The CFDA Masters Program was developed to provide paid apprenticeship opportunities with a designer, design company, or major retail company to graduating college seniors. This practical, hands-on program is meant to expose the intern to all aspects of the fashion business. Like the Scholarship Program, the Masters Program is a highly competitive opportunity and participants hold degrees from the country’s top fashion schools. Only three to ten students from each of the participating colleges and universities are invited to apply each year.

Since its inception in 1998, the Masters Program has selected and placed thirteen young designers, who have gone on full-time employment in high-level positions with leading companies. The CFDA would like to expand and diversify this successful program and is currently looking to invite other companies to participate in this unique educational opportunity.

For nine years, the CFDA partnered with Target to oversee the Target/CFDA Design Initiative, which provided young designers with paid, post-graduate apprenticeships at Target headquarters in Minneapolis. As part of this partnership with the CFDA, Target Stores made a significant, annual donation to the CFDA’s Educational Initiatives.