Fashion Apparel Studies
Want a fashion career that goes beyond design?
The Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Apparel Studies at Stephens College gives you the flexibility to shape your own path in the global fashion industry — combining creativity, business strategy, and communication.
Built on the foundation of one of the world’s top-ranked fashion programs, this degree allows you to customize your studies across fashion, marketing, merchandising, communication, and business.
This is the fashion degree for students who want options — whether your future is in brand leadership, styling, product strategy, retail innovation, or entrepreneurship.
Flexible. Strategic. Industry-Connected.
- Stephens Fashion is ranked among the best in the world — and Apparel Studies gives you access to that same excellence with more flexibility.
- Global Recognition: Ranked 6th Best Fashion School in the World (2019, Business of Fashion) and 22nd worldwide (2022, CEOWORLD).
- Customizable Curriculum: Build your pathway by combining fashion coursework with business, marketing, or communication.
- Shared Industry Access: Learn from the same faculty, visiting professionals, and guest artists as students in design, marketing, and communication tracks.
- Real-World Preparation: Graduate with a capstone project aligned with your career goals.
Fashion Meets Business Thinking
Fashion today is about more than aesthetics — it’s about strategy, storytelling, and market insight.
In Apparel Studies, you’ll build a strong core in fashion while layering in business-minded skills that prepare you for leadership across the industry.
You’ll gain experience in:
- Brand strategy
- Consumer behavior
- Product lifecycle
- Retail innovation
- Creative direction
- Fashion entrepreneurship
Industry Experience — Early and Often
- You won’t have to wait until graduation to explore your career path.
- Learn from more than 30 visiting industry professionals each year.
- Travel to international fashion capitals for course credit.
- Intern with major publications like Elle Magazine or WWD, as well as emerging brands.
- Collaborate with peers across fashion disciplines on real-world projects.
- Complete a capstone project tailored to your professional goals.
What Can You Do With a Fashion Apparel Studies Degree?
A BA from Stephens College prepares you to:
- Build a career in fashion marketing or merchandising
- Work in styling, brand development, or creative direction
- Lead retail or product strategy teams
- Launch your own fashion or lifestyle business
- Work in fashion media or communication
- Shape customer experiences through trend and consumer insight
Is This Major Right for You?
This program could be a great fit if you:
- Love fashion but want flexibility in your career path
- Are interested in both creative and business aspects of the industry
- Want to combine fashion with marketing, communication, or entrepreneurship
- Enjoy collaboration and strategic thinking
- Want access to one of the country’s largest historic costume collections
- See yourself working across multiple areas of the fashion world
The Stephens Advantage
- Top-Ranked Program: Learn within one of the world’s best fashion schools.
- Custom Pathways: Tailor your coursework to match your career ambitions.
- Industry Mentorship: Gain insight from visiting professionals and alumni.
- Hands-On Learning: Internships, travel experiences, and collaborative projects.
- Historic Resources: Access to 13,000 garments in the Costume Museum and Research Library.
- Supportive Environment: A women’s college experience designed to build confidence and leadership.
Capstone Experience
In your final year, you’ll complete a professional capstone project that reflects your interests and career goals. This may include:
- A branding concept
- A merchandising strategy
- A styling portfolio
- A fashion business plan
- A communication campaign
You graduate with work that represents your future.
Fashion, business, storytelling — your pathway starts here.
Program Features
Benefit from the same faculty, guest artists, and internship opportunities of our top-ranked Fashion Design, Fashion Communication, and Fashion Marketing programs while tailoring your curriculum to your particular interests.
- Learn from more than 30 industry professionals who visit Stephens every year.
- Take study trips to international fashion capitals for college credit.
- Intern at companies such as Elle Magazine, WWD, and emerging brands.
- In your final year, design a capstone project that showcases your talents and aligns with your career and professional goals.
Program Highlights
What does a block schedule look like?
Take a look at the below sample block schedule for a first-year Fashion Apparel Studies major. The Block offers the rare opportunity to focus on what matters: learning, doing, and getting ready for your future. Want to know more? Contact an advisor academicaffairs@stephens.edu.
Immersive Learning Opportunities
Produce, market and report on The Collections, our annual student designer fashion show, a dynamic runway event established in 1944.
The Collections
Network with top industry professionals who visit Stephens every year, including prestigious designers invited by the Jeannene Booher Fashion Lecture Series.
Be inspired by our Historic Costume Museum and Research Library, featuring 13,000+ pieces, including designer garments from fashion icons Chanel, Oscar de la Renta, and more.
Costume Museum & Research LibraryThe Collections Annual Fashion Slideshow
To showcase the incredible up-and-coming talent of our Fashion students, Stephens College has been producing The Collections annual student designer fashion show for more than 80 years.
Related programs
Contact Us
Fashion
Dr. Kristin Kite, Program Chair
(573) 876-7175, Ext. 4221
Contact Stephens College