Fashion and Costume Design
Associate of Science Degree Fashion · San Diego Mesa College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Summary
The Fashion and Costume Design Associate of Science Degree prepares students for careers in the fashion design, costuming, and manufacturing industries or transfer to university programs. Students gain essential skills in garment design, illustration, and presentation while developing a strong technical background in pattern making, draping, and apparel construction. This degree emphasizes both creative design and technical skills, allowing graduates to pursue roles in fashion design, costume design, wardrobe supervising, patternmaking, technical design, assisting stylists and designers, or costume shop managing in the theater, film, television, and fashion industries.
The Fashion program offers a variety of courses that allow students to develop skills to pursue careers in fashion and costume design, fashion merchandising, fashion design technology, fashion merchandising technology, and related fashion careers.
Students planning to transfer to a four-year institution should consult the counseling department and a Fashion faculty advisor for assistance in program planning.
Award Note: The Associate Degree requires a minimum of 60 degree applicable semester units.
Requirements
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| COURSES REQUIRED FOR THE MAJOR: | 36-42 | |
| FASH 105 | Introduction to Fashion | 3 |
| orFASH 123 | Introduction to Costume Development | 3 |
| FASH 116 | Fashion Data Management | 1 |
| orFASH 175 | Computer Fashion Design: Adobe PhotoShop | 3 |
| FASH 120 | Fashion History and Trends | 3 |
| orFASH 122 | Ethnic Costume | 3 |
| FASH 125 | Fashion Selection | 3 |
| FASH 130 | Apparel Construction I | 3 |
| FASH 130L | Apparel Construction I Laboratory | 1 |
| FASH 131 | Apparel Construction II | 3 |
| FASH 131L | Apparel Construction II Laboratory | 1 |
| FASH 140 | Clothing Design and Flat Pattern I | 3 |
| FASH 145 | Clothing Design Through Draping | 3 |
| FASH 145L | Clothing Design Through Draping Laboratory | 1 |
| FASH 150 | Advanced Fashion Design | 3 |
| FASH 168 | Textiles | 3 |
| FASH 270 | Work Experience | 1-2 |
| FASH 155 | Fashion Field Studies | 1-4 |
| orFASH 156 | International Fashion Field Studies: Overview | 1-4 |
| orFASH 157 | International Field Studies: Focused Study | 1-4 |
| orFASH 158 | Fashion Field Studies: Trade Shows/Markets | 1-4 |
| FASH 176 | Computer Fashion Design: Adobe Illustrator | 3 |
| orFASH 142 | Fashion Illustration & Technical Sketching | 3 |
| Select 1 - 1.5 units from the following: | 1-1.5 | |
| FASH 116 | Fashion Data Management | 1 |
| FASH 124 | Costume Understructures | 1 |
| FASH 143 | Advanced Fashion Illustration and Technical Sketching | 1.5 |
| FASH 147 | Stretch Knits: Design and Construction | 1 |
| FASH 160 | Millinery Techniques | 1 |
| FASH 161 | Millinery Flat Pattern Design | 1 |
| FASH 162 | Millinery Blocking | 1 |
| Select 3 units from the following (not previously selected above): | 3 | |
| FASH 105 | Introduction to Fashion | 3 |
| FASH 109 | Fashion Product Development | 3 |
| FASH 120 | Fashion History and Trends | 3 |
| FASH 122 | Ethnic Costume | 3 |
| FASH 123 | Introduction to Costume Development | 3 |
| FASH 135 | Tailoring | 3 |
| FASH 141 | Clothing Design and Flat Pattern II | 3 |
| FASH 142 | Fashion Illustration & Technical Sketching | 3 |
| FASH 166 | Fitting Techniques and Alterations | 3 |
| FASH 169 | Textile Design Practicum | 3 |
| FASH 171 | Computer Flat Pattern Design I | 3 |
| FASH 172 | Computer Flat Pattern Design II | 3 |
| FASH 175 | Computer Fashion Design: Adobe PhotoShop | 3 |
| FASH 176 | Computer Fashion Design: Adobe Illustrator | 3 |
| FASH 190 | Fashion Entrepreneurship | 3 |