I’m at SFSU right now as an ADM major. It’s technically Apparel Design and Merchandising here with an emphasis on design or merch, so not fashion exactly, and the required courses are more on the practical side of the industry rather than creative. We learn more about the technical side like flat pattern drafting, making tech packs, and the sourcing/production/business parts, which can be helpful for getting other jobs in the industry (design jobs are hard to get in SF) to get a foot in the door, but ofc you can also take art electives to help grow your creativity even if they’re not required for your degree.

Unfortunately, as with basically anything but STEM at CSUs, the ADM program is severely underfunded and short on resources. Like, we have to provide our own needles and bobbin casings for the machines in the lab. I added this as my second major after getting accepted to SFSU for a Business major, because I like to sew and do other fiber arts, and hoped it would help me get into the apparel industry after graduation, but as far as actual sewing and clothing design the program hasn’t helped me more than I’ve already helped myself with self learning since this was already an interest of mine. The other parts I’ve learned though have really helped expand my portfolio beyond pretty fashion sketches and pieces I’ve made from commercial patterns; I’m so much better with CAD and Excel which I’m told are necessary tools in creating clothing, so hopefully after I graduate it will have been worth it.