College of the Arts
School of Fashion Design and Merchandising
www.kent.edu/fashion

About This Program

Our Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising prepares you for a dynamic career in the fashion industry, with hands-on learning experiences, industry connections and opportunities for internships and study abroad. Enroll now and turn your passion for fashion into a rewarding career. Read more...

Contact Information

• Program Coordinator: William Hauck | whauck@kent.edu | 330-672-0135
• Speak with an Advisor
• Chat with an Admissions Counselor

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*

^{* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.}

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Freshman Students: Admission to the Fashion Merchandising major is selective. Prospective applicants must have a minimum 3.000 overall grade point average (on a 4.000 scale).

Transfer Students: Admission to the Fashion Merchandising major requires a minimum 2.750 overall GPA based on minimum 24 credit hours of college-level coursework at an accredited institution. Those students meeting this GPA requirement but with fewer than 24 credit hours will be evaluated as new freshmen.

Students who do not meet the criteria for admission to the Fashion Merchandising major may be eligible for admission to the Pre-Fashion Design and Merchandising non-degree major. In addition, students who do not meet the admission criteria may initiate the process for declaring the B.S. degree in Fashion Merchandising after completing minimum 12 credit hours of non-developmental coursework at Kent State University and earning a minimum 2.750 overall GPA.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE score or minimum 100 Duolingo English score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information on international admission visit the admissions website for international students.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

²

Students are required to participate in a study away opportunity. Students must have a minimum 2.500 overall GPA to participate in this study away requirement. Choose from the following: FDM 35070; FDM 35080; FDM 35589; FDM 35689; FDM 35789; FDM 35889; FDM 35989; FDM 45392; FDM 45590; FDM 45589; OGE 10095.

³

Maximum 6 credit hours of FDM 45093 can be used as an Additional Major Elective. Maximum 6 credit hours from each non-Fashion Design and Merchandising (FDM) subject area can be used as an Additional Major Elective.

⁴

Students are required to declare and complete a minor as part of the fashion merchandising program. Students may select any minor available at Kent State, but it should be aligned with the student's overall educational and career goals. Number of credit hours depends on the minor selected.

Graduation Requirements

• Participation in a study abroad/away experience
• Minimum 2.500 overall GPA required for study away
• Minimum 2.500 overall GPA required for internship

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

University Requirements

All students in a bachelor's degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation.

NOTE: University requirements may be fulfilled in this program by specific course requirements. Please see Program Requirements for details.

Kent Core Requirements

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Understand the fashion industry, fashion markets, fashion products and services.
2. Demonstrate knowledge and skills of the fashion industry through reflective experiential learning.
3. Apply integration of the key knowledge of various segments of industry from fiber to finished product, products/services, consumer markets and technology in relation to the fashion industry.
4. Articulate conceptual and critical thinking applicable to the fashion industry.
5. Employ research processes and practices employed in the fashion industry.
6. Demonstrate their professionalism and communication skills required in the fashion industry through visual, oral and written forms.

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science degree in Fashion Merchandising allows for students to acquire a thorough background in the business aspects of the fashion industry, whereby they develop competencies in fashion theory, retail operations, management and buying, fashion forecasting and promotion, the merchandising for apparel manufacturing and the development and marketing of fashion goods.

Students participate in a study abroad/away experience, which includes opportunities to study for a semester in New York City; Florence, Italy; and Paris, France, as well as through collaborative partnership programs with universities in Hong Kong, South Korea and London.

In addition, students in the Fashion Merchandising major have the opportunity to enroll in the combined degree program with the Master of Business Administration degree. The combined B.S./M.B.A. degree program allows high-achieving undergraduate students early admission into graduate school. Students enrolled in the combined degree program complete a maximum of 9 credit hours of graduate-level coursework for the M.B.A. degree during their senior year. This allows a student to accelerate their completion of the M.B.A degree after being awarded their undergraduate degree. Students complete a minimum of 150 credit hours (120 representing the B.S. degree in Fashion Merchandising and at least an additional 30 representing the M.B.A. degree). To be eligible for the combined degree program, students must first complete a minimum of 90 credit hours in the Fashion Merchandising major with at least a 3.300 overall grade point average. Upon achieving these requirements, students submit an admissions application to the M.B.A. program by the set application deadline. Students need to satisfy all requirements for the graduate admissions application.

Students in the Fashion Merchandising major can also pursue the B.S. Fashion Merchandising to Juris Doctor (JD) 3+3 degree pathway through Kent State University’s partnership with three Northeast Ohio law schools (Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Cleveland State University College of Law and the University of Akron School of Law). Interested students follow a three-year set degree plan and work closely with Kent State University’s Pre-Law Center. During the first three years, students complete almost all their general education and major requirements. During year four, students begin their first year of law school courses. Upon successful completion of the first year of law school courses, these credit hours are transferred back to Kent State University to complete the bachelor’s degree. After graduating, students complete their last two years of law school to earn their Juris Doctor.