Fashion Merchandising Associate in Science
Program Overview
This program is industry driven and aims to prepare students to work as creative professionals in the world of fashion. The programs emphasizes design, technology and retail and merchandising practice. Students will engage in a diverse educational experience designed to nurture creativity and develop practical skills within the context of a business environment. This course of study will prepare students to develop a successful career and meet a growing local demand for creative design and skilled labor in the fashion industry.
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Program Details
This program immerses students in the fashion business where they can explore the relationships between marketing and design. From concept through production, students learn the process, skills and language of fashion design and technology. For students interested in pursuing a higher degree, this degree also serves as a pathway to MDC’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision & Management and Supply Chain Management.
This track provides students with the opportunity to learn and engage in the basic business practices of fashion retailing and merchandising while preparing them to work in this highly competitive sector. From the critical foundation of textiles, design technology and fashion history, to international trade, merchandising and marketing, students will learn the business essentials, emerging from the program with a professional portfolio that expresses their signature vision in the competitive fashion industry.
Areas of study include:
- Contemporary Retailing
- Fashion Forecasting Research
- Fashion Merchandising Strategies
- Textile, Apparel & Retail Analysis
- Textile Science
- Portfolio Collection Development
Career Prospects
According to recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the apparel manufacturing industry includes a diverse range of establishments manufacturing full lines of ready-to-wear and custom apparel. Out of 1,106 counties and 49 states surveyed, Florida ranked fourth in apparel manufacturing. Among the possible employment options are:
- Merchandiser
- Planning and Logistics
- Business Operations Manager
- Technology Manager
- Apparel Contractor