis

Create a body of work that will be built into a portfolio, representing an advanced level of achievement, targeted towards the film industry or other performance arts productions
Conduct research to develop creative concepts and build a visual story
Demonstrate a consistent level of design quality from pre-production through the shooting of the film or rehearsal process of a live production
Conduct specific research based on a given script that shows a clear understanding of the costume needs for the story
Design costumes that support the needs of the story and characters
Communicate design ideas 2-dimensionally using traditional and digital media
Develop a 2D design concept into fully realized 3D costumes for a production
Apply advanced 3D design techniques to create clothing to a professional standard

Collaboration

Collaborate effectively to produce creative projects

Professional Readiness

Create a relevant and original portfolio and collateral materials which can be used to market themselves to the industry