Online Fashion Design & Merchandising Degrees
Ask an Expert
See All AnswersFashion design and merchandising is an exciting and creative field that gives students the chance to learn how to express themselves through fashion. Students will learn pertinent skills such as trend forecasting, sewing, pattern making, and textiles, that will help them thrive in this highly competitive atmosphere. Students must be confident in their work, keep a strong head on their shoulders, and be able to handle critiques of their work.
Students with an interest in fashion design and merchandising must be high spirited, creative, strong individuals. It is a highly competitive industry, but individuals who receive the best training, experience, and build the best portfolio will certainly thrive in an industry such as this.
Fashion designers will study a combination of topics such as clothing construction, pattern making, draping, color theory, and illustration. It is important that these individuals be able to express their ideas about clothing and accessories through illustration and really have a strong sense of the human body and how it moves. Fashion merchandisers will study the art of putting clothing options together that work well and complement one another. There will be a strong emphasis in trend forecasting, textile, and color theory classes. Both fashion design and fashion merchandising students will study many of the same courses, as the basic elements of each will overlap.
- All
- Associate
- Bachelor's
- Master's
- Certification
| School | School Type | Annual Tuition | Recommend Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern New Hampshire University Online | Non-Profit | $11,520 | Add Review |
| Academy of Art University Online | For-Profit | $18,050 | 44% (9 reviews) |
| Penn Foster Career School - Design & Technology | For-Profit | --- | 100% (1 review) |
| Ashworth College | For-Profit | --- | 71% (59 reviews) |
What are some of the specializations within this degree program?
There are many different things that fashion designers and merchandisers can specialize in. Here are a few examples:
- Lingerie: In this category, designers would work with undergarments for either women or men. This would include intimates, pajamas, and robes.
- Swimwear: In this category, designers and merchandisers work with designing and merchandising the newest swimwear collections. They would need to specialize in working with bathing suit fabrics, which can be difficult to master.
- Shoes: In this category, designers and merchandisers would work with designing the newest shoes to be put on display season after season.
- Evening Gowns: In this category, designers and merchandisers would work with creating the most beautiful evening gowns and work with very elaborate materials and embellishments.
What degree levels are available?
- Associate Degree: 2 years
- Bachelor's Degree: 4 years
- Master's Degree:1-3 years
What are the educational and certification requirements?
Most jobs within the fashion industry require individuals to obtain at least an associate degree but prefer a bachelor's degree. This can take the students anywhere from two to four years to complete. Since these are very hands-on careers, it is very important that individuals master certain skills within this industry, including both manual and computer pattern making, illustration, draping, trend forecasting, fashion history, and sewing skills. Even if individuals aren't specializing in any of these areas, a general knowledge is pertinent to their success.
In addition to the educational requirements, since this is a very visual job, it is vital that students put together an impressive portfolio in order to get the best job possible upon graduation. There are no certification requirements for fashion designers and merchandisers. Once they have graduated from an accredited program, completed an internship, and have enough work experience, they will then be ready to go out into the fashion industry and obtain a career in their job of choice.
What kinds of classes will I be expected to take?
Fashion design and merchandising associate programs are structured to train students in both the style and aesthetic issues of fashion, as well as the business skills that are important for selling those styles in the retail environment. In these programs, students learn the design aspects of fashion, such as the materials, colors, and shapes that make up fashion trends; mixed with these fashion-centric courses are topics in merchandising and business, such as marketing, consumer motivation, and import buying.
Courses in the design aspects of fashion and worldwide fashion trends are a crucial part of this degree program. In the most basic course, Introduction to the Fashion Industry, students learn how certain fibers find their way into worldwide fashions, and how runway shows influence trends for the season. Courses in product knowledge and quality familiarize students with the costs of accessories and clothing of different quality levels, and how buyers can satisfy customers' demands for quality at reasonable prices.
These style and design classes are matched with business and management courses, to put this fashion knowledge into practice. Classes in fashion business practices discuss how high-end fashion and retail establishments are organized, and how merchandise is procured. The more specific course Fashion Merchandising discusses the skills that buyers and purchasers will need in different types of fashion establishments.
Is on-site training required if I pursue this degree online?
It depends on the degree program you choose to pursue. Degree programs with an emphasis on design are likely to have more on-site requirements, since the construction of clothing and accessories requires hands-on experience. Degrees that are primarily focused on merchandising are better suited to the online learning environment, since management, purchasing, and buying skills are more information-based, rather than hands-on.
What are some other degrees that are related to this program?
Ask an Expert
See All AnswersAsk An Expert: Real Questions, Expert Answers
If you are considering a job in fashion you will need to find out if a degree is necessary to qualify for the job you are interested in. Some fashion companies will hire you right off the street without any college education, but most require an associates or a bachelor's degree. In general, required courses are art history, clothing construction, computer class, drawing/illustrations, one basic math course and a social or behavioral science. This will vary depending on what school you attend and what area you decide to specialize in.
Yes, you can get this degree online. Here is our list of schools that offer degrees inFashion Design and Merchandising.
The average starting salary is anywhere from $25,000 to $50,00 a year and that does not include bonuses.You can find more information here.
You can enroll at one of the schools on our list of online fashion design programs.
This website offers school details to prospective students as an informational resource. The appearance of a school listing on this website should not be interpreted as an endorsement by the school of this site.
This website also offers school data. With the exception of the recommend rate percentage (which is the average based on the student reviews submitted to our site), all of the data was collected in 2011-2012 from the National Center for Education Statistics. Guide To Online Schools takes no position with respect to the information or opinions expressed in the user comments/reviews and is not responsible for their content. For additional information, refer to our School Data Methodology.
