The Bachelor degree program in Fashion Design and Merchandising offers advanced courses in pattern drafting, computer-aided design, couture clothing construction, and fashion marketing and trend analysis. Students can create original patterns and garments in response to researched market trends, manufacturing specifications, estimated production costs, and creative conceptualization; and will have the opportunity to explore specialized topics in fashion that can prepare them for a variety of professional industry career opportunities.

Educational Objectives of the Program:

• Research and analyze the profession, merchandising, principles, history, styles, terminology, organizations, retailers, markets, and important designers in fashion.
• Prescribe types of fabric, pattern designs, and situations in which garments will be worn.
• Analyze fashion trends, consumer needs, and preferences that are used to forecast, plan, develop, and promote clothing lines.
• Experiment with lines, colors, patterns, textures, functions, and styles in the design and creation of original fashion designs.
• Analyze the quality of design, materials, and construction techniques that are used in commercially produced textiles, apparel, and accessories.
• Inspect existing flat patterns for design and fabrication errors.
• Design original garments with attention to cut, grain seams, pockets, collars, and necklines.
• Analyze collections in terms of consumers, sizes, markets, fabrication quality, and retail price categories.
• Recognize how the visual display of goods impacts customer spending habits, and design visually appealing displays for fashion clothing and accessories.
• Communicate ideas, moods, and details for clothing designs using concept boards, flats, and various illustrative techniques.
• Create computer-generated sketches, fashion flats, fabric prints, theme boards, specification sheets, and creative graphics for clothing and textiles.
• Use computer pattern drafting software to design, plan, and create a variety of clothing patterns.
• Employ advanced fashion sketching principles, including draping effects, specialty fabrics, and textures, used to design patterns, flats, and specs.
• Demonstrate the appropriate use of measuring, marking, cutting, sewing, and pressing equipment and tools; and thread and use a sewing machine.
• Inspect existing flat patterns for design and fabrication errors.
• Design original garments with attention to cut, grain, seams, fit, look, and feel.
• Investigate the use of various colors, fabrics, fits, and styles to show bodies and clothing to their best advantage.
• Drape a variety of garments, including bodices, skirts, and pants, and construct fitted garments using accurate measuring and proportional grading methods.
• Discuss and apply processes used in the construction, alteration, and fitting of patterns and clothes, including the modification of garments with collars, sleeves, pockets, pleats, and cuffs.
• Analyze collections in terms of consumers, sizes, markets, fabrication quality, and retail price categories.
• Discuss consumer attitudes, beliefs, and buying habits, and how they contribute to the formation of marketing decisions.
• Relate production, distribution, and merchandising processes to customer needs.
• Discuss various marketing strategies, products and services, target markets, marketing tactics, and advertising principles in the fashion industry.
• Examine the sourcing, buying, and management of merchandise within the fashion retailing industry, with a focus on manufacturing and distribution processes.
• Apply a variety of fashion concepts and techniques to the development of proposed business strategies.
• Describe the importance of image and identity, product differentiation and positioning, niche merchandise, store positioning, competition, and targeted marketing to the design and sale of fashion goods and services.