ASU FIDM faculty with deep industry experience teach you the fundamentals of sourcing, buying, planning and understanding consumer behavior. Coursework prepares you to create and manage product assortments by selecting and overseeing the products offered to customers. You'll also gain expertise in using technology to design engaging visual displays across retail stores and drive strong financial outcomes.
This program also builds skills in:
- Cost management and negotiation.
- Open-to-buy management.
- Retail math (industry applications such as pricing strategies, sales forecasting and inventory management).
- Sustainable product planning, curation and management.
- Vendor management.
Upon graduating, you can pursue high-impact domestic and global merchandising roles.
Choose the right fashion degree for your career goals
All fashion majors gain an understanding of the industry, from creative design and technical production to manufacturing, distribution, merchandising and retailing. The right specialization for you depends on your career goals and interests. Available concentrations include:
- Apparel product development
- Ideal for those who want to be involved in the entire product lifecycle from concept to consumer. As a generalist, you’ll focus on bringing products to market.
- Merchandising
- Designed for those interested in the core of the fashion business. You’ll study merchandising through the lens of branding, planning and buying.
- Technical design
- Best suited for those passionate about garment fit, construction and design. As a specialist in this field, you'll turn creative ideas into tangible products.
Turn creative vision into business results with an online Bachelor of Arts in fashion with a concentration in merchandising from ASU FIDM in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University. You’ll gain expertise in strategic product planning, buying and fashion product sales. After graduation, you can pursue careers in fashion entrepreneurship, visual merchandising or licensing management, among other roles in the industry.
Coursework blends the creative and business sides of the fashion industry. An internship during the program helps you build your resume and gain industry insight. The program concludes with a capstone project where you’ll create a business pitch and merchandising proposal for an existing fashion brand. You’ll also design a visual component that brings your pitch to life, which can serve as a portfolio piece for future employers.
ASU FIDM, housed in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, is home to world-class scholars, artists and designers who inspire students to shape the future. Faculty research is grounded in the transformative power of fashion and its ability to change the world. Focus areas include:
- AI in retail
- Circular textiles
- Sustainability
- Textile testing
ASU’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts is the home to top-ranked programs from various disciplines, including art, design, dance, fashion, film, gaming, media arts and sciences, music and theatre. We train artists and designers to leverage their creativity and problem-solving abilities to advance culture, build community and transform society.
students
internationally recognized faculty members
in art, design, dance, fashion, film, gaming, media arts and sciences, music and theatre
best graduate schools for fine arts, according to U.S. News & World Report, 2020
No, Arizona State University’s diplomas don’t specify whether you earn your degree online or in person. All diplomas and transcripts simply say “Arizona State University.