Earning a Bachelor Degree in Fashion Marketing
Majors Overview March 19, 2014Programs for Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degrees in Fashion Marketing are not always available. Alternatively, students may pursue a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree program in this field. Those who graduate from these programs may find employment in advertising and promotion, or retail.
B.S. Programs in Fashion Marketing
Students enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs in Fashion Marketing are taught about a variety of elements in the fashion industry, in addition to business fundamentals; these can range from analyzing fashion trends to sketching initial designs. The program involves the exploration of fashion history to augment studies focused on ways of marketing cosmetics, accessories, apparel, and textiles. Entrepreneurship and retail management may also be addressed in Fashion Marketing programs. Some programs also advise students to pursue a minor in one of many areas including integrated media, interior design, and graphic design.
Admission criteria typically require incoming students to hold a GED certificate or high school diploma.
Coursework
Coursework may include various topic areas related to fashion, such as forecasting and visual merchandising, in addition to accounting, consumer behavior and selling. Apart from lectures, coursework in some programs may include the completion of an internship or practicum by students. Coursework in Fashion Marketing programs may commonly include:
•Advertising
•Drawing
•Portfolio presentation
•Image building
•Fashion buying and analysis
•Clothing construction
•Global diversity
•Finance
•Clothing selection
•Fashion accessories
Career Choices
Graduates of a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Marketing can engage in the study of fashion trends and provide information about their research findings to company representatives. They may also create attractive advertising campaigns for fashion companies by working with other promotional personnel. Fashion marketing graduates may commonly seek careers such as:
•Marketing assistant
•Purchasing manager
•Department manager
•Fashion consultant
•Product manager
Job Outlook
A slower-than-average job growth has been predicted for department, product and purchasing managers over the 2010-20 decade; (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)). In 2012, retail department managers earned an average annual wage of $36,820, while product managers took home $51,470, and purchasing managers earned $100,170 on average (BLS). In December 2013, the average annual wage of marketing assistants was $33,248.
Continuing Education Choices
Graduates of a bachelor’s program in Fashion Marketing may seek continued education by earning a master’s degree in Fashion Studies aimed at seeking careers as fashion curators or researchers. Usually, the focus of these programs is mainly on theoretical courses in fashion relating to society or history.
