Ball State's graduate programs in apparel design and fashion merchandising offer you a well-rounded education in all areas of fashion. Classes take place in our outstanding design and construction labs, which are equipped with much of the same equipment and software used in the fashion industry. You'll also study historic fashions and accessories in the Beeman Historic Costume Collection.

Degree Overview: In the apparel design program, you will learn advanced skills in fashion illustration and pattern making and modification, including using CAD and other computer-aided design programs to produce patterns for original garments you've designed. You'll also learn contemporary sewing, draping, and tailoring techniques and study current trends in fashion.

Ball State's program is respected in the fashion industry. Students in the undergraduate program have interned at major design houses like Michael Kors, Donna Karan, Betsey Johnson, and Kate Spade. The opportunities could include, but would not be limited to:

• Apparel Designer
• Retail Custom Clothier
• Fabric Buyer
• Other management positions

Applicants must meet the Admissions of the Graduate School. The department also requires all applicants to submit to the department a letter of intent, a resume, and two letters of recommendation.

Typically applicants are submitted two to nine months prior to beginning the graduate program.

Students must be admitted both to one of our departmental programs and to the Graduate School to enroll as a degree student in Family and Consumer Sciences.