Fashion Institute of Technology (Four Year College) - Overview
The Fashion Institute of Technology
The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) is New York's celebrated urban college for creative and business talent. A selective State University of New York (SUNY) college of art and design, business, and technology, FIT is a creative mix of innovative achievers, original thinkers, and industry pioneers. FIT provides a singular approach to higher education, balancing a real-world-based curriculum and hands-on instruction with a rigorous liberal arts foundation. The college marries design and business, supports individual creativity in a collaborative environment, and encourages faculty members to match teaching expertise with professional experience. It offers a complete college experience with a vibrant student and residential life.
With an extraordinary location at the center of New York City -- world capital of the arts, business, and media -- FIT maintains close ties with the design, fashion, advertising, communications, and international commerce industries it serves. Academic departments consult with advisory boards of noted experts in their fields, to ensure that the curriculum and classroom technology remain current with evolving industry practices. The college's faculty of successful professionals brings experience to the classroom, while field trips, guest lectures, and sponsored competitions introduce students to the opportunities and challenges of their disciplines.
The Program
FIT's mission is to produce well-rounded graduates-doers and thinkers who raise the professional bar to become the next generation of business pacesetters and creative icons. The college serves approximately 10,000 full-time, part-time, and evening/weekend students from the metropolitan area, New York State, across the country, and around the world, offering more than 40 programs leading to the A.A.S., B.F.A., B.S., M.A., M.F.A., and M.P.S. degrees.
Each undergraduate program includes a core of traditional liberal arts courses, providing students with a global perspective, critical-thinking skills, and the ability to communicate effectively.
The School of Liberal Arts offers FIT students the opportunity to minor in a variety of liberal arts areas in 2 forms: traditional subject-based minors and interdisciplinary minors unique to the FIT liberal arts curriculum. Liberal arts minors include Asian Studies, Communication Studies, Dance and Performing Arts, Economics, English: Literature and/or Writing, Fashion Studies, Film and Media Studies, French, History of Art, International Politics, Italian, Japanese, Latin American Studies, Mathematics, Psychology, and Spanish.
All degree programs are designed to prepare students for creative and business careers¿the college's Career and Internship Center, which offers lifetime placement, reports a graduate employment rate of 90 percent¿and to provide them with the prerequisite studies so they may go on to baccalaureate, master's, or doctoral degrees.
Internships
Internships are a required element of most programs and are available to all matriculated students. More than one third of FIT student internships result in employment offers by the sponsoring organization; past sponsors include American Eagle, Bloomingdale's, Calvin Klein, Estee Lauder, Fairchild Publications, MTV, and Saatchi and Saatchi.
Honors Program
The Presidential Scholars honors program, available to academically exceptional students in all majors, offers special liberal arts courses, projects, colloquia, and off-campus trips that broaden horizons and stimulate discourse. Presidential Scholars enjoy priority course registration and are awarded an annual merit stipend.
Location
Occupying an entire block in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood, the Fashion Institute of Technology makes extensive use of the city's creative, commercial, and cultural resources, providing students with unrivaled internship opportunities and professional connections. A wide range of cultural and entertainment options -- from dining to galleries to theater -- are available within a short walk of the campus, as is convenient access to several subway and bus routes and the city's major rail and bus transportation hubs.
Housing
FIT's four residence halls house 2,300 students in fully furnished single-, double-, triple-, and quad-occupancy rooms and suits. Students may apply for housing no matter where they live. Students have the option of either traditional or apartment-style accommodations. Various dining options and meal plans are available. On-campus housing features 24- hour security, work rooms and lounges, wireless internet, cable TV, and laundry facilities. There are no monthly charges and utilities are included. Counselors and student staff members live in the halls, helping students adjust to college life and New York City.
Study Abroad Programs
The study abroad experience provides students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in diverse cultures and prepares them to live and work in a global community. Australia, China, England, France, and Mexico are some of the countries where FIT semester study abroad courses are offered. Students can also study abroad during the winter or summer sessions, or for a semester or a full academic year concentrating in fashion design or fashion merchandising management in Italy.
Faculty
The Fashion Institute of Technology's faculty is drawn from top professionals in academia, art, design, communications, and business, providing a curriculum rich in real-world experience and traditional educational values. Student-instructor interaction is encouraged, with a maximum class size of 25, and courses are structured to foster participation, independent thinking, and self-expression.
Student Activities
Participation in campus life is encouraged, and the college is home to more than 70 clubs, societies, and athletic teams¿everything from major-related organizations to hobby groups to a ski and snowboard club. Each organization is open to all students who have paid their activity fee. Concerts, dances, field trips, films, flea markets, and other events are planned by the Student Association and Programming Board and the various FIT clubs throughout the year. Student-run publications include a campus newspaper, a literary and art magazine, and the FIT yearbook.
Student Government
The Student Council, the governing body of the Student Association, grants all students the privileges and responsibilities of citizens in a self-governing college community. Faculty committees often include student representatives, and the president of the student government sits on FIT's Board of Trustees.
Athletics
FIT has intercollegiate teams in cross-country, half marathon, outdoor track, dance, table tennis, tennis, soccer, swimming and diving, and volleyball. Athletics and recreation offers group fitness classes at no extra cost to students. Classes include cardio sculpting, boxing, and yoga. Open gym activities allow students to participate in team and individual sports.