Fashion Merchandising - Certificate of Achievement

This program map only provides one possible pathway for degree and/or certificate obtainment and is for reference only. Please schedule an appointment with a counselor to develop your individualized Student Education Plan.

The certificate program in fashion merchandising prepares students for immediate employment and to transfer to universities and technical schools of fashion and costume design. Students integrate fashion principles, textile characteristics and personal style with marketing strategies to create and present projects and a portfolio tailored to their chosen career. Career paths include retail buyer, visual merchandiser, fashion marketers, store manager.

The pathway below represents an efficient and effective course taking sequence for this program. Individual circumstances might require some changes to this pathway. It is always recommended that you meet with an academic counselor to develop a personalized educational plan.

Integrate fashion principles with respect to industry changes and marketing strategies and present project.

Apply design principles to fashion industry conditions to achieve personal style and present in class portfolio.

Analyze textile characteristics for sensory appeal and present project.

Differentiate historic fashion concepts with current design trends and display in portfolio.

Apply all fashion merchandising principles in a work setting.

Program Map

Requirement
GE General Education
E Elective

Fall Year 1

6 units
BUS 103
Advertising
A survey of advertising media; the psychology of advertising; motivational research; formulation of advertising budgets; mechanics of layout and copy; and evaluation and selection of media.
            FASH 101
            Fashion Industry and Marketing
            Explores all levels of the fashion industry including marketing, job market analysis, and careers. Core components are the development of fashion goods; fashion meaning and terminology; primary markets of materials including textiles, trims, leather, and fur; secondary markets of design and production of apparel, accessories, and cosmetics. Retail market level including domestic, regional and foreign markets, global sourcing, strategies in fashion retailing; and the auxiliary level of supporting services. Course not open to students who enrolled in and received credit for FCS 137.

                      Spring Year 1

                      3 units
                      FASH 104
                      Historic Fashion/Costume

                      A study of period costume, its relationship to the political and social conditions of the times, evolution from related arts, and influence on modern dress. Designed for students of fashion, theater arts, and merchandising. Course not open to students who took and received credit for FCS 144. 

                            1. Category 3: Arts and Humanities
                            1. 3B - Humanities

                            Fall Year 2

                            4 units
                            FASH 103
                            Textiles

                            A consumer-oriented analysis of textile products used in the apparel and interiors industries today, including fibers, yarn, construction, fabric construction, dyeing, finishing, and labeling. Emphasis is on selection, performance, suitability, and care of textiles. Career opportunities as well as environmental and legal issues are discussed.

                            1. Advisories: ENGL 100
                                    Supervised employment extending classroom-based learning to an on-the-job learning environment relating to the student's career and educational goals. In addition, these work experiences improve the student's basic work skills and professional competencies by creating career awareness, improving work habits, and fostering positive workplace attitudes.
                                              OR

                                              Supervised employment extending classroom-based learning to an on-the-job learning environment relating to the student's career and educational goals. In addition, these work experiences improve the student's basic work skills and professional competencies by creating career awareness, improving work habits, and fostering positive workplace attitudes. Cooperative Work Experience credit courses require 54 hours of work (paid or unpaid) per unit, rounded down in 0.5 unit increments.

                                                        Spring Year 2

                                                        6 units
                                                        FASH 102
                                                        Fashion Design Analysis
                                                        Apparel selection for the individual and society based on socio-psychological influences such as culture, history, design elements and principles, space and body analysis, coordination, and purchasing guidelines. Course not open to students who took and received credit for FCS 138.
                                                        1. Advisories: ENGL C1000
                                                                FASH 106
                                                                Digital Illustration for Fashion
                                                                Introduction to computer aided design and graphics in the fashion context. Creation of surface designs for fabrics. Illustration of shading and tonal value in fashion figure drawing and to illustrate the figure in proper scale and proportion. Use of design elements and principles as applied to clothing design.