Cultivate Your Creativity

At John Paul the Great Catholic University, we believe in the power of beauty to transform culture. We’re shaping the next generation of artists and innovators with academic excellence, unparalleled creativity, and an authentic community centered on Jesus Christ.

JPCatholic’s Fashion Design program provides an in-depth examination of fashion analysis, coupled with practical experience in design work. Under the guidance of experienced professionals, you’ll get to develop your creative talent with courses in sewing, fashion drawing, digital design, color theory, and more.

Our dynamic community of creators provides hands-on opportunities for you to put your skills to use, including costuming for musical theatre or even feature films. These experiences prepare you for a variety of career paths in fashion including digital design, product development, retail management, merchandising, personal styling, and costume design for film, theatre, and other entertainers.

Fashion Design Curriculum

Fashion Analysis

Study the language of fashion, and how we communicate with what we wear.

Sewing

Start hands-on instruction in sewing during your Freshman year.

Drawing

Courses in Life Drawing and Fashion & Costume Drawing offer a foundational framework for understanding human anatomy and drapery.

Digital Design

Develop skills in graphic design and fashion product development to prepare for modern workflows.

Business of Fashion

Understand the world of retail, merchandising, and fashion marketing, key for students who want to create their own fashion line.

Costume Design

Apply pattern and construction technique alongside script analysis to create costumes for theatre or film.

General Education

Theology & Philosophy

Impact culture for Christ and grow in faith and understanding through a rich sequence of Scripture based Theology courses and Philosophy courses.

Business

Prepare yourself for a career in Fashion Design with foundational skills in marketing, management, and entrepreneurial thinking.

Humanities

Study the human condition by actively engaging in an exploration of art, literature, culture, politics, economics, and more.

Envision your future at JPCatholic

Hands-on, Project-based Curriculum

JPCatholic’s dynamic community focuses on creativity in action, giving you abundant opportunities to develop your craft. Our programs in theatre and film production provide a collaborative ecosystem for costume and fashion designers, and our Feature Film Program even provides the opportunity for standout students to earn IMDB credits on commercially distributed movies.

See Feature Films See Theatre Productions

Hands-on, Project-based Curriculum

JPCatholic’s dynamic community focuses on creativity in action, giving you abundant opportunities to develop your craft. Our programs in theatre and film production provide a collaborative ecosystem for costume and fashion designers, and our Feature Film Program even provides the opportunity for standout students to earn IMDB credits on commercially distributed movies.

See Feature Films See Theatre Productions

Minor in Costume Design

Supplement your Fashion Design courses with a minor in Costume Design! JPCatholic's program is designed to help you explore multiple interests through electives and minors. Add additional courses in Hair and Makeup, Screenwriting, Illustration, Marketing, Musical Theatre, and more!

Costume Design Minor All Minors

Minor in Costume Design

Supplement your Fashion Design courses with a minor in Costume Design! JPCatholic's program is designed to help you explore multiple interests through electives and minors. Add additional courses in Hair and Makeup, Screenwriting, Illustration, Marketing, Musical Theatre, and more!

Costume Design Minor All Minors

Build Your Own Company

Our Business LaunchPad program is an optional sequence of courses that gives students foundational knowledge and professional mentorship to conceive, nurture, and launch a real company. The LaunchPad offers an environment where the likelihood of your company’s success can be significantly increased, and your risk from failures and setbacks is minimized. You can receive guidance from successful entrepreneurs to pitch your business, earn seed funding, and receive continued support in the Business Incubator.

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Build Your Own Company

Our Business LaunchPad program is an optional sequence of courses that gives students foundational knowledge and professional mentorship to conceive, nurture, and launch a real company. The LaunchPad offers an environment where the likelihood of your company’s success can be significantly increased, and your risk from failures and setbacks is minimized. You can receive guidance from successful entrepreneurs to pitch your business, earn seed funding, and receive continued support in the Business Incubator.

Learn More

Located in San Diego County

John Paul the Great Catholic University is centered in north county San Diego, just a 35-minute drive from downtown in America's Finest City. Southern California is famous for its fantastic weather, beautiful beaches and mountains, and bustling metropolitan areas. Our campus is just 15 miles from the beach, a short trip by car or train. And with Los Angeles and Hollywood within striking distance, students have even more opportunities for internships and networking.

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Our Authentically Catholic Community

Our campus is a place where students can grow both professionally and spiritually. We’re a unique community of artists and innovators, centered around our faith in Jesus Christ and the beauty of the Catholic faith. Immerse yourself in an abundance of opportunities for spiritual growth, including Daily Mass, Confession, Adoration, Rosary, Retreats, and Service Projects.

Learn More

Our Authentically Catholic Community

Our campus is a place where students can grow both professionally and spiritually. We’re a unique community of artists and innovators, centered around our faith in Jesus Christ and the beauty of the Catholic faith. Immerse yourself in an abundance of opportunities for spiritual growth, including Daily Mass, Confession, Adoration, Rosary, Retreats, and Service Projects.

Learn More

Our Small Campus Environment

With a total student body under 300, JPCatholic offers a warm, tight-knit campus community. Foster lifelong friendships, form creative partnerships, and surround yourself with a supportive environment that encourages your growth in both virtue and artistic excellence.

See Student Life

Our Small Campus Environment

With a total student body under 300, JPCatholic offers a warm, tight-knit campus community. Foster lifelong friendships, form creative partnerships, and surround yourself with a supportive environment that encourages your growth in both virtue and artistic excellence.

See Student Life

Generous Scholarships Available

At JPCatholic, we’re committed to making a quality Catholic education affordable for every student. 99% of our students receive a scholarship, and packages take both need and merit into account. Our personalized financial counseling process assists you in identifying all awards you might be eligible for.

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Generous Scholarships Available

At JPCatholic, we’re committed to making a quality Catholic education affordable for every student. 99% of our students receive a scholarship, and packages take both need and merit into account. Our personalized financial counseling process assists you in identifying all awards you might be eligible for.

Learn More

Graduate in 3 Years

Our unique academic model prepares students for the real-world pace of professional life in the industry, with a focus on hands-on projects, internships, and portfolio preparation. The program is structured on a year-round quarter system, and you graduate with your Bachelors Degree in just 12 quarters. Each quarter is 10 weeks long, with about 3 weeks of break between each quarter.

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Alumni Success

JPCatholic alumni have found success in a variety of paths, ranging from Hollywood to independent media organizations, and from large corporations to nonprofits to their own entrepreneurial start-ups. View our placement rate and alumni jobs by clicking below.

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Alumni Success

JPCatholic alumni have found success in a variety of paths, ranging from Hollywood to independent media organizations, and from large corporations to nonprofits to their own entrepreneurial start-ups. View our placement rate and alumni jobs by clicking below.

Learn More

Meet the Faculty

Professors bring decades of experience to the classroom. With small classes, mentorship, and varied backgrounds in vocal performance, composition, sound design, post-production, and scoring, professors are able to help students achieve their individual career goals.

Elena Chirkova

Elena Chirkova

Adjunct Professor of Fashion

Jacqueline Gold

Jacqueline Gold

Professor of Art

Max Hulburt

Max Hulburt

Professor & Chair of Visual Arts

Cristina Weinheimer

Cristina Weinheimer

Adjunct Professor of Graphic Design

Marc Burch

Marc Burch

Adjunct Professor of Business & Launchpad Mentor

Joe Connolly

Joe Connolly

Professor & Chair of Business

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