Fashion Merchandising and Design
Major, Minor
Major in fashion
Being a fashion major isn't just about studying clothes, it's all about using your creativity and fresh ideas to come up with new fashion trends. Our program goes beyond just showing you different styles. As a fashion major we'll teach you the business side of fashion too, like how to run a clothing brand or open your own store. It's like mixing fashion fun with business smarts to get you ready for anything the fashion world throws your way! We also offer some concentrations online.
AT A GLANCE
Why choose a fashion major?
Our fashion major is your doorway to a $1.2 trillion industry. When you graduate, you'll have a portfolio of work you can show employers and skills that will keep you in demand.
Our program, recognized as one of the best in Michigan, uses industry technology to provide you with real-world skills. The fashion industry is going digital, so as a fashion major, you'll get hands-on experience working with CAD, 3-D printers, pattern digitization, and 3D virtual design merchandising software. You can test fabrics in the textile testing lab. In the Center for Merchandising and Design Technology, test your product prototypes using a body scanner and thermal manikins. As a fashion major, you can interact with our corporate partners, such as Carhartt, Target and Adidas, to help solve real-world problems.
Our courses will give you a foundation in both design and merchandising, resulting in a graduate who is prepared for various careers available in the industry. Can’t decide? We offer minors in design and visual merchandising. We know you are busy and have many things going on, so we offer on-campus, online, and hybrid courses. In addition to gaining hands-on experience on campus, fashion majors get on-the-job training as part of your required internship experience. In recent years, students have interned at places such as A&F, Louis Vuitton, Target, and Bloomingdale's.
Those experiences pay off. Employers know our fashion majors' technical expertise is matched by problem-solving and leadership skills to set them apart.
What makes our fashion major stand out?
Our fashion merchandising and design program offers you the opportunity to:
- Explore Paris: take a one-month summer course in the City of Light to learn haute couture techniques, assess boutiques and study French culture.
- Participate in Threads: a student-run fashion show that ties the whole fashion experience together—design, production, marketing, staging, and more.
- Build your network: by joining student groups such as the Fashion Association of Merchandising & Design, Verge Magazine and Design and the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists.
- Tailored flexibility: we have expanded our opportunities to fit the lifestyle of those seeking a degree in fashion and your need for flexibility in course offerings, including online, hybrid, and on-campus.
Concentrations
Fashion Buying
This program is offered online
Gain career competencies related to fashion buying, sourcing, supply chain operations, and brand and retail management in the fashion buying concentration. You will learn how to develop buying and selling strategies that will maximize business performance and profitability in the fashion industry. You will also apply business intelligence tools to make informed decisions on fashion merchandise operations and supply chain management.
Fashion Design
Fashion Merchandising
Product Development
This program is offered online
Bring fashion designs to life with the latest technologies including 3D modeling and printing. This online concentration prepares you to create and sell fashion lines for a dynamic career in product development.
Visual Merchandising
This program is offered online
Influence consumer purchase decisions with the skillful use of art and science to create compelling presentations and displays. You'll learn how to work with state-of-the-art visual merchandising technology in this online concentration, to merchandise retail spaces using branding and advertising techniques.
Careers for a fashion major
Whether you design clothing, manufacture it, or engage in marketing and retailing, a degree in fashion merchandising and design will prepare you for a wide range of careers.
| Career | Projected Salary |
|---|---|
| CAD Designer | $62,530 |
| Fashion Designer | $79,290 |
| Senior Buyer | $71,950 |
| Product Development Engineer | $78,627 |
| Fashion Marketing Managers | $140,040 |
| Online Fashion Merchant | $75,990 |
| Fashion Sales Representative | $63,230 |
| Visual Merchandiser & Stylist | $45,300 |
Threads Fashion Show
Imagine this: instead of just browsing the latest clothes, you design them yourself or help make the whole show happen! Threads lets student designers show off their incredible creations on a runway, but that's not all. Even if you're not a designer, you can jump in on promoting the event, styling the models, or being the social media master.
This is your chance to dive into the world of fashion, gain real experience, and seriously impress people in the industry. Ditch the textbooks and trade them in for sketches, sewing machines, and the most awesome fashion experience ever!
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