Express yourself through costume design

In the Costume Design degree program, you’ll be encouraged to expand your artistic and visual expression through clothing design.

You’ll work closely with faculty members, production teams and DePaul’s Costume Shop to design costumes for multiple public productions by The Theatre School.

In your fourth year of the degree program, you’ll complete an internship in the costume industry to gain real-world experience. At the end of your fourth year, you will have the chance to take part in the annual Graduate Showcase, where you will present your designs to artistic directors and other members of the theatre, film and television industries.

Classes

Coursework

• Costume Technology
• Drawing for Designers
• Design Production
• History of Dramatic Literature
• Historical Significance of Costuming
• Stage Make-up

Resources

• Major Requirements
• Schedule of Classes
• Department Website

• Combined bachelor's + master's degree offered

Career Options

Common Career Areas

• Advertising
• Commercial costuming
• Fashion design
• Film costuming
• Magazine costuming
• Retail display design
• Television costuming
• Theatre costuming?

Major Requirements

Course Requirements

Plan of Study Grid

First Year		Hours
DES 286	FIGURE DRAWING FOR THEATRE	4
TEC 200	COSTUME TECHNOLOGY INTRODUCTION	4
TEC 254	COSTUME CRAFTS:DYEING AND PAINTING	4
TEC 354	COSTUME CONSTRUCTION I: INTRODUCTION	4
Drawing for Designers Sequence:
DES 111	DRAWING FOR DESIGNERS I	2
DES 112	DRAWING FOR DESIGNERS II	2
History of Dramatic Literature Sequence (Arts and Literature Requirement):
THE 204	HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE	4
THE 205	HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE	4
THE 206	HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE	4
Wig and Make-up Design & Technology Sequence:
DES 215	WIG & MAKEUP DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY 1	4
DES 216	WIG & MAKEUP DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY 1	4
DES 217	WIG & MAKEUP DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY 1	4
Principles of Design Sequence:
DES 141	ELEMENTS OF DESIGN	4
DES 142	PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN	4
DES 143	SCRIPT ANALYSIS	4
Three Quarters of Theatre Crew
TEC 107	THEATRE CREW (three quarters)	6
Second Year
TEC 255	COSTUME CRAFTS: GENERAL CRAFTS	4
Theatrical Collaboration Sequence:
DES 641	THEATRICAL COLLABORATION	3
DES 642	THEATRICAL COLLABORATION	3
Rendering for Designers Sequence:
DES 384	RENDERING FOR DESIGNERS I	3
DES 385	RENDERING FOR DESIGNERS II	3
DES 386	RENDERING FOR DESIGNERS III	3
Costume Construction I Sequence:
TEC 355	COSTUME CONSTRUCTION I: PATTERN DRAFTING	4
TEC 356	COSTUME CONSTRUCTION I: DRAPING	4
Costume Design Sequence:
DES 244	COSTUME DESIGN I	4
DES 245	COSTUME DESIGN I	4
DES 246	COSTUME DESIGN I	4
Production Practice I Sequence:
DES 271	DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE I	3
DES 272	DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE I	3
DES 273	DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE I	3
Third Year
TEC 256	COSTUME CRAFTS: MILLINERY	4
TEC 220	TEXTILES FOR COSTUME PRODUCTION	4
History of Costume, Hair and Makeup:
DES 260	GLOBAL HISTORY OF COSTUME, HAIR, AND MAKEUP	4
DES 261	GLOBAL HISTORY OF COSTUME, HAIR, AND MAKEUP	4
Costume Design II Sequence:
DES 344	COSTUME DESIGN II	4
DES 345	COSTUME DESIGN II	4
DES 346	COSTUME DESIGN II	4
Survey Sequence:
THE 381	SURVEY OF THE ARTS FOR THEATRE	4
THE 382	SURVEY OF THE ARTS FOR THEATRE	4
Production Practice II Sequence:
Select two of the following:		8
DES 371	DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE II
DES 372	DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE II
DES 373	DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE II
Fourth Year
DES 486	PORTFOLIO PREPARATION	3
DES 490	DESIGN INTERNSHIP	5
Costume Design III Sequence:
DES 444	COSTUME DESIGN III	4
DES 445	COSTUME DESIGN III	4
DES 446	COSTUME DESIGN III	4
Design Electives chosen in consultation with your department head		6
Figure Drawing Elective		4
Choose one course from the following list:
ART 218	FIGURE DRAWING
ART 318	ADVANCED FIGURE DRAWING
ART 338	FIGURE DRAWING IN CONTEXT
DES 290	PORTRAITURE FOR THE WIG AND MAKEUP ARTIST
Production Practice III
Select one of the following:		5
DES 471	DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE III
DES 472	DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE III
DES 473	DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE III