Overview
Make your mark in the $1.2 trillion global fashion industry. Learn what it takes to develop your design passion and sense of style into career opportunities with an online program.
CMU is home to Michigan’s top-ranked Fashion Merchandising and Design program, featuring professors with industry experience—and connections—to help you turn your dreams of working in fashion into reality. This online program also offers access to career-building platforms such as the student-run Threads Fashion Show or the student organization, Fashion Association of Merchandising and Design (FAMD), which provides online and in-person events vital to networking and professional development. Online students are also invited to participate in industry internships for academic credit, field trips to New York City, and study abroad opportunities in Paris, South Korea, or Thailand.
Currently, 92% of our graduates are building careers from these unique fashion experiences to work in the industry.
Both the Bachelor of Science (BS) and the Bachelor of Applied Arts (BAA) degrees for the Fashion Merchandising and Design program offer you the choice of two online concentrations: Product Development and Visual Merchandising. In either track, you will gain experience with technologies like CAD, 3-D printing, and product lifecycle management software. Hands-on projects will prepare you to build a career-ready portfolio and give you a head-start on your fashion career.
In both online concentrations—Product Development and Visual Merchandising—students pursuing the BAA degree in Fashion Merchandising and Design are required to complete a minor. Students concentrating in Product Development have the option to complete a Visual Merchandising minor. Additional minor options include:
- Applied Business Communication
- Entrepreneurship
- Leadership
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- And more
Explore Programs
Fashion Merchandising and Design – Product Development Concentration (Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Applied Arts)
Location:
Online
Your Goal:
Use your unique sense of design and style to develop the products that will turn heads and take you far in the world of fashion.
About the Program:
The online Product Development concentration for your bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising and Design provides the hands-on opportunities you need to know how to develop fashion lines that stand out in the marketplace. You will learn what it takes to design, create, and manufacture fashion product using computer-aided design programs, including 3D modeling and printing. As part of the program, your submitted designs will be printed in our MakerBot Innovation Center (or in a facility near you) and sent to you for finishing—priming, painting, and assembling the final product. From there, you’ll photograph the final product and create an industry standard tech pack.
Overall, your coursework will develop your understanding of the lifecycle of a product, including ideation, fabric selection, and technical drawing.
Program Outcomes:
You will earn your bachelor’s degree (BS or BAA) and graduate with the skills you need for fashion industry roles such as:
- CAD designer
- Product Developer
- Design Assistant
- And more
CMU offers engaging online and experiential learning opportunities designed to help you achieve big goals. Request information today to learn more about this program and how to take the next step.
Fashion Merchandising and Design – Visual Merchandising Concentration (Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Applied Arts)
Location:
Online
Your Goal:
Make the world of fashion come to life by developing the presentations and displays needed to set the tone for style that sells.
About the Program:
The online Visual Merchandising concentration for your bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising and Design provides the hands-on opportunities you need to develop tools for influencing consumer behavior. You will learn what it takes to design the space around the fashion—display areas, product presentations, store interiors, and more—to set the mood, engage customers, and sell style. As part of your online program, you will be required to work with a retailer in the field for real-world, hands-on experience. While engaging in this activity, you will take pictures of visual merchandising display techniques and fixtures to evaluate their effectiveness. You’ll develop CAD-based illustrations on how you would improve window, wall, and shadow box displays. And you’ll learn how to style for clients and consumers in different venues, from e-commerce to social media. You will then provide photographic evidence of your progress and understanding.
Overall, from CAD software to professional portfolio development, your coursework will give you the tools you need to chart your own course in the fashion world.
Program Outcomes:
You will earn your bachelor’s degree (BS or BAA) and graduate with the skills you need for fashion industry roles such as:
- Visual merchandiser
- Visual communications specialist
- Stylist
- Showroom manager
- Brand manager
CMU offers engaging online and face-to-face learning opportunities built to help you achieve big goals. Request information today to learn more about this program and how to take the next step.
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