Travel to key countries/cities of the world during spring break experiencing various aspects of the fashion industry and meeting industry professionals abroad. These trips are customized for fashion merchandising students to provide a hands-on experience.

Analysis of material and products from the basic concepts, including fiber content, yarn construction, fabric construction, finishes, applied surface design, dyeing and printing, and the basic components of construction and quality.

Students advance their construction and design skills while furthering their understanding of proper construction and fit. Industrial sewing machines will be used for construction. Students will develop a collection from concept to technical packs to final garments. 2 hour lecture, 2 hours laboratory. (Prerequisites: FMD 207, 344) (Fee Applies)

Visual Merchandising promotes the communication of a brand and/or fashion trend to the consumer. Students will learn the basic concepts, methods and application of visual design for various retail venues with a concentration in department store visual and merchandising practices. Students will be exposed to common tools of the trade, design principles, consumer psychology and marketing principles to aid in the creation of various displays on and off campus. The course covers methods of promoting and displaying merchandise, retail analysis and use of props and lighting to influence consumer spending.

Visual communication has a key role in the success of a company. In this course, students advance skills in visual merchandising and styling to communicate brand identity which translates a company’s value into appealing imagery for their target market. The course covers how to establish a career in styling and lays out the base knowledge a stylist must have in order to work in the industry. This course also includes an exploration of fashion terms, icons, history, and sources of inspiration, as well as portfolio building, branding and networking. (Prerequisite: FMD 320)

A senior level course in which students develop advanced skills in the Adobe Creative Suite and apply these skills to various graphic related projects with the objective of designing product for a global marketplace using current trend information. (Prerequisite: FMD 208, ART 302)

Study of historic costume from ancient times to the present day with emphasis on the geographical, political, religious, and social factors, which affected the clothing worn.

In-depth study of the purchasing functions and responsibilities of the buyer (traditional retailer) or merchant (private-label retailer) of various product categories. Analysis of buying plans based on merchandise assortment and dollar planning. (Prerequisites: FMD 106, MATH 205)

Senior level course designed to provide students with job search skills and strategies, and will hone their presentation and interview skills. This course builds and expands on all coursework with the goal of integrating content and applying it to real-life scenarios. The students will use their business and creative skills to craft an innovative response to the needs of a company. (Senior status required)

The purpose of this course, via reflection and analysis, is to integrate the experience (90-120 hours of off-campus work experience) and insights gained with the academic theory, principles, concepts and ethical aspects of the industry. In addition to academic goals, this course is intended to enhance their professional and public speaking skills, strengthen their personal and professional values and ethics, clarify their personal and career goals, and develop their self-confidence.