Harper College will be closed on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day.
Career options 
Take the first step toward a career in fashion merchandising with this degree program. You’ll receive an overview of all phases of fashion merchandising: not only the business aspects, but also the aesthetic and creative sides of fashion, such as visual merchandising, fashion forecasting and textiles. Study fashion history and trends, and explore their influence on our lives.
Harper College’s academic facilities simulate the professional atmosphere of the fashion industry. Gain real-world experience by participating in the annual Student Fashion Show, which features original student work. You’ll also work with Studio V, a professional student-run boutique offering locally designed apparel, jewelry, accessories, sculpture, art and other original pieces. A jury show allows you to showcase your work and receive critiques from industry professionals. You can also participate in the Harper’s Bizarre Fashion Club, along with dozens of other student organizations.
When you complete this program, you’ll be ready to explore career paths in various areas of fashion merchandising, including fashion coordinating, fashion promoting, fashion show production, fashion displaying, styling, sourcing, apparel quality assessment, retail buying, store managing and more.
This 60 credit-hour curriculum provides all the phases of fashion merchandising, not only in business aspects, but also in aesthetic and creative sides of fashion, such as Visual Merchandising, Fashion Forecasting and Textiles. Students will study fashion history and trends as well as their influence on our lives. Students will also take courses in English composition, computer information systems, sociology and introductory psychology.
An educational background in fashion merchandising opens the door to various careers, such as fashion coordinating, fashion promoting, fashion show production, fashion displaying, stylist, sourcing, apparel quality assessment, retail buying and store managing.
| Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
First Semester | ||
| ENG 101 | Composition I | 3 |
| FAS 110 | Costume History | 3 |
| FAS 112 | Fashion Basics | 3 |
| GRA 101 | Introduction to Graphic Arts Design and Media I | 3 |
| MGT 111 | Introduction to Business Organization | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
Second Semester | ||
| ART 105 | Introduction to Visual Art | 3 |
| FAS 107 | Textiles I | 3 |
| MGT 150 | Business Math1 | 3 |
| MKT 106 | Retail Merchandising | 3 |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology+ | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
Third Semester | ||
| FAS 212 | Visual Fashion Merchandising | 3 |
| FAS 220 | Apparel Analysis | 3 |
| FAS 230 | Fashion Forecasting | 3 |
| MKT 140 | Principles of Professional Selling | 3 |
| SPE 101 | Fundamentals of Speech Communication | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
Fourth Semester | ||
| FAS 116 | Fashion Industries Career Practicum and Seminar | 3 |
| FAS 225 | Global Sourcing of Apparel and Textiles | 3 |
| FAS 229 | Promotion of Fashion | 3 |
| MKT 245 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Science 2 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
The mathematics requirement for this degree can be met with MGT150 (Business Math) or Math Competency. See Math Competency options for information. Students who use Math Competency to meet the mathematics requirement must complete an additional three credit-hour AAS General Education elective. See full list of AAS General Education Electives.
Students need to choose a course to meet this requirement that also fulfills the World Cultures and Diversity graduation requirement. See full list of AAS General Education Electives.
Students who successfully complete this program will be able to:
Students interested in fashion merchandising may also be interested in:
For more information about the Fashion Merchandising Degree program, contact Admission Outreach at 847.925.6700, or submit a request information form. You can also apply online.