The Fashion Merchandising Program is designed to prepare students for entry-level management positions in the broad field of fashion merchandising, with emphasis on the retail process of products and services. It includes an internship in Fashion Merchandising or a related area.
In addition, the department participates in the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) Visiting Student Program (located in New York City). Fashion Merchandising majors who meet eligibility requirements may opt to spend one year (junior year) at FIT for an additional degree (A.A.S.) in Advertising and Marketing Communications. Students return to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) to complete the four-year program. To complement their program, students may choose to complete electives that focus on advertising, journalism, communication, visual presentation, or a minor is business administration. With appropriate courses taken as electives, students can pursue careers in fashion reporting, advertising, or graphic design.
Departmental Requirements
The Fashion Merchandising Program requires that all students maintain a “C” in each course in their Program Core and Program Electives and a “C” average in General Education and Supportive Course Requirements. Individual programs may choose specific courses to fulfill General Education requirements. Students transferring into the department from another department or institution must have a 2.5 Cum GPA. Students are required to complete an internship designed to provide on-the-job experience in the fashion/textile industry. Some of the businesses which provide internship experience for students are: Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, J. C. Penney, Liz Claiborne, Black Entertainment Television (BET), Foot Locker, Sears, Nordstrom, and The Gap.
Study Tours
The Fashion Merchandising Program provides students with an opportunity to participate in a minimum of one major study tour each year. Students in the department tour the fashion capital of New York City. During this tour, students have an opportunity to visit and tour the facilities of well-known fashion designers such as Liz Claiborne and Donna Karan, along with several manufacturing facilities of design houses, furriers, computerized facilities of Butterick-Vogue and Simplicity pattern companies, and fashion museums are among the places visited.
Career Opportunities
The Fashion Merchandising program is designed to prepare students for entry-level management positions in the broad field of fashion merchandising, with emphasis on retail products and services. It includes an internship in Fashion Merchandising or related areas. To complement their program, students may opt to complete electives that focus on advertising, promotion, journalism, communication, or visual presentation, and pursue careers in fashion reporting, advertising, fashion buying, style editing, graphic design, or other related careers. Some students may choose to pursue an advanced degree in fashion design, marketing, product development, business administration or international retail.
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