Merchandising
The Merchandising Concentration prepares students through structured learning processes to understand industry innovations, challenging careers, current trends, and the impact of globalization, technological advances and the expansion of designers into new and broader categories. The merchandising concentration covers both the retailers and manufacturers’ needs for merchandisers and product developers. Merchandising reflects the planning, organizational, and sales aspects of the fashion business. Students learn how to merchandise apparel products and how to develop planning modules. They will understand target markets and how to develop promotional plans for various products and events to meet the goals of a successful business.
The opportunities for employment are varied and depend upon the students’ interests and abilities. Careers are available in retailing as buyer, planner, manager, fashion coordinator, market researcher; in promotion ad display coordinator, public relations director, advertising manager; in wholesaling as manufacturing representative, showroom sales associate, and in apparel and textile manufacturing as sales associate, piece goods buyer, merchandising manager, market research; in publications as Fashion Stylist, advertising manager, and fashion editor.
Guest speakers, field trips, and study tours permit students to have contact with businesses and industry professionals. Qualified students may gain additional professional experiences through multiple internships.
Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates with a Bachelor of Art in Fashion with Merchandising Concentration will be able to:
- Apply the key principles and elements of fashion design and merchandising.
- Research, define, and evaluate criteria and requirements for merchandise apparel products and develop planning modules. Discuss factors relevant to design history and theory that constitute apparel quality and fit.
- Develop promotional planning strategies for target markets, products, and events within the fashion industry.
- Identify and apply the phases of fashion development from design to production and marketing to sales.
- Utilize the appropriate technologies to develop visual merchandising layouts, displays, events, and presentations.
Degree Requirements
In addition to the General Degree Requirements as published in the Clark Atlanta University Undergraduate Catalog, students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Fashion with a concentration in Merchandising must complete the following courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Common Courses | ||
| CART 101 | Art Foundation I | 3 |
| CART 102 | Art Foundation II | 3 |
| CART 277 | Computer Imaging Basics | 3 |
| CFAS 210 | Principles of Fashion Industry | 3 |
| CFAS 220 | History of Costume | 3 |
| CFAS 230 | Textiles | 3 |
| CFAS 250 | Visual Merchandising | 3 |
| CFAS 314 | Promotional Planning Strategy | 3 |
| CFAS 440 | Retail Management | 3 |
| CFAS 420 | Fashion Show Production | 3 |
| CFAS 480 | Internship | 3 |
| Additional Required Courses for Merchandising | ||
| CFAS 201 | Creative Fashion Presentation | 3 |
| CFAS 325 | Wardrobe Styling & Consulting | 3 |
| CFAS 401 | Retail Mathematics | 3 |
| CFAS 402 | Fashion Buying & Planning | 3 |
| CFAS 425 | Case Studies Fashion Marketing | 3 |
| CFAS 430 | Trend Forecasting | 3 |
| CFAS 490 | Fash Merchandising Sr Seminar | 3 |
| Merchandising Concentration Electives | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Photography I | ||
| Advanced Computer Imaging | ||
| Management Info Systems | ||
| Acctg for Non-Busness Students | ||
| Principles of Economics | ||
| Principles of Marketing | ||
| Consumer Behavior | ||
| Principles of Advertising | ||
| Principles of Management | ||
| Personnel Management | ||
| Entrepreneurship & Enterprise | ||
| Survey of Media & Society | ||
| News Editing I | ||
| Media Advertising & Sales | ||
| Other University Requirements | ||
| CGED 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| CGED 101 | 1st-Year Seminar | 1 |
| Free Electives | ||
| Fashion Design Free Electives 1 | 24 | |
| Total Hours | 83 | |
- 1
Free Electives should be chosen in consultation with the advisor depending on the choice of minor or stackable credentials.
Art, B.A., with Fashion Merchandising Concentration
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| CART 101 | Art Foundation I | 3 |
| CENG 105 | College Composition I (Area D) | 3 |
| CGED 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| CXXX | Natural Sciences Option (Area C) | 3 |
| CFAS 210 | Principles of Fashion Industry | 3 |
| CXXX | Social/Behavioral Sciences (Area B) | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CART 102 | Art Foundation II | 3 |
| CENG 106 | College Composition II (Area D) | 3 |
| CGED 101 | 1st-Year Seminar | 1 |
| CMAT 104 | Finite Mathematics (or higher (Area C)) | 3 |
| CFAS 220 | History of Costume | 3 |
| CART 277 | Computer Imaging Basics (Area E) | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CFAS 201 | Creative Fashion Presentation | 3 |
| CFAS 230 | Textiles | 3 |
| CFAS 250 | Visual Merchandising | 3 |
| CSTA 101 | Fundamentals of Speech (Area D) | 3 |
| Free Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CFAS 325 | Wardrobe Styling & Consulting | 3 |
| CXXX | Fashion Elective | 3 |
| CXXX | Social/Behavioral Sciences Option (Area B) | 3 |
| CXXX | Humanities/Fine Arts Option (Area A) | 3 |
| CXXX | Minor or Credential course | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CFAS 401 | Retail Mathematics | 3 |
| CFAS 440 | Retail Management | 3 |
| CXXX | Humanities/Fine Arts Option (Area A) | 3 |
| CXXX | Minor or Credential course | 3 |
| Free Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CFAS 402 | Fashion Buying & Planning | 3 |
| CFAS 314 | Promotional Planning Strategy | 3 |
| CXXX | Financial Literacy Option (Area E) | 3 |
| CXXX | Minor or Credential course | 3 |
| Free Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CFAS 430 | Trend Forecasting | 3 |
| CFAS 480 | Internship | 3 |
| CXXX | Minor or Credential course 300/400 level | 3 |
| CXXX | Minor or Credential course | 3 |
| Free Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CFAS 420 | Fashion Show Production | 3 |
| CFAS 425 | Case Studies Fashion Marketing | 3 |
| CFAS 490 | Fash Merchandising Sr Seminar | 3 |
| CXXX | Minor or Credential course 300/400 level | 3 |
| Free Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 122 | |
- 1
Free Electives should be chosen in consultation with the advisor depending on the choice of minor or stackable credentials.