The Master of Fine Arts program in the Department of Design seeks to create an educational experience that will provide students with an understanding of the pedagogy of teaching and focused research and design within the academy that supports the burgeoning needs of their profession in a world that is becoming more interconnected and interdependent.
The M.F.A. in Design at UNT will not assist students who wish to build a portfolio or enhance their skills. Its mission is to prepare graduates to be effective design educators, managers and professionals while helping them expand their ability to build and apply knowledge in the field of fashion design.
Program Structure
The majority of the coursework consists of independent study, with the student working individually with various College of Visual Arts and Design (CVAD) faculty members.
The student is required to have a concentrated area of study, focusing on a specific topic in Fashion Design and its related fields.
The M.F.A. degree program culminates in a gallery exhibition of the student’s work as a problem in lieu of thesis.
The minor field of study must be chosen within the College of Visual Arts and Design.
Admission Requirements
Students who apply for admission must have:
- An accredited Bachelor’s degree (minimum 120 semester credit hours) in the same or closely related field, as follows:
a. Fashion Design
b. Clothing and Textiles
c. Apparel Manufacturing, etc. - A minimum of two to three years of professional experience in the field.
Careers
An M.F.A. in Design with a concentration in Fashion Design enables the individual to pursue a career in teaching at the university-level. M.F.A. graduates will have:
- The training to effectively teach Fashion Design and its technical skills at the university level
- Expertise in patternmaking, construction, fitting, design and draping skills
- A well-defined philosophy of design and area of expertise
- A strong base of understanding of historic costume - graduates will be proficient in research methodologies, trend study and predictions as well as presentation techniques
UNT graduates from our M.F.A. program are currently in tenure positions in the Fashion Design departments at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio; The University of North Carolina in Greensboro, North Carolina; Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, Texas Womens University in Denton, Texas and Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.