Fashion Merchandising (BFA)

Fashion Merchandising (BFA)

The Bachelors of Fine Art in Fashion Merchandising provides a foundation in fashion merchandising and fashion management. It includes major functions necessary to run a successful operation that plans, manages, and sells fashion products. Through hands-on Fashion Merchandising classes in buying, planning, product management, and retail management, students will develop the skills and knowledge required for a successful career in today’s global retail operations.

AA MA

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Degree

Available Online & On Campus

Core Classes

FSH 105 Fashion Business: Concepts Core/3
FSH 107 Fashion Business: Visual Communication Tools Core/3
FSH 120 Color Science & Fabric Technology Core/3
FSH 145 Fashion Business: Marketing 1 Core/3
FSH 161 Fashion Business: Digital Techniques Core/3
FSH 210 Fashion Business: Manufacturing Core/3
FSH 215 Fashion Business: Retailing & Management Core/3
FSH 250 Fashion Business: Buying Fundamentals Core/3
FSH 252 Visual Merchandising: Retail Spaces & Customer Engagement Core/3
FSH 323 Fashion Business: Trend Analysis Core/3
FSH 385 Fashion Business: Marketing Promotion Strategy Core/3
FSH 390 Fashion Business: Professional Practices & Portfolio Core/3

FOR YOUR INDIVIDUALIZED ENROLLMENT PLAN, CONTACT YOUR ADVISOR

Unit Requirements

Major Coursework Units
Core 36
Major 30
Electives 9
Liberal Arts 45
Total 120

Degree Requirements

BFA FASHION MERCHANDISING DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

  • Minimum grade of C- in all core courses, major courses, and LA 107 Writing for the Multilingual Artist or LA 108 Composition for the Artist.
  • Minimum 2.0 GPA and the following general education requirements:
    4 Art Historical Awareness courses
    1 Written Communication: Composition course
    1 Written Communication: Context & Style course
    1 Written Communication: Critical Thinking course
    1 Historical Awareness course
    1 Cultural Ideas & Influences
    1 Employment Communication & Practices
    1 Fundamental Math

After above general education requirements are met, take Liberal Arts electives as needed to fulfill the Liberal Arts unit requirement.

Additional Information

Program Learning Outcomes

Undergraduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:

Research and Concept Development

  • Conduct thorough market and consumer research using industry-standard research tools and methods
  • Identify trends, consumer changes, and market opportunities in the global fashion marketplace
  • Analyze research to develop merchandising concepts and applications in contemporary fashion marketing and business marketplace
  • Produce creative and original merchandising concepts
  • Apply merchandising concepts to advance point of view or concept appropriate for the market changes, target customer, and business types

Fashion Merchandising

  • Source, edit and select the appropriate product for a target customer
  • Apply merchandising skills and develop product assortments for the selected channels
  • Conduct a fashion business analysis and create an effective business plan (sales assortment plan, finances plan and marketing plan)

Technical Skills

  • Work effectively with industry standard software to demonstrate and communicate concepts and plans professionally

Presentation Skills

  • Create professional visual and written presentations that reflect a point of view consistent with product, target consumer, and brand
  • Communicate ideas and merchandising concepts professionally and effectively using fashion industry vocabulary
  • Communicate ideas and merchandising concepts professionally and effectively using audience-appropriate visual aids
  • Effectively pitch concepts and ideas
  • Apply the conventions of standard written English to all professional written communication

Collaboration Skills

  • Work effectively in a team

Professional Readiness

  • Create a relevant and original portfolio and collateral materials which can be used to market themselves to the industry

Academy of Art University Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Academy of Art University will demonstrate the ability to:

  1. Produce a body of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in their chosen field of art and design.
  2. Solve creative problems within their field of art and design, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
  3. Communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral, and written presentation skills relevant to their field.
  4. Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles.
  5. Evaluate work in their field, including their own work, using professional terminology.
  6. Recognize the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on art and design products.
  7. Learn the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global marketplace for art and design.
  8. Engage with a variety of communities beyond the classroom through internship opportunities, study abroad programs, athletics, student interest clubs as well as collaborative, civic and pro bono projects.

*Semester plans are subject to change at any time. Semester breakdowns displayed are suggested and additional options are available to help customize your educational experience. Speak to an admissions or student services representative for more information. Please see our catalog for more details at: https://catalog.academyart.edu

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