The Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) offers degrees and certificate in Fashion Design and Fashion Retailing. Through classroom and hands-on experience, students develop skills in operating a small business, merchandising, management, display techniques, costuming, patternmaking, and fashion show production. Freelance and entrepreneurial aspects are stressed. The program was cited for teaching excellence and innovative curriculum design by the Textile Manufacturers Institute.

You can earn:

• An Associate’s of Applied Science in Fashion Design
• An Associate’s of Applied Science in Fashion Design, Retailing Track
• A Fashion Design Certificate

BCCC offers several options in the area of Fashion Design: two different two-year courses of study leading to the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Fashion Design (or a Fashion Retailing option within that degree) and a 40 credit Certificate in Fashion Design. If you who choose the Fashion Design Degree, you will

receive a technical background in illustrating original designs, patternmaking, and clothing construction to transform your designs into finished garments. The Fashion Design Certificate emphasizes the procedures and techniques needed to start a fashion design business or to upgrade skills. Students can also transfer to a

4-year college or university to complete a bachelor’s degree.

With a degree or certificate in fashion design, you can have a career as a fashion designer, tailor or work in retail management. You can also work as a freelance fashion stylist or costume designers.

The national and state employment trends report the following.

• Median wages (2011) $31.10 hourly, $64,690 annual
• Projected growth (2010-2020) Little or no change (-2% to 2%)
• Projected job openings (2010-2020) 6,700

Students will learn to:

• Use critical and ethical reasoning to explain how the fashion industry is impacted by current events
• Identify ethical issues that impact the fashion industry and identify possible responses
• Apply knowledge of world cultures to design products.
• Execute a product or concept which demonstrates the elements of design such as style, color, proportion, fabrication, and others
• Implement the skills of design in the fashion design process
• Conduct market research from a design or retailing perspective, analyze the market information, and make an informed decision based upon the data
• Use current and relevant design and retailing software

Always check with an advisor to determine what courses to take. All BCCC students must meet the College’s computer literacy requirement in order to receive a degree or certificate. All students are required to complete the PRE 100 course within the first six credits. PRE 100 is an academic achievement preparation course earning one credit.