Online Fashion Merchandising Courses at Accredited Schools

International Academy of Design and Technology, the school below with the highest overall ranking, is effective at equipping students via its fashion merchandising courses to be successful fashion merchandisers, fashion designers, fashion models, fashion marketers, etc. and connect them to future employers. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, at present there are 61,280 people employed as merchandise displayers and window trimmers alone in the US, and their average annual salary is $28,480. Commercial and industrial designers make on average $61,400 per year and there are about 29,170 of them employed today.

Fashion Merchandising Organizations Fashion Merchandising Common Job Tasks
  • creating product advertising
  • attending fashion shows and events around the world
  • selling merchandise to retailers
Popular Journals & Magazines
 

Ranked by Excellence

Fashion Merchandising Courses at International Academy of Design and Technology

Program Name: Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Merchandising
Introduction to Business
Course Number BUSN101
Credits 4.0

This course provides an introduction to the practice of business through analysis of the role and function of accounting, management, marketing, finance, and economics within business organizations. Common business terms and principles will be discussed and the various activities of businesses in daily operations will be examined.


Marketing Communication
Course Number BUSN110
Credits 4.0

This course will explore various modes of communication to harvest the information necessary to make effective decisions regarding the organization of strategic planning.


Merchandising Principles and Practices
Course Number BUSN150
Credits 4.0

This course introduces merchandising principles and practices employed within retail environments. Topics include store organization, inventory control, financial considerations, operational management, and customer services. Merchandising concepts, retailing techniques, and consumer behavior are discussed.


Visual Merchandising
Course Number BUSN201
Credits 4.0

This course involves the study of visual merchandising and merchandise presentation techniques with an emphasis on psychological motivation, retail design, and display teamwork. Topics include the creation of specialty and department store displays, the design of visuals for walls and windows, the effects of color and lighting on consumer behavior, and professional presentation techniques for apparel and accessories.


Retail Management
Course Number BUSN205
Credits 4.0

This course examines contemporary management issues in the retail environment with a focus on theoretical principles, problem solving techniques, and decision-making processes. Students will discuss a range of retail management topics, including inventory planning and control, location assessment and store design, merchandising and retail promotion, product and brand management, human resources administration, legal and ethical concerns, information technology resources, financial and accounting needs, and sales and trend forecasting.


Principles of Accounting
Course Number BUSN210
Credits 4.0

This course provides an introduction to financial recordkeeping for small business proprietors. Accounting theory is stressed. Topics include business transaction analysis, general journals and ledgers utilization, financial statement preparation, accounting cycle completion and payroll accounting.


Electronic Marketing
Course Number BUSN225
Credits 4.0

This course addresses the development and implementation of an effective Internet marketing program. The use of marketing levers will be considered with a focus on the individual and interactivity to develop consumer and customer relationships.


Principles of Finance
Course Number BUSN250
Credits 4.0

This course is designed as an introduction to financial management principles for business. Topics include financial statements, the time value of money, bonds, stocks, working capital management, and capital budgeting.


Business Law
Course Number BUSN301
Credits 4.0

This course examines business law. Topics include legal, business and e-commerce environments, business regulations, dispute resolutions, liabilities, and the ethical and social responsibilities of business.


Pricing Strategies
Course Number BUSN325
Credits 4.0

This course covers the principles and terminology important to profitable merchandising. Concepts of financial management for merchandising fashion goods will be taught. Basic financial skills needed to succeed when planning, procuring, and selling fashion goods will be included. Merchandising principles, mathematical formulas, and real world applications will be discussed.


Merchandise Planning and Inventory Control
Course Number BUSN355
Credits 4.0

Merchandise sourcing, buying, and management are analyzed within the retail industry. Product development and distribution processes are examined. Emphasis will be placed on financial and organizational needs including planning, purchasing, pricing, and presenting inventory to meet customer demand.


Buying
Course Number BUSN360
Credits 4.0

This course focuses on merchandise buying and retail management. The structure of the retail industry will be analyzed and the development and distribution of consumer products will be examined. Emphasis is on the financial aspects of merchandising, pricing, planning, and purchasing retail inventories as it relates to buying. Merchandise control and presentation will also be covered.


Salesmanship
Course Number BUSN375
Credits 4.0

This course investigates sales presentations, communication styles, prospecting, closing, and the evaluation of selling techniques and practices. Various methods to improve sales effectiveness will be explored and selling from the various viewpoints of the consumer, the business, and society will be contemplated.


Fashion Marketing and Consumer Behavior
Course Number BUSN400
Credits 4.0

This course examines the planning, pricing, promotion, and distribution of products and services within the fashion industry and discusses how consumer motives and attitudes contribute to marketing decisions. Psychological, social, ethical, and financial factors that affect the marketplace are examined through case analyses.


International Business
Course Number BUSN401
Credits 4.0

This course focuses on the nature of international business operations. Intercultural relations and communication standards, international financial and trade frameworks, political and economic constraints, legal contracts and regulatory requirements, and international business and marketing plans will be examined.


Business Professionalism
Course Number BUSN420
Credits 4.0

This comprehensive course in career exploration and professional development provides the opportunity for students to develop career objectives, assess skills, identify accomplishments and describe professional experiences. Professional resumes are prepared, business correspondence is produced and interview techniques are practiced. Job search strategies are explored, including Internet resources and electronic resumes. Resources to continue professional development and to increase marketability are examined.


Project Management in Merchandising
Course Number BUSN460
Credits 4.0

This course focuses on the development and management of merchandising projects. The course will provide the opportunity for students to work as part of a team to create business plans and cost analyses for a variety of merchandising ventures and will design sales strategies based on forecasted trends and market research data. Regulatory compliance, inventory management, financial recordkeeping, and customer service needs within retail environments will be addressed.


Global Sourcing and Product Development
Course Number BUSN475
Credits 4.0

This course focuses on the globalization of textile apparel production, the issues of importing, exporting, tariff, quality control, quotas, regulatory requirements, and the effects of offshore manufacturing on delivery and quality of goods and services.


Entrepreneurship
Course Number BUSN499
Credits 4.0

This course addresses the essentials of entrepreneurship. Business organization, business plans and proposals, as well as ethical and legal issues will be discussed. Additionally, this course focuses on the fundamentals of profitability.


Introduction to Fashion
Course Number FASH101
Credits 4.0

This course presents an overview of fashion as a profession with an emphasis on its industry and careers. The processes of creating, producing and selling a fashion product, including terminology, professional organizations, and important designers in the field will be covered.


Fashion Sketching I
Course Number FASH105
Credits 4.0

This course demonstrates the relationship of clothing to the human figure, its proportion and how that translates into a line drawing or a ‘flat’, used by designers, manufacturers, retailers and merchandisers. Nomenclature of clothing items and parts and fashion vocabulary will be emphasized. Various drawing media will also be introduced.


Evolution of Fashion
Course Number FASH115
Credits 4.0

This course introduces students to the ideologies and elements of fashion design throughout history. Students will study sociological, political, religious aesthetic, and cultural issues related to the evolution of fashion, and will examine contemporary theories, designers, strategies, and techniques related to fashion design.


Textiles for Fashion
Course Number FASH120
Credits 4.0

This course provides an introduction to textiles and the textile industry with a focus on terminology, fiber properties, yarns, and fabric characteristics. Emphasis is on the selection, performance, use, and care of textiles. The construction, dyeing, printing, and finishing of textiles will be explored.


Computer Graphics for Fashion Design
Course Number FASH202
Credits 4.0

This course covers the basics of computer illustration as applied to fashion design. Focus will be on computer needs for the fashion industry and will include scanning and manipulation of line drawings, fabric and other images.


Trend Forecasting
Course Number FASH315
Credits 4.0

This course researches and analyzes social, cultural, religious, aesthetic, economic, political, and world events from the past as well as today. Events that impacted changes in fashion in the past will be explored as a means to predict changes in future fashion. Various fashion theories, cycles, and styles will be discussed.


Fashion Product Development
Course Number FASHM175
Credits 4.0

This course will examine the processes of apparel production, from concept to consumer design, development of patterns, manufacturing, quality control, use of fabrics and the categories of apparel and consumer markets. The many interrelated aspects of design and merchandising careers will be addressed.


Fashion Media
Course Number FASHM330
Credits 4.0

This course involves the design of editorial, promotional, and marketing material for the fashion industry. Students will practice researching, writing, and editing a variety of fashion articles, press releases, advertisements, biographies, and business documents as a means of developing technical and creative proficiency.


Fashion Publicity and Promotion
Course Number FASHM425
Credits 4.0

This course focuses on public relations, stylization, and publicity practices employed within the fashion and entertainment industries. Students will have the opportunity to learn principles and techniques used to create press kits, promote fashion events, coordinate photo shoots, develop celebrity images, and guide consumer preferences and behavior.


Fashion Merchandising Capstone
Course Number FASHM485
Credits 4.0

The capstone is a research-based course that integrates skills, knowledge, and creativity to produce a project that will showcase professional expertise in a chosen career field.


Senior Fashion Merchandising Portfolio
Course Number FASHM490
Credits 4.0

This course will facilitate analysis of the needs of the fashion industry and creation of a portfolio that will showcase student work.


Global Economics
Course Number ECON315
Credits 4.0

This course focuses on the economic aspects of globalization and examines why the interdependent economies of various nations are regarded as a single economic system or entity. It examines barriers and bridges to the world’s markets, including trade agreements and obstacles to international trading.


History of Art I
Course Number HUMN301
Credits 4.0

Students will have the opportunity to explore the nature of human thought, culture, and creativity dating from the early Renaissance through the 20th century through an examination of selected achievements in the humanities and the arts. This course will help students foster an understanding of human heritage as it recognizes individuals, societies, and cultures that have shaped our modern existence.


History of Art II
Course Number HUMN302
Credits 4.0

Students will have the opportunity to explore the nature of human thought, culture, and creativity dating from Prehistoric time through the 14th century through an examination of selected achievements in the humanities and the arts. This course will help students foster an understanding of human heritage as it recognizes individuals, societies, and cultures that have shaped our modern existence.


Literature and Film
Course Number HUMN401
Credits 4.0

This course examines literature and film and provides the opportunity for the student to compare and contrast the presentation of a story through different media. Analysis of literary works and critique of their film adaptations will allow the student to determine the characteristics of “successful” adaptation.


Ethics
Course Number PHIL405
Credits 4.0

Ethics is the study of moral philosophy in relation to society and human behavior. Students will study theoretical and applied ethical constructs, from both a Western and non- Western approach, that shape beliefs and relate to decision-making processes.


Environmental Science
Course Number SCIE201
Credits 4.0

This course investigates biological science and the effects of humans on the earth’s ecosystem. Topics discussed may include basic ecology, human populations, water, air, and land pollution, energy consumption, allocation of natural resources, alternative forms of energy, legislation, and citizen action.


Physical Anthropology
Course Number SCIE310
Credits 4.0

This course is an exploration of the principles of Physical Anthropology, covering genetic processes underlying the expression of population, the appearance of the hominids approximately 4 million years ago, and their subsequent development to the present. Students will be introduced to primate evolution, theoretical perspectives, and the technologies associated with human development. Medical anthropology and basic genetics will be examined.


Political Science
Course Number SOCS401
Credits 4.0

This course examines the scope and method of political science. This course explores the social nature of politics, with a focus on how power and opinions are distributed throughout a variety of populations, colleges, and political entities. Students will have the opportunity to analyze the effects of American culture and media on political structures and decision-making processes, and will contemplate the effects of international relations and political changes on contemporary society.


Introduction to Business
Course Number BUSN101
Credits 4.0

This course provides an introduction to the practice of business through analysis of the role and function of accounting, management, marketing, finance, and economics within business organizations. Common business terms and principles will be discussed and the various activities of businesses in daily operations will be examined.


Marketing Communication
Course Number BUSN110
Credits 4.0

This course will explore various modes of communication to harvest the information necessary to make effective decisions regarding the organization of strategic planning.


Merchandising Principles and Practices
Course Number BUSN150
Credits 4.0

This course introduces merchandising principles and practices employed within retail environments. Topics include store organization, inventory control, financial considerations, operational management, and customer services. Merchandising concepts, retailing techniques, and consumer behavior are discussed.


Visual Merchandising
Course Number BUSN201
Credits 4.0

This course involves the study of visual merchandising and merchandise presentation techniques with an emphasis on psychological motivation, retail design, and display teamwork. Topics include the creation of specialty and department store displays, the design of visuals for walls and windows, the effects of color and lighting on consumer behavior, and professional presentation techniques for apparel and accessories.


Retail Management
Course Number BUSN205
Credits 4.0

This course examines contemporary management issues in the retail environment with a focus on theoretical principles, problem solving techniques, and decision-making processes. Students will discuss a range of retail management topics, including inventory planning and control, location assessment and store design, merchandising and retail promotion, product and brand management, human resources administration, legal and ethical concerns, information technology resources, financial and accounting needs, and sales and trend forecasting.


Principles of Accounting
Course Number BUSN210
Credits 4.0

This course provides an introduction to financial recordkeeping for small business proprietors. Accounting theory is stressed. Topics include business transaction analysis, general journals and ledgers utilization, financial statement preparation, accounting cycle completion and payroll accounting.


Electronic Marketing
Course Number BUSN225
Credits 4.0

This course addresses the development and implementation of an effective Internet marketing program. The use of marketing levers will be considered with a focus on the individual and interactivity to develop consumer and customer relationships.


Principles of Finance
Course Number BUSN250
Credits 4.0

This course is designed as an introduction to financial management principles for business. Topics include financial statements, the time value of money, bonds, stocks, working capital management, and capital budgeting.


Business Law
Course Number BUSN301
Credits 4.0

This course examines business law. Topics include legal, business and e-commerce environments, business regulations, dispute resolutions, liabilities, and the ethical and social responsibilities of business.


Pricing Strategies
Course Number BUSN325
Credits 4.0

This course covers the principles and terminology important to profitable merchandising. Concepts of financial management for merchandising fashion goods will be taught. Basic financial skills needed to succeed when planning, procuring, and selling fashion goods will be included. Merchandising principles, mathematical formulas, and real world applications will be discussed.


Merchandise Planning
Course Number BUSN355
Credits 4.0

Merchandise sourcing, buying, and management are analyzed within the retail industry. Product development and distribution processes are examined. Emphasis will be placed on financial and organizational needs including planning, purchasing, pricing, and presenting inventory to meet customer demand.


Buying
Course Number BUSN360
Credits 4.0

This course focuses on merchandise buying and retail management. The structure of the retail industry will be analyzed and the development and distribution of consumer products will be examined. Emphasis is on the financial aspects of merchandising, pricing, planning, and purchasing retail inventories as it relates to buying. Merchandise control and presentation will also be covered.


Salesmanship
Course Number BUSN375
Credits 4.0

This course investigates sales presentations, communication styles, prospecting, closing, and the evaluation of selling techniques and practices. Various methods to improve sales effectiveness will be explored and selling from the various viewpoints of the consumer, the business, and society will be contemplated.


Fashion Marketing and Consumer Behavior
Course Number BUSN400
Credits 4.0

This course examines the planning, pricing, promotion, and distribution of products and services within the fashion industry and discusses how consumer motives and attitudes contribute to marketing decisions. Psychological, social, ethical, and financial factors that affect the marketplace are examined through case analyses.


International Business
Course Number BUSN401
Credits 4.0

This course focuses on the nature of international business operations. Intercultural relations and communication standards, international financial and trade frameworks, political and economic constraints, legal contracts and regulatory requirements, and international business and marketing plans will be examined.


Business Professionalism
Course Number BUSN420
Credits 4.0

This comprehensive course in career exploration and professional development provides the opportunity for students to develop career objectives, assess skills, identify accomplishments and describe professional experiences. Professional resumes are prepared, business correspondence is produced and interview techniques are practiced. Job search strategies are explored, including Internet resources and electronic resumes. Resources to continue professional development and to increase marketability are examined.


Project Management in Merchandising
Course Number BUSN460
Credits 4.0

This course focuses on the development and management of merchandising projects. The course will provide the opportunity for students to work as part of a team to create business plans and cost analyses for a variety of merchandising ventures and will design sales strategies based on forecasted trends and market research data. Regulatory compliance, inventory management, financial recordkeeping, and customer service needs within retail environments will be addressed.


Global Sourcing and Product Development
Course Number BUSN475
Credits 4.0

This course focuses on the globalization of textile apparel production, the issues of importing, exporting, tariff, quality control, quotas, regulatory requirements, and the effects of offshore manufacturing on delivery and quality of goods and services.


Entrepreneurship
Course Number BUSN499
Credits 4.0

This course addresses the essentials of entrepreneurship. Business organization, business plans and proposals, as well as ethical and legal issues will be discussed. Additionally, this course focuses on the fundamentals of profitability.


Introduction to Fashion
Course Number FASH101
Credits 4.0

This course presents an overview of fashion as a profession with an emphasis on its industry and careers. The processes of creating, producing and selling a fashion product, including terminology, professional organizations, and important designers in the field will be covered.


Fashion Sketching I
Course Number FASH105
Credits 4.0

This course demonstrates the relationship of clothing to the human figure, its proportion and how that translates into a line drawing or a ‘flat’, used by designers, manufacturers, retailers and merchandisers. Nomenclature of clothing items and parts and fashion vocabulary will be emphasized. Various drawing media will also be introduced.


Evolution of Fashion
Course Number FASH115
Credits 4.0

This course introduces students to the ideologies and elements of fashion design throughout history. Students will study sociological, political, religious aesthetic, and cultural issues related to the evolution of fashion, and will examine contemporary theories, designers, strategies, and techniques related to fashion design.


Textiles for Fashion
Course Number FASH120
Credits 4.0

This course provides an introduction to textiles and the textile industry with a focus on terminology, fiber properties, yarns, and fabric characteristics. Emphasis is on the selection, performance, use, and care of textiles. The construction, dyeing, printing, and finishing of textiles will be explored.


Computer Graphics for Fashion Design
Course Number FASH202
Credits 4.0

This course covers the basics of computer illustration as applied to fashion design. Focus will be on computer needs for the fashion industry and will include scanning and manipulation of line drawings, fabric and other images.


Trend Forecasting
Course Number FASH315
Credits 4.0

This course researches and analyzes social, cultural, religious, aesthetic, economic, political, and world events from the past as well as today. Events that impacted changes in fashion in the past will be explored as a means to predict changes in future fashion. Various fashion theories, cycles, and styles will be discussed.


Fashion Product Development
Course Number FASHM175
Credits 4.0

This course will examine the processes of apparel production, from concept to consumer design, development of patterns, manufacturing, quality control, use of fabrics and the categories of apparel and consumer markets. The many interrelated aspects of design and merchandising careers will be addressed.


Fashion Media
Course Number FASHM330
Credits 4.0

This course involves the design of editorial, promotional, and marketing material for the fashion industry. Students will practice researching, writing, and editing a variety of fashion articles, press releases, advertisements, biographies, and business documents as a means of developing technical and creative proficiency.


Fashion Publicity and Promotion
Course Number FASHM425
Credits 4.0

This course focuses on public relations, stylization, and publicity practices employed within the fashion and entertainment industries. Students will have the opportunity to learn principles and techniques used to create press kits, promote fashion events, coordinate photo shoots, develop celebrity images, and guide consumer preferences and behavior.


Fashion Merchandising Capstone
Course Number FASHM485
Credits 4.0

The capstone is a research-based course that integrates skills, knowledge, and creativity to produce a project that will showcase professional expertise in a chosen career field.


Senior Fashion Merchandising Portfolio
Course Number FASHM490
Credits 4.0

This course will facilitate analysis of the needs of the fashion industry and creation of a portfolio that will showcase student work.


College Success
Course Number COLL101
Credits 4.0

This course focuses on the development of professional and personal skills that will assist students in their collegiate and career performance. Topics covered include time management, interpersonal relations, personal expression, test-taking strategies, goal setting, study habits and techniques, self-esteem, image, and motivation.


Interpersonal Communications
Course Number COMM101
Credits 4.0

Communication theory and the principles of effective speech communication are presented. Students are given the opportunity to learn communication techniques, how to adapt to variations in audience and context, elements of effective audience research, speechwriting and delivery. Organizational and expressive strategies for informative and persuasive arguments are reviewed.


Global Economics
Course Number ECON315
Credits 4.0

This course focuses on the economic aspects of globalization and examines why the interdependent economies of various nations are regarded as a single economic system or entity. It examines barriers and bridges to the world’s markets, including trade agreements and obstacles to international trading.


English Composition I
Course Number ENGL101
Credits 4.0

In this course, students are given the opportunity to study and apply composition principles to a variety of writing modes, focusing on the writing process, intended audience, consistent point of view, correct grammar, concise language, appropriate style, and effective organizational strategies


English Composition II
Course Number ENGL102
Credits 4.0

This course is designed to allow students to expand their English skills by exploring advanced essay modes that include persuasive writing, literary analysis, and term paper research. Students will have the opportunity to analyze basic literary texts for style and content, and to present a researched, documented term paper.


Information Literacy
Course Number HUMN101
Credits 4.0

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to information literacy. Students will have the opportunity to develop skills to access digital and print source material and to evaluate and appropriately integrate this information into their own coursework. Students will be asked to assess their own thought processes and examine fallacies associated with their reasoning. The use of digital technology to communicate effectively is also a key component of this course


History of Art I
Course Number HUMN301
Credits 4.0

Students will have the opportunity to explore the nature of human thought, culture, and creativity dating from the early Renaissance through the 20th century through an examination of selected achievements in the humanities and the arts. This course will help students foster an understanding of human heritage as it recognizes individuals, societies, and cultures that have shaped our modern existence.


History of Art II
Course Number HUMN302
Credits 4.0

Students will have the opportunity to explore the nature of human thought, culture, and creativity dating from Prehistoric time through the 14th century through an examination of selected achievements in the humanities and the arts. This course will help students foster an understanding of human heritage as it recognizes individuals, societies, and cultures that have shaped our modern existence.


Literature and Film
Course Number HUMN401
Credits 4.0

This course examines literature and film and provides the opportunity for the student to compare and contrast the presentation of a story through different media. Analysis of literary works and critique of their film adaptations will allow the student to determine the characteristics of “successful” adaptation.


College Algebra
Course Number MATH130
Credits 4.0

This course is designed to enable students to reason quantitatively from a variety of mathematical perspectives. Topics include statistics, logic, geometry, estimation, and the process of problem solving.


Ethics
Course Number PHIL405
Credits 4.0

Ethics is the study of moral philosophy in relation to society and human behavior. Students will study theoretical and applied ethical constructs, from both a Western and non- Western approach, that shape beliefs and relate to decision-making processes.


Environmental Science
Course Number SCIE201
Credits 4.0

This course investigates biological science and the effects of humans on the earth’s ecosystem. Topics discussed may include basic ecology, human populations, water, air, and land pollution, energy consumption, allocation of natural resources, alternative forms of energy, legislation, and citizen action.


Cultural Diversity
Course Number SOCS201
Credits 4.0

This course is designed to enhance understanding of and appreciation for human diversity through the critical analysis of sociological, socioeconomic and cultural issues. The class will explore topics from a variety of perspectives and viewpoints as a means of developing deeper insight into how race, ethnicity, social class, gender, sexuality, and religion affect human relations.


Physical Anthropology
Course Number SCIE310
Credits 4.0

This course is an exploration of the principles of Physical Anthropology, covering genetic processes underlying the expression of population, the appearance of the hominids approximately 4 million years ago, and their subsequent development to the present. Students will be introduced to primate evolution, theoretical perspectives, and the technologies associated with human development. Medical anthropology and basic genetics will be examined.


Political Science
Course Number SOCS401
Credits 4.0

This course examines the scope and method of political science. This course explores the social nature of politics, with a focus on how power and opinions are distributed throughout a variety of populations, colleges, and political entities. Students will have the opportunity to analyze the effects of American culture and media on political structures and decision-making processes, and will contemplate the effects of international relations and political changes on contemporary society.


Program description: The Bachelor of Arts degree program in Fashion Merchandising at the Academy helps to prepare students for exciting career opportunities and is designed to provide the skills needed to be successful in merchandising, marketing, buying, sales, management, negotiation, customer relations and creative technologies. The program allows students to partner their interest in the world of fashion with the development of key business competencies critical to employment in today's global marketplace. Students also have the opportunity to explore the evolution of fashion, fashion trend forecasting, fashion media, and fashion promotion. The program requires integration of conceptual and creative abilities with business practices.
If you are ready to take the first step to a rewarding career full of challenges and opportunities, pursue your Fashion Merchandising Degree here. In addition to comprehensive coursework and professional instruction, students will have the opportunity to participate in a real world internship to help prepare them for the competitive fashion world.

Fashion Merchandising Courses at Penn Foster College

Program Name: Associate's Degree in Fashion Merchandising
Music Appreciation
Course Number HUM 104
Credits 3.0

135 Lecture hours Appreciating music; roles of composer and listener; principles of music theory and instrumentation; historical periods; varying styles of music. PREREQ: None


Introduction to the Fashion Industry
Course Number FSH 101
Credits 3.0

Traces the development of fashion and the fashion industry; shows how consumer demand affects fashion marketing; explains fashion change and consumer acceptance; covers market research and analysis; traces the development, production, and marketing of raw materials; covers international fashion centers as well as retailing, merchandising, and marketing. PREREQ: None


Color Theory
Course Number GRD 105
Credits 3.0

Color Theory covers the analysis of the dynamic interaction of color and its implications for designers and artists. This course also covers the physics of color, colored light, colored pigments, and the color wheel. Students are introduced to basic color principles, industry terminology, Johannes Itten’s color theory and applications, with an emphasis on manipulating color. PREREQ: Graphic Design Orientation


History of Fashion
Course Number FSH 110
Credits 3.0

With this course, you’ll gain an understanding of the history of costume in the West. Beginning with ancient times, you’ll study the dress of each era in the context of the historical events, societal values, and technology that influenced clothing and its production. You’ll also learn how the organization and function of the fashion industry changed as it became more complex. PREREQ: None


Basic Accounting
Course Number ACC 113
Credits 3.0

Description: N/A


Introduction to Textiles
Course Number FSH 120
Credits 3.0

Introduces students to textiles in a nontechnical way; covers laws and regulations of the textile industry; identifies yarns, fabric formation, coloration, and finishes; examines the properties of fibers.PREREQ: Introduction to the Fashion Industry; Color Theory


Marketing
Course Number MKT 301
Credits 3.0

The marketing environment; planning, information, and segmentation; consumer and business buyer behavior; product and distribution strategy; promotion and pricing strategy. PREREQ: None


Merchandising Math
Course Number MAT 215
Credits 3.0

Students will learn the concepts of profit and the calculation, interpretation, and analysis of the profit-loss statement; pricing factors used in buying decisions and the calculations used when pricing and/or repricing retail merchandise; the calculations of the various types of markup; procedure of determining the total value of the stock-on-hand and shortages; the planning and control of stocks and purchases, as well as invoice mathematics


Merchandising Planning and Buying
Course Number BUS 310
Credits 3.0

Methods, practices, and operations conducted to promote and sustain certain categories of commercial activity; principles and procedures used in planning, selecting, pricing, and selling goods in retail stores; domestic and foreign market purchasing; assessing product needs. Students will learn merchandising systems, assortment plans, and inventory control methods. PREREQ: Introduction to Business; M


Fashion Promotion
Course Number FSH 205
Credits 3.0

Students will learn the process of promotion, as well as the tools available for creating successful campaigns; emphasis is on the changing nature of promotion in a global marketplace; promotion strategies and techniques, personal and non-personal; covers the role and organizational structure of promotion and advertising and the creative elements involved. PREREQ: Introduction to the Fashion Industry; Marketing


Product Development
Course Number FSH 220
Credits 3.0

This course takes the students through the preproduction processes of apparel product development. Students will learn how to coordinate planning, forecasting, fabricating, developing silhouettes and specifications, pricing, and sourcing. Also covers the evolving partnerships among textile suppliers, product developers, manufacturers, and retailers. PREREQ: Introduction to the Fashion Industry


Information Literacy
Course Number ENG 103
Credits 1.0

Teaches students to become effective in finding and utilizing information at libraries and other information centers, and through electronic resources available in libraries and on the World Wide Web. PREREQ: None


Computer Applications
Course Number CSC 104
Credits 3.0

Computer and Internet Basics; computer hardware and software; digital electronics and file management; introduction to Windows® ; PC applications in word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation software. PREREQ: None


Earth Science
Course Number SCI 110
Credits 3.0

Surveys a broad range of topics within the fields of geology, meteorology, oceanography, and astronomy. PREREQ: None


Introduction to Biology
Course Number SCI 120
Credits 3.0

An introductory course that explains the origin of life and the relationships between all living things. It describes how a significant number of organisms are structured and how they work, in order to enable students to discuss intelligently the various forms of life and their processes. PREREQ: None


Nutrition
Course Number SCI 140
Credits 3.0

Personal decision making about nutrition; nutrition science; water; exercise; human growth and aging; safety of the food supply; the global view. PREREQ: None


Essentials of Psychology
Course Number SSC 130
Credits 3.0

Biology and behavior; consciousness; memory; thought and language; intelligence; personality and gender; stress; community influences. PREREQ: None


Art Appreciation
Course Number HUM 102
Credits 3.0

Artistic media; historical periods and artistic movements; roles of the artist and the viewer; art criticism. PREREQ: None


English Composition
Course Number ENG 100
Credits 3.0

This course teaches the skills and techniques of effectively developing, drafting, and revising college-level essays toward a specific purpose and audience: active reading, prewriting strategies, sentence and paragraph structure, thesis statements, varied patterns of development (e.g., illustration, comparison/contrast, classification), critical reading toward revision of structure and organization, editing for the standard written conventions, use and documentation of outside sources. Students submit three essays (process analysis, causal analysis, argumentation) and a course journal. PREREQ: None


Economics 1
Course Number BUS 121
Credits 3.0

This course will provide an overview of macroeconomics and the modern market economy. Law of supply and demand, cost of living, monetary systems, international factors, and short run economic fluctuations will be examined and discussed. PREREQ: None


College Algebra
Course Number MAT 120
Credits 3.0

This course introduces students to basic algebraic concepts. Topics covered include the real number system, exponents, scientific notation, equations of lines, graphing, inequalities, absolute values, polynomials, factoring polynomials, and rational expressions. PREREQ: None


Business and Technical Writing
Course Number ENG 121
Credits 3.0

Writing Styles; Abc Method Of Organizing Material; Grammar (parts Of Speech, Active And Passive Voice, Complete Sentences Vs. Sentence Fragments; Parallel Construction); Using Action Verbs; Constructing Paragraphs; Writing Memos, Business Letters, And Emails; Organizing Material; Conducting Research; Documenting Sources; Outlining; Providing Illustrations; Writing Reports, Proposals, Descriptions, Instructions, Articles, And Manuals. Prereq: None


Consumer Behavior
Course Number MKT 320

Influencing consumer behavior; consumer decision-making; effects on research and marketing; environmental influences; ethical responsibility


Internet Marketing and E-Commerce
Course Number INT 114
Credits 3.0

Provides a concise introduction to electronic commerce with balanced coverage of both technology and business topics; contains a comprehensive online companion that links the concepts in the book to real online examples; security, implementation, ethics, and legal issues in electronic commerce; case studies of real businesses. PREREQ: Computer Literacy


Retail Management
Course Number MKT 340
Credits 3.0

Organization of retail stores; basics of retailing; management of a successful retail business; merchandising principles.


Program description: The Fashion Merchandising
associate degree program provides
a thorough background in the
functional areas of retail management,
marketing, buying, fashion promotion,
product development, textiles, and
merchandising at the associate degree
level. The program prepares men and
women for a fashion merchandising
career. Typical areas in which a
graduate will have the necessary
academic background to enter the
field are merchandising, sales
management, marketing, e-commerce,
and retailing.
Students in this program must pass
the general education prerequisite credits
with a cumulative QPA of 1.6 in order
to be admitted to the full program.

Fashion Merchandising Courses at Ashworth College

Program Name: Fashion Retailing
Lesson 1: Fashion Merchandising: An Introduction

A history of fashion retailing; types of retailers; direct marketing; trends in the retail industry; qualifying for employment; options for self-employment in fashion.


Lesson 2: What is Fashion

The fundamentals of fashion; fads and trends; how fashions develop and spread; the role of style and fashion in contemporary society.


Lesson 3: Consumer Behavior

The psychology of consumer behavior; the sociology of consumer buying patterns; how consumers make fashion purchasing decisions; spending characteristics at different stages of life.


Lesson 4: Store Organization and Management

Creating an organization chart; departmentalizing and decentralizing; recruiting, training, evaluating, and compensating employees.


Lesson 5: The Buyer's Job

The global marketplace; deciding what and when to buy; buyer and assistant buyer duties; negotiating purchases; fashion forecasting; using reporting services.


Supplement: Time Management Guide

How to be more productive and efficient as a student now—and in your career later.


Lesson 6: Merchandising Pricing

Markup; factors affecting pricing: competition, quality, inventory turnover, promotional activities, store image, alterations, pilferage, and markdowns.


Lesson 7: Advertising and Promotion

Sales promotion and advertising basics; promoting the small store; preparing advertising; selecting media; special events; fashion shows; publicity.


Lesson 8: Store Layout and Visual Merchandising

Selecting the right site; exterior and interior layout and design; changing window displays; interior graphics, signage, and display fixtures; using color; props; selecting a theme.


Lesson 9: Fashion Direction and Research

The responsibilities of fashion directors, coordinators, and stylists; fashion trend forecasting; sources of data.


Lesson 10: Preparing a Fashion Show

The three types of fashion shows; working with the promotion calendar; how to develop a theme and budget; publicity; staging, lighting, and music.


Lesson 11: Executing and Evaluating a Fashion Show

Choosing clothes and accessories; selecting and notifying models; the fitting; packing and shipping merchandise; rehearsing; commentating; the closing; critiquing the show.


Lesson 12: The Marketplace

The market calendar; working with store buyers, designers, and wholesale reps; the fashion director's roles in a buying office, the textile industry, and manufacturing.


Lesson 13: Direct Retailing

Why direct retailing is growing; from retailer to cataloger; competition; kiosks; direct mail; targeted mailing lists; opportunities in cable television.


Supplement: Franchising

Kinds of franchises and franchise arrangements; the mobile franchise; finding a franchiser; franchising costs; understanding the contract; franchise trends.


Lesson 14: Personal Shopping

Essentials for the salesperson; keys to successful selling; suggesting additional merchandise; promoting future business; sources of product information.


Lesson 15: Merchandise Handling and Loss Prevention

Centralized receiving; branch and chain store receiving; inventory shortages; detecting and preventing shoplifting.


Lesson 16: Inventory Control

Accounting procedures; inventory, dollar, unit, and expense control; stock turnover; the expense budget; classifying the various expenses.


Lesson 17: Customer Service and Credit

Why retailers give credit; kinds of retail credit; personal shopping; gift wrapping; the gift registry; alterations; approaches to improve customer service.


Supplement: Career Search Guide

Helpful techniques for pursuing careers in the carpentry field.


Program description: Ashworth College's Career Diploma in Fashion Retailing program is intended to teach students about fashion trends and planning successful fashion shows. Students have the opportunity to learn about fashion merchandising, pricing, advertising, promotion, store layout, and visual merchandising. They also have a chance to learn about consumer behavior, store organization and management, the marketplace, personal shopping, loss prevention, inventory control, and customer service and credit. Ashworth College provides students in the Career Diploma in Fashion Retailing program with a customized lesson book, study guides, illustrated personal fashion manual, career search and time management guide, and a supplement about franchising.

Fashion Merchandising Courses by State & City

Top 20 US Fashion Merchandising Schools (campus and online)

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Total Programs 279
Number of Subjects 183
Rank in USA 31st
University of Georgia
Total Programs 197
Number of Subjects 156
Rank in USA 38th
Michigan State University
Total Programs 220
Number of Subjects 164
Rank in USA 45th
University of Delaware
Total Programs 159
Number of Subjects 128
Rank in USA 95th
Drexel University
Total Programs 125
Number of Subjects 123
Rank in USA 108th
Marist College
Total Programs 81
Number of Subjects 95
Rank in USA 120th
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
Total Programs 139
Number of Subjects 125
Rank in USA 121st
Texas Christian University
Total Programs 124
Number of Subjects 117
Rank in USA 142nd
Texas Tech University
Total Programs 183
Number of Subjects 154
Rank in USA 150th
Howard University
Total Programs 140
Number of Subjects 131
Rank in USA 168th
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Total Programs 202
Number of Subjects 152
Rank in USA 194th
Texas State University-San Marcos
Total Programs 164
Number of Subjects 152
Rank in USA 204th
Virginia Commonwealth University
Total Programs 138
Number of Subjects 124
Rank in USA 222nd
Harding University
Total Programs 105
Number of Subjects 105
Rank in USA 224th
Northern Arizona University
Total Programs 206
Number of Subjects 156
Rank in USA 225th
The New School
Total Programs 61
Number of Subjects 60
Rank in USA 234th
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Total Programs 25
Number of Subjects 29
Rank in USA 237th
Central Michigan University
Total Programs 186
Number of Subjects 145
Rank in USA 239th
Montclair State University
Total Programs 100
Number of Subjects 99
Rank in USA 247th
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
Total Programs 170
Number of Subjects 143
Rank in USA 254th