Fashion Institute of Technology

The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) is a public college in Manhattan, New York. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) and focuses on art, business, design, mass communication, and technology connected to the fashion industry. It was founded in 1944. In 1967, FIT faculty and staff won the first higher education union contract in New York State.Seventeen majors are offered through the School of Art and Design, and ten through the Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology leading to the A.A.S., B.F.A., or B.S. degrees. The School of Liberal Arts offers a BS degree in art history and museum professions and a BS degree in film and media. The School of Graduate Studies offers seven programs leading to the Master of Arts, Master of Fine Arts or Master of Professional Studies degree. In addition to the degree programs, FIT offers a wide selection of non-credit courses through the Center for Professional Studies. One of the most popular programs is the 'Sew Like a Pro' series, which teaches basic through advanced sewing skills. FIT is an accredited institutional member of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, and the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. FIT publishes research on store branding and store positioning.The nine-building campus includes classrooms, television and radio studios, labs, design workshops, and multiple exhibition galleries. The campus has a Barnes & Noble College Bookstore. The Conference Center at FIT features the John E. Reeves Great Hall, a space suitable for conferences, fashion shows, lectures, and other events. The campus also has two large theatres: the Haft Auditorium and the Katie Murphy Amphitheatre. FIT serves over 7,578 full-time and 2,186 part-time students. Four dormitories, three of which are on-campus, serve approximately 2,300 students and offer a variety of accommodations. The George S. and Mariana Kaufman Residence Hall located at 406 West 31st Street – formerly a book bindery factory – was converted into residential apartments, to offer more housing near the campus for FIT students. The campus also has a retail food court/dining hall, a deli and a Starbucks.

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