Fashion and retail management is the business that sets the trends and moves the world?s fashion and merchandise from the designer?s imagination to showroom and department store floors and into the hands of the consumer. This fast-paced industry requires talented, creative professionals who have both a great sense of style and a solid knowledge of the business world. The fashion & retail management program prepares students in both these areas. The program, taught by faculty with industry experience, is designed to develop a student?s passion for the fashion and retail world through in-depth study of fashion history, business, sales, and marketing.

Students first build a basic foundation in drawing and design, as well as learning software for the applied arts. They continue with studies in the history of fashion, along with modern fashion illustration concepts and techniques, and the relationships between clothing design and social, political, economic, and geographic factors. Students also learn the basics of clothing design and construction, from fabrics and trims to the role of the designer in the manufacturing process. Basic business principles from retail math to the elements of retail operation and technology to sales and event promotion round out the program.

Industry-experienced faculty guide students and help them learn the skills needed to create a portfolio to show prospective employers. Students have the opportunity to make valuable contacts with professionals in the field through professional organizations and internships. Marketing, visual merchandising, manufacturing, buying and merchandising, and publicity are just a handful of the entry-level positions that graduates are prepared to seek. Upon completion of their bachelor of arts program, they are prepared to begin their careers in fashion and retail management with in-store and mall management, event planning and promotion, sales, product and sales development, and small business ownership.

With my new skills, I can be...
Management trainee
Event planning assistant
Promotions assistant
Visual merchandiser
Stylist

(entry-level positions)