Master of Arts in Fashion Studies (Parsons School of Design)

In the groundbreaking Fashion Studies master's program, you undertake the cultural analysis of fashion as dress, bodily practice, media, and industry. You hone your research and writing skills as you explore the visual and material dimensions of fashion and investigate their personal and political meanings in various contexts. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, you develop a critical understanding of the histories, theories, and knowledge production around fashion and its role in shaping bodies, identities, and social relations. Graduates work in diverse fields including the fashion industry, media, museums, and academia.
The curriculum challenges students to explore the interdisciplinary theories and methodologies that have shaped fashion studies and to contribute to the advancement of the field. Core and elective courses open up broad perspectives on fashion as a phenomenon, and its connections with design, production, consumption, mediation, imagination, embodiment, identity, history, and politics. Student-led projects, like the journal BIAS, offer students opportunities to publish work and collaborate with Parsons peers.

Graduate degree applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited American college or university or the equivalent degree from a foreign college or university. Applicants in the process of completing the bachelor's degree may apply for admission. Admission to the program requires completion of the bachelor's degree.
Complete a Statement of Purpose
Each academic program and admission committee has developed a program-specific Statement of Purpose prompt. This required application item customarily provides the opportunity for you to indicate your reasons for applying to your program of interest, the ways in which you plan to contribute to the program, The New School, and beyond, and your academic and professional goals. Please begin your application to review the program-specific prompt established by your admission committee.
Submit Your R'sum
Submit a one to two-page r'sum/curriculum vitae summarizing your academic qualifications, relevant work experience, published writing, volunteer/community work, professional networking, public speaking, and/or any other relevant experiences that may relate to your field of study, including dates and positions held. Please also note any special language or computer skills that you have.
Submit Two Letters of Recommendation
Two letters of recommendation from professional and/or academic references are required. Recommendations must be submitted by recommenders directly via the online application portal. Instructions are included in the online application.
Submit College Transcripts
Applicants must upload an unofficial transcript, mark sheet, or academic record for each institution (even if you didnt receive a degree) in the Academic History section of the online application.

All uploaded transcripts must be accompanied by a key, a legend, or the back copy of the transcript. Non-English transcripts must be accompanied by an English translation. Records from non-U.S. institutions must have grades or marks and contain a copy of diploma if the degree has been conferred. Make sure your name appears on the transcript/record. Scanned documents must be clear and legible.
Minimum required scores are:

TOEFL iBT92
IELTS7.0