Degree Overview: Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) Degree in Fashion Marketing and Design
Majors Overview March 20, 2014Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Fashion Marketing and Design programs combine aspects of clothing development with business. Those pursuing this field can find work featuring buying, selling, tailoring, and creating apparel.
B.F.A. Programs in Fashion Marketing and Design
Students enrolled in a BFA in Fashion Marketing and Design program can expect to become adept at creating fashions, in addition to marketing said fashions in retail markets. This degree program is devised to teach students about creating promotional campaigns, working with wholesale merchandisers and managing contracts. Students may also learn rudimentary business courses, such as Marketing. Coursework in BFA programs covers both fashion design and marketing, thereby often causing these programs to be known as Fashion Marketing and Merchandising programs.
Admission criteria typically require incoming students to hold a GED certificate or high school diploma.
Coursework
Apart from being taught about creating clothing, students also study the business aspects of fashion, including ways of advertising clothing. General education classes apart, coursework may include subject areas such as:
•Advertising for design
•Retail management
•Textiles
•Design forecasting
•Design economics
Career Choices
Those who successfully complete the program may pursue entry-level careers in retail, management and fashion design, working for individuals or a corporation. Their job responsibilities may range from forecasting fashion trends to designing clothes. They may choose from various career options such as:
•Merchandise manager
•Marketing representative
•Design director
•Fashion designer
•Fashion coordinator
Job and Wage Outlook
Job growth in fashion design is predicted to be negligible over the 2010-20 decade (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)). In May 2012, fashion designers took home an average annual wage of $62,860, while merchandisers earned $47,634 and marketing representatives averaged $41,336.
Continuing Education Choices
Graduates of a BFA in Fashion Marketing and Design program may pursue continued education by earning a master’s degree. Schools offer master’s degree programs either as a Master of Arts (M.A.) or as a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Fashion Studies or Fashion Design.
The theory and research of fashion design form the focus of these programs, apart from society and art history. A portfolio project or thesis project may be required from students enrolled in some programs whereby the courses on fashion history and culture are built on. Students in these programs may be afforded opportunities of working with other designers and of analyzing the creative and economic aspects of the fashion industry. Graduates may be able to seek fashion-oriented occupations in academia or research when equipped with a master’s degree.