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Fashion (Merchandising), BA

Do you want to help shape the product selections offered by fashion brands and retailers? Gain the essential skills needed to curate cohesive collections to generate consumer excitement and drive commercial success.

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A student examines a row of coats, showcasing the field explored in the BA in Fashion (Merchandising).

Quick facts

Additional facts

STEM-OPT extension eligible: No

International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Degree description

Fashion merchandising is the art of blending creativity with strategic insight to transform trends into tangible retail success, bringing style from the runway to the retail floor. More than selecting the latest styles, merchandisers interpret market demands, research customer preferences, and craft curated shopping experiences that inspire, engage and drive results.

This immersive, product-focused program offers a holistic understanding of the fashion industry, preparing you with the practical skills to balance creativity and business acumen.

What sets the program apart is the integration of hands-on courses, such as apparel construction, textile lab, illustration and fashion history, with a diverse curriculum that connects design thinking with merchandising, marketing, styling and fashion forecasting. Through collaborative design and product development projects, along with real-world industry internships, you learn to transform ideas into market-ready fashion experiences that inspire and engage.

Courses

Explore a sample list of courses you may take in this program.

Sample courses
FSH 125 Survey of the Fashion Industry
FSH 175 Merchandising Essentials
FSH 200 Textiles Science Lab
FSH 201 Textiles Science
FSH 204 Social Aspects of Fashion
FSH 208 Creative Technology for Fashion

Course checksheet and curriculum archive

The curriculum checksheet displays this program's required courses and other requirements you must complete for graduation.

What If

Current ASU students, see how your courses can apply to another major and find out how to change your major (opens in new window).

Already completed some college courses? Build on your success.

If you earned college credit outside ASU, our transfer tools map out your progress towards a degree and help you plan next steps.

See how your credits may apply (opens in new window)

What you'll learn

The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.

  • Apply fashion merchandising skills such as retail math, forecasting, planning, and sales analysis when creating Final Projects.
  • Communicate merchandising ideas through creative visual display.
  • Apply knowledge of the global fashion industry when creating final business projects.

Admission requirements

Here are the admission and application details

All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.

First year (opens in new window) | Transfer (opens in new window) | International (opens in new window) | Readmission (opens in new window)

A current ASU student has no additional requirements for changing majors.

Students should visit the Change of Major form (opens in new window) for information about how to change a major to this program.


Explore expanded study opportunities

When you pursue concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”), you earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with your academic advisor, you can create your own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.

Global experience

With more than 300 Global Education program opportunities available, fashion students are able to tailor their experience to their unique interests and skill sets. Whether in a foreign country, in the U.S. or online, students build communication skills, learn to adapt and persevere, and are exposed to research and internships across the world, increasing their professional network.

Students can spend a summer term in France in the "Exploration of French Fashion, Language and Culture" program led by ASU fashion faculty.

Paying for college

Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.

Get an estimate

Build the career and future you want

Our graduates are prepared for a variety of career paths, including:

Career opportunities showing job titles, projected growth rates, median salaries, and links to detailed information
Career Growth Median Salary More Information
Business Analyst 10.1% $101,860
Buyer 6.0% $77,710
General Manager (GM) 5.0% $105,770
Market Research Analyst 7.0% $78,760
Marketing Associate -3.7% $133,660
Merchandiser 6.0% $77,710
Purchasing Manager 4.0% $148,080
Sales Manager 4.5% $148,270
Supply Chain Manager 6.1% $107,230

Example job titles and salaries listed are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.

Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).


More about careers

This program is a distinctly professional, hands-on degree program that prepares graduates for dynamic careers in the business of fashion. Some example careers include:

  • business manager
  • display and window designer
  • manufacturer
  • marketing analyst
  • merchandiser
  • production manager
  • retail manager
  • sales manager
  • supply chain manager

Graduates often find themselves doing tasks such as merchandising, buying, trend forecasting, business analysis, marketing, supply chain management and retail management.

Contact information

Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.

ASU FIDM | CCG 202
asufidm@asu.edu
602-496-5559

Frequently asked questions about degree programs

Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.

Accelerated master's

These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).

Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.

Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.

Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.

ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.

ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.

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