Fashion Merchandising and Marketing
Program Overview
Fashion Merchandising and Marketing
Prepare for a Career and Three National Certifications
Program Duration: 2 Year Program
Degree Type: Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.)
Total Credit Hours: 63
About This Program
Focus on customer service, marketing and merchandising knowledge for positions in fashion retail and fashion marketing, fashion apparel, home and garden, and gifts. You will also gain the communication, leadership and decision-making skills necessary for success. First-hand learning experiences include a retail lab, shopping zone field experiences and in-class professional projects. In addition to the competitive advantage of work experience, you will also be prepared to take the Customer Service and Sales, Advanced Customer Service and Sales, and Retail Industry Fundamentals certifications.
Quick Information
- General Contact
- Program Entry Requirements The program is open to interested students. However, students are required to satisfy placement at the time of admission. Students identified as needing developmental course work must satisfactorily complete the appropriate English and mathematics courses as a part of their degree program.
Program of Study and Graduation Requirements
To qualify for the Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S) in Fashion Merchandising & Marketing, students must complete a minimum of 63 credits as prescribed and attain a grade point average of 2.0 ("C" average).
Overview
The Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S) program in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing features an integrated, career-focused curriculum that explores the retail industry, functionality, customer needs and preferences, demographics, convenience, quality and performance through categories such as fashion apparel, accessories, home, gifts and various subcategories of retail trade. Through professional courses and a focused approach these themes of industry foundations, the customer and customer experience, product and promotion, digital and ecommerce strategies and future industry innovations are embedded in the program and allow students to gain the knowledge and skills to pursue career opportunities in merchandising and marketing.
Micro-internships and externships will allow students to explore hands-on experiences in merchandising and marketing roles and launch their careers by developing specific skills, expanding resumes, networking within the industry, and shadowing professionals to learn more about the field. Students will graduate with the equivalent of 1-2 years of retail experience.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Articulate and discuss the foundation of the integrated fashion industry.
- Apply fashion industry knowledge to solve problems and justify decisions.
- Demonstrate proficiency or mastery in soft skills necessary for success in any fashion career.
- Demonstrate proficiency or mastery in Marketing as it relates to the fashion industry.
- Demonstrate proficiency or mastery in Merchandising as it relates to the fashion industry.
- Apply fashion merchandising and fashion marketing concepts through hands-on experiences, including a retail lab, shopping zone field experiences, and in-class professional projects.
Semester 1
| Course Number and Name | Credits | Advisory Notes | Course Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL 101 - English Composition I or ENGL 101H - English Composition I (Honors) | 3 credits | Writing, Research, Info Lit 1 | |
| BUSL 101 - Navigating Leadership and Business Professions | 3 credits | BUSL 101 must be taken in the first 12 credits | Major Course |
| EASC 111 - Environmental Conservation or EASC 111H - Environmental Conservation (Honors) | 3 credits | Scientific Reasoning | |
| FMM 101 - Survey of the Fashion Industry | 3 credits | FMM 101 is the prerequisite for FMM 110, FMM 115, FMM 120, and FMM 125 in semester 2 | Major Course |
| FMM 105 - Textiles | 3 credits | FMM 105 is a prerequisite for FMM 135 and FMM 140 in semester 3 and FMM 150 in semester 4 | Major Course |
| FMM 110 - Merchandising and Marketing Tools | 2 credits | FMM 110 is the prerequisite for FMM 112 in Semester 2 and FMM 130 in semester 3 | Major Course |
Semester 2
| Course Number and Name | Credits | Advisory Notes | Course Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIS 103 - Introduction to Information Technology | 3 credits | CIS 103 is a prerequisite for FMM 135 and FMM 140 in semester 3 | Technological Competency |
| FNMT 118 - Intermediate Algebra | 3 credits | FNMT 18 or higher is the prerequisite for ECON 181. | Quantitative Reasoning |
| FMM 115 - Understanding the Customer | 3 credits | FMM 115 is a prerequisite for FMM 135 in semester 3 | Major Course |
| FMM 120 - Professional Personal Selling | 3 credits | Major Course | |
| FMM 125 - Experiential Retail | 3 credits | FMM 125 is a prerequisite for FMM 140 in semester 3 | Major Course |
Semester 3
| Course Number and Name | Credits | Advisory Notes | Course Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL 102 - The Research Paper or ENGL 102H - The Research Paper (Honors) | 3 credits | Writing, Research, Info Lit 2 | |
| ART 150 - Introduction to Computer Art/Graphics | 3 credits | Oral Communication/ Creative Expression | |
| FMM 135 - Fashion Product Promotion | 3 credits | FMM 135 is a prerequisite for FMM 150 semester 4 | Major Course, American/Global Diversity |
| FMM 140 - Buying & Private Label Development | 3 credits | FMM 140 is a prerequisite for FMM 150 semester 4 | Major Course |
| FMM 130 - Work Experience I | 3 credits | Students will discuss and select from available work opportunities in week 1 of the course. FMM 130 is a prerequisite for FMM 145 in semester 4 | Major Course |
Semester 4
| Course Number and Name | Credits | Advisory Notes | Course Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECON 181 - Principles of Economics (Macroeconomics) | 3 credits | ECON 181 may be taken concurrently with FMM 150 in semester 4 | Social Sciences |
| PHOT 105 - Introduction to Digital Photography | 4 credits | PHOT 105 may be taken concurrently with FMM 150 in semester 4 | Interpretive Studies |
| FMM 150 - Material Directions | 3 credits | Major Course, Writing Intensive | |
| FMM 155 - Digital Commerce | 3 credits | Major Course | |
| FMM 145 - Work Experience II | 3 credits | Students will discuss and select from available work opportunities in week 1 of the course | Major Course |
Launch Your Career in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing
- Purchasing Managers – est. salary $147,636
- First-line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers – est. salary $45,414
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists – est. salary $73,394
- Marketing Manager– est. salary $170,324*
- Retail Salespersons – est. salary $28,690
Career Outlook
$170,324
Median Salary of a Marketing Manager
1,068
Number of Jobs in the Region
+7.2%
10-year Job Outlook in the Region for a Marketing Manager
Marketing Manager
Plan, direct, or coordinate marketing policies and programs, such as determining the demand for products and services offered by a firm and its competitors, and identify potential customers.
Starting Pay: $92,496
Typical Tasks
- Identify, develop, or evaluate marketing strategy, based on knowledge of establishment objectives, market characteristics, and cost and markup factors.
- Formulate, direct, or coordinate marketing activities or policies to promote products or services, working with advertising or promotion managers.
- Evaluate the financial aspects of product development, such as budgets, expenditures, research and development appropriations, or return-on-investment and profit-loss projections.
- Develop pricing strategies, balancing firm objectives and customer satisfaction.
- Compile lists describing product or service offerings.
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