M.S. in Fashion Design Management

Frequently Asked Questions

Thank you for your interest in the M.S. in Fashion Design Management program at Thomas Jefferson University. Below, please find a list of the the most frequently asked questions and their answers.

1. What is the timeline of the M.S. in Fashion Design Management program?
The program is a 3-semester program, a fall and spring in Philadelphia, followed by three months in Milan, Italy.

Fall 2017 - Classes held at East Falls campus
Spring 2018 - Classes held at East Falls campus, combined with students from Milan, Politecnico
Summer 2018 - No classes
Fall 2018 - Classes held at Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy combined with Italian students (3 months beginning September)

2. Can I work and attend the graduate classes?
Yes. Most graduate students are working professionals. A typical schedule will be one evening class a week starting after 5:30pm, and one additional full day a week (tentatively Mondays) with two scheduled classes starting in the morning and ending around 6:00pm. You would be free to work Tuesday through Sunday.

3. How many courses are there in the program? And how many total credits?
There are 10 courses in the program totaling 32 credits. 3 Courses/10 credits the first semester, 3 Courses/10 credits the second semester, and 4 Courses/12 credits in Milan the last semester.

4. Are there services to assist finding housing in Milan?
Yes, Politecnico di Milano has a team available to assist in placing students in affordable housing near campus, with short term leases. Pricing of housing is not included in the tuition.

5. What is the price of tuition?
Tuition is currently $1130 per credit. This is the standard graduate tuition rate, as described here.

6. Do I need an undergraduate degree in Fashion Design to apply to the MSFDM program?
No, an undergraduate degree in any Design or Fashion discipline/degree is acceptable. (i.e. Fashion Design, Fashion Merchandising, Fashion Marketing, Textile Design, Interior Design, Graphic Design, Industrial Design)

7. What is the deadline for the application?
It is a rolling admissions process, so there is no set deadline, however, due to the limited available spots in the program launch, we highly recommend and encourage applications to be submitted at your earliest convenience. The opening cohort is only 15 spots.

8. Do I need a portfolio?
Although a portfolio is not required, a portfolio may be submitted with your application.

For portfolio details, visit:    
www.philau.edu/MSFashionDesignMGMT/admissionsRequirements.html

9. Will I get any free time to travel when studying in Milan, Italy?
Yes, travel during your time in Italy is strongly encouraged. You will have your weekends and some week days free to explore the surrounding regions of Italy and Europe.

10. Do I need to know how to sew?
No, the MSFDM does not require any sewing. The program is focused on learning how to manage creative processes within the fashion industry.

11. Will I need to know how to speak Italian when studying in Milan, Italy?

No. All Graduate courses at Politecnico will be taught in English.


If you have any additional questions, or would like more information regarding the M.S. in Fashion Design Management program, please feel free to contact the program director, Sheila Connelly at connellys@PhilaU.edu.

For questions about the application process, please reach out to the Office of Graduate Admissions at 215-951-2943 or GradAdm@PhilaU.edu.

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