Bachelor of Science in Fashion Management
The Bachelor of Science in Fashion Management program at the School of Media and Design prepares students for careers in the design and business sides of the fashion industry. The program’s emphasis on technology, practical technique, business insight, artistry and scholarship produces well-rounded graduates with extensive insights into fashion. Concentrations in Merchandising and Apparel Production and Design offer students an opportunity to specialize in one of these two critical areas, giving them all the tools they need to pursue success in dozens of career paths.
Why Fashion Management?
Fashion is a multi-billion-dollar industry that spans the globe. In the U.S. alone, it nears the half-trillion mark at $406 billion. Such an enormous field consists of hundreds of working parts from resource allocation to product development to marketing and sales. In fact, the industry employs nearly 2 million people around the world and reports a low unemployment rate. UIW’s Fashion Management program arms students with a deep understanding of the industry’s workings, so that they may enter the workforce immediately after graduation. Study of trends, forecasting, history and impact helps them anticipate and navigate changes in the fast-moving field.
Fashion Management Curriculum
The Bachelor of Science in Fashion Management is a 125-degree program that offers the choice of two concentration options – Merchandising, or Apparel Production and Design. Through its comprehensive curriculum and hands-on skill development, students gain a deep understanding of fashion’s historical, cultural, commercial, environmental and international significance.
In their final year, Fashion Management students take a capstone course, which challenges them to integrate knowledge attained throughout the entirety of the program and apply it to a specific project. The capstone coursework is a project to showcase a student’s design and production work through a Fashion Show or another venue to appropriately display the collection.
Design and Practical Production
Practical skill development forms a critical part of the Fashion Management program. Students will learn to navigate and use technology used throughout the fashion industry. Students will be introduced to patternmaking software, supply chain software, and manage technical line development through Adobe products. Through hands-on work, they also have the opportunity to develop their apparel construction and sewing skills for communication purposes.
Fashion Management Concentrations
The concentration in Apparel Production and Design is ideal for the student who wishes to pursue a career in the design and manufacturing side of the fashion industry. A fashion designer may work for fashion corporations who feature a specific brand or as an independent designer. Apparel production positions for a manufacturer include specializations such as sourcing for raw materials, developing technical specification packages, and mass-market line development. Product development teams are responsible for forecasting, product design, technical design, materials management, and distribution management.
Students develop a global perspective of emerging economies through the understanding of trade agreements, global employment practices and sustainability of resources. Students complete 61 Fashion Management core hours followed by 21 specialized hours tailored to meet personal career goals. A career track of courses is available for students who prefer an emphasis on design. Likewise, for students that favor product development, a separate career track of courses is available.
The Merchandising concentration is designed for students to develop skill sets that emphasize brand management and sales analysis. Both brand management techniques and sales management include visual merchandising, promotions, product buying, and operations management. Because the retail sector is the ultimate distribution site for fashion product, students learn how the retailing sector is organized by fashion market levels. Each market level requires different sales techniques to reach the final consumer. Students also develop a global perspective of emerging economies through the understanding of trade agreements, global employment practices, and sustainability of resources.
A minor in Business Administration is included in the degree plan for the Merchandising concentration. Merchandising students take capstone coursework with Apparel Production and Design students to integrate responsibilities from both the retail and manufacturing sectors for the sale of product from concept to the final consumer.
Careers in Fashion Management
Most students begin their careers in retail sales management or in apparel design and production roles, depending on their concentration. On the merchandising side, corporate level sales management positions are located within the buying offices or distribution offices, and corporate buying positions often lead to roles as account managers with leading brand manufacturers. Auxiliary career pathways for fashion merchandising include promotions and visual merchandising. On the design and production side, graduates pursue roles such as assistant designer, technical designer, patternmaker, and production coordinator, working with design studios, manufacturing companies, or sourcing offices. These positions often lead to careers in product development, technical design management, or creative direction with apparel brands and manufacturers.