Description
The fashion merchandising program is designed to provide majors in the program with an understanding of merchandising as it relates to the apparel and retail industries. The focus is on the business and marketing aspects of merchandising, particularly how the production, distribution, and promotion of goods and services in fashion and retail are developed and delivered to the consumers. International emphasis on the industry is provided as there is an increased blending of apparel manufacturing, distribution, and retail from a global framework.
Graduating students can expect to find employment in such positions as fashion and retail planning, buyers, visual merchandising, fashion and retail promotion, product managers, and retail store management.
Objectives
Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising, graduates will be able to:
- Analyze, develop, construct, and execute effective marketing strategies for a specific fashion or retail operation.
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of consumer behavior and choose appropriate professional techniques in the display and sales of fashion and retail goods.
- Identify and interpret style and retail trends as they relate to fashion and retail cycles as well as targeted consumer markets.
- Interpret, assess, and respond to economic and market factors that affect consumer fashion and retail demand.
- Select appropriate solutions utilizing a working knowledge of specific areas of domestic and international marketing, management, and law as they relate to the business operations of fashion and retail merchandising.
- Employ sophisticated personal communication and technology skills to enhance job effectiveness.
Policies
Students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.50 in the major, and the lowest acceptable grade is a "C" in all major and Stevenson Educational Experience (SEE) courses. No student, regardless of major, will be permitted to advance to the next course without earning a grade of "C" or better in the prerequisite course(s). When a grade below "C" is earned in a major course, the student must repeat that course.
A course may be repeated once without special permission. Fashion merchandising majors must apply in writing to the department chair of business administration requesting permission to repeat a course for a second time. Those who do not successfully complete a major course with a grade of “C” or better after a third attempt will not be allowed to continue in the fashion merchandising program.
Requirements
The courses listed below are required for completion of the bachelor's degree in fashion merchandising. Students must also complete the requirements for the Stevenson Educational Experience (SEE).
Specific pre- and co-requisites for each course are listed in the course descriptions.
Major Requirements:
| FYS 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 credit |
| ACC 215 | Survey of Accounting | 3 credits |
| ART 110 | Fundamentals of Design I | 3 credits |
| EC 202 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 credits |
| FDES 200 | Introduction to Textiles | 3 credits |
| FDES 274 | History of Fashion | 3 credits |
| FMER 210 | Fashion and Culture | 3 credits |
| FMER 223 | The Business of Fashion | 3 credits |
| FMER 315 | Writing for Fashion | 3 credits |
| FMER 320 | Fashion Retailing | 3 credits |
| FMER 340 | Merchandise Sourcing and Logistics | 3 credits |
| FMER 323 | Fashion Product Merchandising | 3 credits |
| FMER 360 | Visual Merchandising | 3 credits |
| FMER 417 | Senior Business Internship | 3 credits |
| FMER 430 | Current Topics in Fashion Merchandising | 3 credits |
| INBUS 325/MKT 325 | International Marketing | 3 credits |
| LAW 208 | Business Law | 3 credits |
| MGT 204 | Principles of Management | 3 credits |
| MGT 210 | Business Writing | 3 credits |
| MKT 206 | Principles of Marketing | 3 credits |
| MKT 311 | Consumer Behavior | 3 credits |
| MKT 336 | Integrated Marketing Communication | 3 credits |
Suggested Course Sequence
Suggested Course Sequence Fashion Merchandising
Minor in Fashion Merchandising
The minor in Fashion Merchandising is designed for students interested in the business of fashion. It prepares students to understand the role of apparel in today’s marketplace and the relationship between the fashion and production apparel industries.
The minor in fashion merchandising requires successful completion of a minimum of six courses and 18 credits with a FMER prefix, which focus on fashion and culture, fashion retailing, product merchandising, and fashion communication. General guidelines regarding minors may be found in the Minors section of the catalog.
Course Descriptions
See Fashion Merchandising Course Descriptions