Merchandising
Students in the Fashion Merchandising concentration gain expertise in market analysis, retail management, and brand development. The curriculum blends business acumen with fashion trends, preparing graduates for careers in retail buying, merchandising management, and fashion marketing. Through hands-on experiences, such as internships and industry collaborations, students learn to navigate the complexities of fashion retail and develop strategies to drive consumer engagement and sales.
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 | FYS ~ First 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 |
| CMAT 104 | Finite Mathematics (or higher level AREA C) | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CART 102 | Art Foundation II | 3 |
| CENG 106 | College Composition II (Area D) | 3 |
| CGED 101 | FYS ~ First Year Seminar | 1 |
| CFAS 220 | History of Costume | 3 |
| CXXX Social/Behavioral Sciences (AREA B) | 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.