Fashion Merchandising

B.S. Fashion Merchandising

The Bachelor of Science degree in Fashion Merchandising concentrates on the planning, procurement, and marketing aspects of the fashion business. Students learn to research target markets, analyze business results and develop strategies that effectively meet the needs of consumers. In their senior year, Merchandising students create an in-depth and intensive research project in collaboration with a major fashion company.

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Photo of student working with textiles The Merchandising major relies upon foundational courses such as Fashion in Culture & Commerce, Digital Software Studies and Textiles then advances with concentration specific offerings in Business, Product Development, or Fashion Promotion. The Business concentration is augmented by courses in related fields (Accounting, Business, Communications, and Economics), highlighting the importance of business skills in today's workplace. The addition of electives such as Accessory Merchandising, Fashion Branding & Licensing, and Product Sourcing greatly contribute to the enrichment and fulfillment of the concentration. The Fashion Promotion concentration is enhanced with courses in related fields such as Fashion Show Production, Visual Merchandising and Communications. The Product Development concentration includes coursework such as Supply Chain Management, Private Label Development, Branding & Licensing, and Sustainability.

The Fashion Program for Fashion Merchandising features a comprehensive curriculum leading to the Bachelor of Science Degree. Students may choose from three concentrations

Business concentration
Product Development concentration
Fashion Promotion concentration

Photo of Japanese fashion exhibit The Business concentration focuses on the planning, procurement, and marketing aspects of the fashion business. Students learn to research target markets, analyze business results, manage the supply chain, and develop strategies that effectively meet the needs of consumers.

The Product Development concentration explores the development of private label or branded merchandise, supply chain management, and the use of product data management techniques.

The Fashion Promotion concentration is geared toward the student seeking a career in fashion public relations or advertising, event production or on-line promotion.

A capping course is required for all senior Merchandising students. The capstone project requires that the student relate his/her knowledge of fashion merchandising and program concentration, related courses and the core, often in collaboration with major fashion companies. Fashion Merchandising students may also pursue a Product Development minor.

Marist Named Top Fashion School by Leading Industry Publication

The premier industry publication Business of Fashion released its Global Ranking of Fashion Schools for 2019. Marist Undergraduate Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising degrees received several Badges of Excellence, including Best Overall, Best in Learning Experience, and Best in Long-Term Value.

Requirements for a B.S. in Fashion Merchandising with a Business concentration

FASH 100 Fashion in Culture & Commerce 3 cr

FASH 200 Textiles 3 cr

FASH 235 Trend Forecasting & Analysis 3 cr

FASH 245 Digital Fashion Design I 3 cr

FASH 265 Retailing Principles & Practices 3 cr

FASH 300 Product Development 3 cr

FASH 304 Merchandise. Planning & Control 3 cr

FASH 355 Buying, Planning & Allocation 3 cr

FASH 381 History of Modern Fashion 3 cr

FASH 400 Employment Seminar 1 cr

FASH 455 Global Merchandising Strategies 3 cr

FASH 477 Merchandise Capping 3 cr

Credit Requirement in Fashion Merchandising with a Business Concentration 34 cr

Course Requirement in Related Fields

ART 281 History of Costume 3 cr

COM 102 Introduction to Communication 3 cr

COM 220 Introduction to Strategic Advertising 3 cr

BUS 320 Financial Management 3 cr

BUS 340 Principles of Marketing 3 cr

ACCT 203 Financial Accounting 3 cr

ACCT 204 Managerial Accounting 3 cr

ECON 103 Principles of Microeconomics 3 cr

ECON 104 Principles of Macroeconomics 3 cr

Credit Requirement in Related Fields 27 cr

Total Credit Requirement for a Major in Fashion Merchandising with a Business Concentration 61 cr

Core/Liberal Studies Requirements

Foundation

First Year Seminar 4 cr

Writing for College 3 cr

Distribution

PHIL 101 Philosophical Perspectives 3 cr

Ethics, Applied Ethics, or Religious Studies 3 cr

Fine Arts 0 cr (fulfilled by related field req.)

History 3 cr

Literature 3 cr

Mathematics (MATH 130 Intro to Statistics**) 3 cr

Natural Science 3 cr

Social Science 0 cr (fulfilled by related field req.)

Pathway* 12 credits

Courses addressing an interdisciplinary topic

Total Core/Liberal Studies Requirements 37 cr

Electives 22 credits

Total Credit Requirement for Graduation 120 cr

* Breadth and Pathway courses may overlap, but all students must take a total of 36 distribution credits (including related field requirements). Students majoring in

Breadth areas may apply a maximum of 6 credits to their distribution total. If applicable to a Pathway, 3 credits may come from disciplines outside of Core Breadth areas. Although foreign language and culture courses are not required within the Core, courses in these fields may be used to fulfill distribution requirements. See the Core/LS Program website for a detailed list of all courses that satisfy distribution requirements.

** Prerequisite for BUS 320 Financial Management.

Requirements for a B.S. in Fashion Merchandising with a Product Development concentration

FASH 100 Fashion in Culture & Commerce 3 cr

FASH 200 Textiles 3 cr

FASH 235 Fashion Trend Forecasting & Analysis 3 cr

FASH 245 Digital Fashion Design I 3 cr

FASH 268 Digital Fashion Design II 3 cr

FASH 265 Retailing Principles & Practices 3 cr

FASH 300 Product Development 3 cr

FASH 304 Merchandise Planning & Control 3 cr

FASH 306 Sustainability in Fashion 3 cr

FASH 318 Apparel Supply Chain Management 3 cr

FASH 325 Private Label Development 3 cr

FASH 341 Branding & Licensing 3 cr

FASH 381 History of Modern Fashion 3 cr

FASH 400 Employment Seminar 1 cr

FASH 415 Advanced PDM Software 3 cr

FASH 455 Global Merchandising Strategies 3 cr

FASH 477 Fashion Product Development Capping 3 cr

Credit Requirement in Fashion Merchandising with a Product Development Concentration 49 cr

Course Requirement in Related Fields

ART 281 History of Costume 3 cr

COM 102 Introduction to Communication 3 cr

COM 220 Intro to Strategic Advertising 3 cr

Credit Requirement in Related Fields 9 cr

Total Credit Requirement for a Major in Fashion Merchandising with a Product Development Concentration 58 cr

Core/Liberal Studies Requirements

Foundation

First Year Seminar 4 cr

Writing for College 3 cr

Distribution

PHIL 101 Philosophical Perspectives 3 cr

Ethics, Applied Ethics, or Religious Studies 3 cr

Fine Arts 0 cr (fulfilled by related field req.)

History 3 cr

Literature 3 cr

Mathematics 3 cr

Natural Science 3 cr

Social Science 3 cr

Pathway* 12 credits

Courses addressing an interdisciplinary topic

Total Core/Liberal Studies Requirements 40 cr

Electives 22 credits

Total Credit Requirement for Graduation 120 cr

* Breadth and Pathway courses may overlap, but all students must take a total of 36 distribution credits (including related field requirements). Students majoring in

Breadth areas may apply a maximum of 6 credits to their distribution total. If applicable to a Pathway, 3 credits may come from disciplines outside of Core Breadth areas. Although foreign language and culture courses are not required within the Core, courses in these fields may be used to fulfill distribution requirements. See the Core/LS Program website for a detailed list of all courses that satisfy distribution requirements.

Requirements for a B.S. in Fashion Merchandising with a Fashion Promotion Concentration

FASH 100 Fashion in Culture & Commerce 3 cr

FASH 200 Textiles 3 cr

FASH 245 Digital Fashion Design I 3 cr

FASH 265 Retailing Principles & Practices 3 cr

FASH 235 Fashion Trend Forecasting & Analysis 3 cr

FASH 300 Product Development 3 cr

FASH 341 Branding & Licensing 3 cr

FASH 381 History of Modern Fashion 3 cr

FASH 400 Employment Seminar 1 cr

FASH 455 Global Merchandising Strategies 3 cr

FASH 477 Fashion Merchandising Capstone 3 cr

Student will choose 3 courses from the following (3 credits each): 9 credits

FASH 261 Event Planning

FASH 269 Visual Merchandising

FASH 266 Writing for Fashion

FASH 295 Fashion Show Production

FASH 306 Sustainability in Fashion

FASH 315 Retail Entrepreneurship

FASH 367 Advanced Fashion Show Production

Credit Requirement in Fashion Merchandising with a Fashion Promotion Concentration 40 cr

Course Requirement in Related Fields

ART 281 History of Costume 3 cr

COM 102 Introduction to Communication 3 cr

COM 103 Digital Toolbox 3 cr

COM 211 Fundamentals of PR Theory & Practice 3 cr

COM 220 Intro to Strategic Advertising 3 cr

Students will choose 2 courses from the following: (3 credits each): 6 credits

COM 333 Applied Research Analytics

COM Special Topics

COM 348 Integrated Strategies, Tactics and Shareholders

Credit Requirement in Related Fields 21 cr

Total Credit Requirement for a Major in Fashion Merchandising with a Fashion Promotion Concentration 61 cr

Foundation

First Year Seminar 4 cr

Writing for College 3 cr

Distribution

PHIL 101 Philosophical Perspectives 3 cr

Ethics, Applied Ethics, or Religious Studies 3 cr

Fine Arts 0 cr (fulfilled by related field req.)

History 3 cr

Literature 3 cr

Mathematics 3 cr

Natural Science 3 cr

Social Science 3 cr

Pathway* 12 cr

Courses addressing an interdisciplinary topic

Total Core/Liberal Studies Requirements 40 cr

Electives 19 credits

Total Credit Requirement for Graduation 120 cr

* Breadth and Pathway courses may overlap, but all students must take a total of 36 distribution credits (including related field requirements). Students majoring in Breadth areas may apply a maximum of 6 credits to their distribution total. If applicable to a Pathway, 3 credits may come from disciplines outside of Core Breadth areas. Although foreign language and culture courses are not required within the Core, courses in these fields may be used to fulfill distribution requirements. See the Core/LS Program website for a detailed list of all courses that satisfy distribution requirements