Fashion Innovation (MS)

Program Overview

The USC Iovine and Young Academy Master of Science in Fashion Innovation leverages the learning framework of the USC Iovine and Young Academy on intersectional innovation spanning design, business, and technology and adapts the framework to the fast-evolving world of fashion. With multiple and overlapping influences on fashion ranging from sustainability to new technologies to interconnected cultural diversity, an integrated approach to fashion innovation will prepare graduates for employment in both managerial and product development positions as well as specialized positions requiring interconnected knowledge such as the CTO, CFO or CIO positions in a fashion company, a retail company that integrates apparel or a content company that engages fashion.

The program will focus on collaborative product innovation in the domain of fashion and students in the program will acquire fashion-specific skills and gain experience in cross-sector collaboration as they study the intersection of fashion innovation with:

• technology;
• the business of innovation; and
• challenge-based learning for collaborative innovation.

This degree program is part of the USC Fashion Innovation partnership and the program includes curriculum elements from the Iovine and Young Academy, the Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, the Roski School of Art and Design and the School of Dramatic Arts.

The Master of Science in Fashion Innovation requires a total of 36 units, including 8 units of fashion innovation, 8 units of the business of innovation and 16 units of cross-disciplinary training and collaboration.

Admission and Application Requirements

Applicants should possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. Those who do not hold a bachelor’s degree but who have a high level of demonstrated success in a relevant field or sector may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The selection process includes a comprehensive review of qualifications and experience, as well as personal characteristics and qualities as revealed in community involvement, leadership and other achievements. 

Application requirements include:

• A submitted application
• Payment of a non-refundable application fee
• A current resume
• Transcripts of all higher education institutions attended
• Responses to short essay prompts
• A portfolio or collection of work
• Letters of recommendation