BACHELOR OF ARTS IN FASHION DESIGN, MERCHANDISING, AND MEDIA

OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES 

The program is a unique opportunity to gain a comprehensive overview of the fashion industry and area-specific specializations. The study location of Florence is a stimulating backdrop for the city's historic and ongoing ties to innovation in fashion design, culture, and business. Program topics address fashion and accessory design, retail processes, communication, and marketing. Program candidates, regardless of the selected specialization, will acquire interdisciplinary perspectives and competencies from both an Italian and global fashion standpoint through a curriculum designed to address industry-related theory and practice. Coursework is supported by experiential learning methodologies that directly involve students in industry experience and the local community.

Program objectives:

• Acquire knowledge of design, production, and business theory and practice applicable to the fashion industry.
• Adopt interdisciplinary methods in creative and aesthetic processes.
• Develop competency for problem-solving, addressing challenges, and design future visions for fashion systems.
• Integrate the technologies and traditional craftsmanship of local contexts and territories in global environments.
• Apply critically-minded and innovative approaches to business and communication strategies in the fashion industry.
• Identify and develop areas of talent and opportunity in redefining the future of fashion from a sustainable perspective.
• Produce a body of work that culminates in a coherent vision and applicability to industry practices as developed by the student throughout the program of study.

Outcomes:

• Design competency for fashion and accessory production.
• Integrative skills for fashion business practices related to merchandising and retail
• Communcation skills applicable to fashion media content development, editorial curation, and promotion.

Career opportunities:

The program prepares students to enter the fashion industry related to design, communication, and merchandising/retail through roles such as:

• Senior designer
• RD and production specialists
• Merchandisers
• Buyer
• Journalist
• PR strategist
• Digital editor
• Communication manager or consultant

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to further pursue studies at the graduate level.

B.A. CURRICULUM

General Education Requirements (48 credits) 

Sample view of courses that fulfill gen ed requirements:

Core Curriculum for 4-Year Program (28 credits)

FTADSR210 Sketching and Rendering Accessories
FTFCSF365 Fashion Retail Management Experiential Learning 6cr (first 3 count here)
FTFDSC315 Sewing and Construction Techniques I
FTFCPF280 Faces, Facts, and Places in Italian Fashion
FTADAD255 Introduction to Accessory Design and Production: Shoes, Bags, and Belts Experiential Learning 6cr (first 3 count here)
FTFDPM260 Flat and Digital Patternmaking
FTFMVM325 Visual Merchandise and Display
FTFCFM300 Fashion, Media, and Culture
BUMKFM280 Introduction to Fashion Marketing
PSELHS300S Introduction to Health and Safety 1cr

Capstone Project – In the area of Program Concentration (3 credits)

Accessory Design and Technology:

PSPDPO380 Portfolio Development

Fashion Communication, Promotion, and Media:

EL component of Magazine Editing and Publishing II Experiential Learning 6cr (final 3 credits fulfilled here) for  concentration only

Fashion Design and Technology:

PSPDPO380 Portfolio Development

Fashion Merchandising, Marketing, and Retail:

EL component of Fashion Buying Strategies: From Personal Shopper to Retail Merchandising EL 6cr (final 3 credits fulfilled here)

Experiential Learning Field Hours (9-12 credits) 

3-credit EL components of the following courses according to the selected concentration:

Accessory Design and Technology (12 credits):

Fashion Retail Management Experiential Learning
Introduction to Accessory Design: Shoes, Bags, and Belts Experiential Learning
Accessory Collection Design and Production Experiential Learning
Accessory Studio Experiential Learning

Fashion Communication, Promotion, and Media (9 credits):

Fashion Retail Management Experiential Learning
Introduction to Accessory Design: Shoes, Bags, and Belts Experiential Learning

Retail and Sales Strategies EL

Fashion Design and Technology (12 credits):

Fashion Retail Management Experiential Learning
Introduction to Accessory Design: Shoes, Bags, and Belts Experiential Learning

Fashion Design Studio II Experiential Learning
Fashion Collection Design and Production Experiential Learning

Fashion Merchandising, Marketing, and Retail (9 credits):

Fashion Retail Management Experiential Learning
Introduction to Accessory Design: Shoes, Bags, and Belts Experiential Learning

Retail and Sales Strategies EL

Concentration Course Work (27-30 credits)

In addition to the required core courses, students must complete the designated credit hours in one of the following areas of concentration.

Accessory Design and Technology (27 credits)

Examples of approved courses:

FTADHC330 Handbag Construction Techniques
FTADAS360 Accessory Studio Experiential Learning 6cr (first 3 count here)
FTADFW315 Footwear Design and Construction
FTADTE348 Traditional and Experimental Headwear
FTADLD370 Line Development for Accessories
FTADAC370 Accessory Collection Design and Production Experiential Learning 6cr (first 3 count here)
FTFDFS350 Fashion Styling
FTADDF354 Decoration and Finishing Techniques for Accessories
FTFCCF390 Fashion Show Production, Coordination, and Promotion

Fashion Communication, Promotion, and Media (30 credits)

Examples of approved courses:

BUMKRS325 Retail and Sales Strategies EL 6cr (first 3 count here)
BUMKFM360 Strategic Fashion Marketing
DIPHFP210 Introduction to Fashion Photography
DIPHFP310 Advanced Fashion Photography
CPPULM330 Magazine Editing and Publishing I 3cr
CPPULM430 Magazine Editing and Publishing II Experiential Learning 6cr (first 3 count here)
FTFCCF390 Fashion Show Production, Coordination, and Promotion
FTFCCF390 Fashion Icons: Trends and Lifestyle 3cr 
FTFDFS350 Fashion Styling
LACWWF310 Writing for the Fashion Industry

Fashion Design and Technology (27 credits)

Examples of approved courses:

FTFDSC380 Sewing and Construction Techniques II
FTFDFD375 Fashion Design Studio II EL 6cr (first 3 count here)
FTFDKW200 Introduction to Knitwear Design
FTFDDR340 Draping
FTFDLD370 Line Development for Fashion
FTFDFC355 Fashion Collection Design and Production EL 6cr (first 3 count here)
FTFDFS350 Fashion Styling
FTFDDK300 Digital Knitwear Design
FTFCCF390 Fashion Show Production, Coordination, and Promotion

Fashion Merchandising, Marketing, and Retail (30 credits)

Examples of approved courses:

BUMKRS325 Retail and Sales Strategies EL 6cr (first 3 count here)
FTFMFM300 Fashion Forecasting for Merchandisers
FTFMFB335 Fashion Buying Strategies: From Personal Shopper to Retail Merchandising EL 6cr (first 3 count here)
FTFDFS350 Fashion Styling
FTFDIC200 Image Consultancy
FTFMMC285 Fashion Merchandising
BUMKFM360 Strategic Fashion Marketing
BUMASM300 Sales Management
BUMABM310 Brand Management
FTFCFB300 Fashion Business in Italy

Free Electives (12 credits) 

Examples of approved courses:

GSANCA300 Cultural Anthropology
CPJLWM300 Writing for Digital Media
LARSRS150 Introduction to Religious Studies
LAAHAH210 Introduction to Art History

Total Program Credits:

130 credits