Fashion Merchandising Schools
So you’ve decided on a fashion merchandising career! Congratulations. You’ve taken a big step toward a very bright future. But you still have some decisions to make. Probably the biggest such decision is your choice of a fashion merchandising school.
What Degree Program Should I Choose
There are several different degree programs in fashion merchandising. You can earn a certificate, a diploma, an associate’s, or a bachelor’s degree in this field. Your choice depends upon a number of factors that take into consideration the unique qualities of each degree program.
- Certificate or diploma degree programs in fashion merchandising can usually be completed in 6 months to 1 year. Their program duration is so short because all of your coursework will focus on the actual job of fashion merchandising. A certificate or diploma program may be perfect for you if you don’t have the patience for long-term schooling and if you want to be able to enter the fashion field more quickly.
- Fashion Merchandising associate degrees are 2-year programs that combine a certain amount of liberal arts (or general educational) requirements with your fashion and business courses. If you like the idea of a broader education, you might want to consider getting an associate’s degree. Another benefit of an associate’s degree is that, should you wish to further your education in the future, many of the credits from your associate’s degree can be transferred toward a bachelor’s degree program.
- Bachelors degrees in fashion merchandising are 4-year programs that combine a substantial amount of liberal arts requirements with your fashion and business courses. If you have the patience for long-term schooling, have the desire for a broad education, and have a yearning for a plethora of promotional opportunities, a bachelor’s degree may be perfect for you.
What Makes a Good Fashion Merchandising School?
There are many fashions merchandising schools around the country that offer one, two, or all three of the above degree programs, but which one is the right one for you? The answer to this question lies within the definition of fashion merchandising itself.
Fashion merchandisers combine their fashion sense with their strong business sense. Their knowledge of the fashion industry enables them to forecast coming fashion trends, knowledge that they use to produce the right fashion product at the right time. They also help to create fashion trends by preparing clever advertising, directing promotion campaigns, and developing in-store displays.
A good fashion merchandising school, therefore, should have a good mix of fashion and business courses. Some of the course offerings of the best fashion merchandising schools include:
- Principles of Advertising
- Retail Management
- Principles of Marketing
- Fashion and Design
- Small Business Management
- Consumer Behavior
- Reading Consumer Trends
- Market Analysis
- Basic Business Principles
Best Fashion Merchandising Schools and Colleges
Keeping the above qualities in mind, here are some of the top fashion merchandising schools and colleges in the country. (You may access their websites to find out more information about their programs.)
American InterContinental University. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, AIU offers both associates and bachelors degree programs Visual Communications, Fashion Design, and Interior Design.
International Academy of Design and & Technology. Located in Las Vegas, Nevada, IADT offers associates and bachelors degrees in the fashion industry.
International Academy of Design and & Technology. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, this branch of IADT offers diploma programs in fashion merchandising.
International Academy of Design and & Technology. Located in Detroit, Michigan, this branch of IADT offers certificate programs in fashion design.
Katharine Gibbs School. Headquartered in Melville, New York, the Katharine Gibbs School offers associates degree programs in the fashion design field.
