You don't have to go to New York City to prepare for an exciting career in the fashion industry.
Southern New Hampshire University's associate degree in fashion merchandising prepares students for entry-level careers as assistant buyers, visual merchandisers, sales representatives, or vendor relations specialists in retail or wholesale settings.
During the two-year program, fashion merchandising students take courses in design and color theory, textiles, retailing and marketing. They gain a global perspective of the industry in courses such as global sourcing and international distribution.
Students may complement core courses with classes in other majors, such as marketing or communications.
Professional Experience
The AS in fashion merchandising provides students with professional experience gained through a required cooperative education program, completed between the student's first and second year or during the first semester of the second year of the program.
Employers who have hired fashion merchandising student interns and graduates include:
- Coach
- Timberland
- Reebok International
- Jessica McClintock
- Kenneth Cole
- Macy's
- Saks
Students may also pursue international cooperative education opportunities.
Go for Your Bachelor's Degree
Many fashion merchandising graduates decide to continue their education at SNHU. As such, the associate degree in fashion merchandising has been designed for graduates to make a smooth transition into the Bachelor of Science in retailing degree program. Graduates may also pursue bachelor's degrees in communications or marketing. Students who anticipate transfer into a four-year degree program should consult with their advisors.
Fashion Merchandising Major Courses
ACC-201: Financial Accounting
Financial Accounting establishes the rules and regulations for preparing accounting information used by internal and external sources to evaluate the financial health of an organization This course will develop the student s ability to interpret financial accounting information to communicate this information and to understand the accounting system that produces this information
ACC-202: Managerial Accounting
Managerial Accounting will explore the financial impact of alternative business decisions and the financial benefits of new business practices After completing this course the student will understand how accounting and other productivity information can be used to assess the past and improve the future performance of a business by giving managers essential information they need to make more informed decisions
Prerequisites:
ACC-101
ECO-201: Microeconomics
This course examines the role of economic systems in allocating scarce resources to satisfy the needs and wants of individual members of a society After a brief exposure to alternative economic systems the focus becomes the nature and performance of American capitalism Primary emphasis is placed upon the development of models that explain the behavior of consumers producers and resource suppliers in various market structures
Prerequisites:
MAT-130,
ENG-120: College Composition I
ENG 120 is a college level writing course that introduces students to various forms of academic discourse Students are required to prepare essays in a variety of rhetorical modes including exposition description and argumentation In addition to out of class writing assignments students will be required to compose in class essays in response to readings and other prompts ENG 120 introduces students to process writing techniques library research and MLA documentation procedures The primary focus of ENG 120 is to help students acquire the writing skills they need to succeed in an academic environment Enrollment is kept intentionally small typically 15 students per section to assure maximum benefit
ENG-200: Sophomore Seminar
This is a theme based seminar that builds on the skills learned in SNHU 101 and ENG 120 focusing on information literacy the ability to locate and evaluate information as well as written and oral communication skills The theme of the course will vary according to the instructor but in all sections students will conduct extensive research on the topic and communicate their knowledge in a variety of oral presentations and writing assignments that will culminate in a research paper To be taken during the student s Sophomore year
Prerequisites:
ENG-120
FMM-101: Basic Design and Color Theory
This course examines the basic principles of design including balance emphasis proportion and rhythm The art elements of line space texture and color are studied with special emphasis on how they relate to advertising layout and design and visual merchandising This course is cross listed with GRA 101
FMM-114: Introduction to Fashion Merchandising
Fashion principles and procedures used in planning selecting pricing and selling fashion goods in retail stores catalogs and on the Internet are studied Merchandising systems assortment plans and inventory control methods are analyzed A field trip to New York City s market district is a possibility
FMM-204: Textiles and Color Theory
Textile information pertinent to merchandising is included in this course Analysis of fibers yarns and weaves fabric recognition and a detailed study of natural and man made materials are emphasized
FMM-225: Merchandise Planning
This course seeks to instill in students a complete understanding of the influence of merchandise planning and purchasing on retail profit Students analyze profit and loss statement and demonstrate a complete understanding of the factors that influence the retailer s financial performance
FMM-490: Fashion Merchandising and Management Internship
Fashion Merchandising and Management Internship
IT-100: Introduction to Information Technology
This is the fundamental computer fluency course required for all Southern New Hampshire University students It is designed to promote a working knowledge and understanding of computer information technology concepts skills and capabilities that support academic and professionally related goals and requirements Students learn about the application and science of information technology Concepts to master include the fundamentals of computer information technologies along with issues that affect people today such as Internet and other network technologies web publishing digital media hardware software file and database management information security viruses and spyware social impact as well as algorithmic thinking and the limits of computation Students develop capabilities such a managing complexity assessing the quality of information collaborating and communicating using IT anticipating technological change and thinking abstractly and critically about IT Students develop computer related skills in support of their college studies and career goals This is accomplished in part by the mastery of word processing spreadsheet presentation and database software
MKT-113: Introduction to Marketing
This course examines the organization s functions for creating communicating and delivering value to customers These functions designed to meet customers needs and organizational goals include marketing research environmental monitoring target market selection product selection promotion distribution and pricing
MKT-222: Principles of Retailing
This course studies the basics of retailing and emphasizes the development of retail institutions store layout and design merchandising pricing and problems retailers experience in today s business environment Offered every semester
Prerequisites:
MKT-113
MKT-230: Retail Sales Promotion
This course focuses on sales promotion in the retail sector The specific needs of retailers in the areas of advertising visual merchandising personal selling and special events planning are among the topics addressed The culminating project will be a sales promotion plan that will include a major special event This project is designed to be flexible to support the range of retailing interests represented in the class
Prerequisites:
MKT-113
MKT-270: Professional Selling
Students in this course explore the building of quality partnerships by developing relationship product customer and sales presentation strategies Students will study each step of the sales process which adds considerable value in many other areas of social and professional life
Prerequisites:
MKT-113
OL-125: Human Relations in Administration
The human relations skills that managers need to develop interaction skills that contribute directly to effective human resource management and the development of higher productivity are studied Skill areas include leadership motivation communications group dynamics organizational development management by objectives and stress and time management Students learn techniques for becoming more effective managers subordinates peers and persons Students are introduced to the international aspects of human relations
PSY-108: Introduction to Psychology
This course is an introduction to various areas of psychology including scientific investigation motivation personality intelligence behavioral deviation perception learning and human development It provides a basis for further study in related areas Offered every semester
Select One of the Following:
MAT-130: Applied Finite Mathematics
This course is designed to prepare students for other courses in the core curriculum and in their majors and to provide a basis for making decisions in life after graduation Topics include mathematics of finance probability and counting descriptive statistics and basic linear regression
MAT-140: Precalculus
This course emphasizes the algebra and concepts of functions Students will learn the properties and graphing techniques for different types of functions including linear polynomial rational trigonometric exponential and logarithmic functions Students will also learn to solve a variety of real world problems that rely on a number of different problem solving strategies and an understanding of these different types of functions
MAT-210: Calculus I
This is an introductory course in single variable calculus Topics include limits continuity derivatives differentiation integration and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus Students will gain experience solving real world problems involving calculus including problems in business economics natural sciences and social sciences
Students may also take in addition to the courses above, two (2) free electives.
University Accreditation
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