Fashion Merchandising is an exciting field that branches out to numerous other industries, such as, business, telecommunication, journalism, and so on. A degree in this field from an accredited institution can get you a job in various positions. Many famous universities in the US offer different levels of education in Fashion Merchandising. For example, Lima College offers the following degrees in this subject;
- Associate’s degree in Fashion Merchandising & Management
- Bachelor’s in Fashion Merchandising
- Master’s in Fashion Merchandising & Retail Management
On the other hand, Washington State University offers a Master of Science in Apparel, Merchandising, Design, and Textiles. While NYU offers Fashion & Luxury MBA.
What Is Fashion Merchandising?
Lim College describes fashion merchandising as the study of fashion trends which helps in the assessment and creation of various merchandising strategies. People with a degree in this field create innovative merchandising techniques for a retail store or fashion product provider. Fashion Merchandising also requires know-how of the business industry and marketing field.
What Can You Do with a Fashion Merchandising Degree?
As described above, a degree in Fashion Merchandising can get you employed in any of the following careers. The salary data of thee careers was reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2019. According to the BLS, most of these careers require at least a bachelor’s degree.
Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents-Purchasing Managers
A relevant bachelor’s degree (i.e., Fashion Merchandising or Business related degree) and a few years of work experience in procurement can help you get employed in this position. Purchasing Managers are required to manage all purchasing officers, buyers, and related workers who purchase products, materials, and services.
| Annual Median Salary, 2019 | $121,110 | |
| Job Outlook, 2018-2028 | -6% | |
| Annual Mean Salary, 2019 | $128,400 | |
| State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019 | California | 7,830 |
| State with the Highest Salary, 2019 | New Jersey | $166,940 |
Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents
| Annual Median Salary, 2019 | $64,380 | |
| Job Outlook, 2018-2028 | -6% | |
| Annual Mean Salary, 2019 | $69,680 | |
| State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019 | California | 45,970 |
| State with the Highest Salary, 2019 | District of Columbia | $99,250 |
Fashion Designers
To work as a Fashion Designer, you will need to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Designing or Merchandising. A Fashion Designer designs clothing, shoes, bags, and other accessories. They create designs that are either original or inspired by various fashion trends.
| Annual Median Salary, 2019 | $73,790 | |
| Job Outlook, 2018-2028 | 1% | |
| Annual Mean Salary, 2019 | $86,110 | |
| State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019 | New York | 8,460 |
| State with the Highest Salary, 2019 | California | $93,870 |
What to Expect from a Fashion Merchandising Degree?
A degree in Fashion Merchandising typically prepares students about various processes such as, how apparel is moved to retail sales points and how it gets into the hands of customers. The curriculum of each degree level differs from the other in terms of difficulty and diversity. For example, the Fashion Merchandising, BBA offered by the LIM College includes the following courses in its curriculum.
- Introduction to the Fashion Business
- Retailing: Global and Omni
- Fabric for Fashion
- Digital Tools for Fashion Presentations and so on.
How to Choose a Fashion Merchandising Degree?
There are so many factors to keep in mind while choosing a degree that fits the future career you want. For instance, while choosing a degree level and institution, check the following:
- Accreditations of the program
- Reputation or ranking of the institution
- The relevance of the curriculum with your desired career
- Method of teaching (on-campus/online)
- Admission & graduation requirements and so on.
For example, the students of Associate of Science in Fashion Merchandising offered by the Harper College must complete 60 credit hours to graduate.
Fashion Merchandising Degree Admission Requirements
The admission requirements also differ from one institution and degree type to another. For instance, if you are interested in applying to the Lim College in New York you must submit a complete application set with an application processing fee. Your application must accompany the following;
- Official Transcripts
- An Essay
- Recommendation Letter- 1 for a bachelor’s degree and 2 for a master’s degree
- CV/Resume
For further details, please visit the official website of your chosen institution.