Bachelor of Arts in
Fashion
Merchandising
Program Overview
The University of Akron’s Bachelor of Arts Degree
Program in Fashion Merchandising prepares
students for careers in the fashion and
furnishings industries. This unique program
offers students a choice of three specializations
and also enables students to apply an associate
degree toward a baccalaureate degree.
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Specialization Tracks
o Apparel Track
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Students concentrate on the development, promotion,
and merchandising of apparel products
o Home Furnishings Track
o Students combine knowledge of the interior design
process with merchandising skills geared toward the
home furnishings market
o Fiber Arts Track
o Students focus on textiles as an art form in order to
develop careers in the rapidly growing field of fiber arts.
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Apparel Track
o Classes:
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Principles of Apparel Design
Fashion & Furnishings Industries
Fundamentals of Construction
Dress and Culture
Textile Evaluation
Textiles for Apparel
Strategic Merchandise Planning
History of Fashion
Fashion Analysis
Internship
Apparel, Home Furnishings, and Fiber Arts Electives
Home Furnishings Track
o Classes:
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Introduction to Interior Design
Family Housing
Interior Design Theory
Programming and Space Planning
Specifications for Interiors I & II
Strategic Merchandise Planning
History of Interior Design I & II
Fashion Analysis
Textiles for Interiors
Internship
Apparel, Home Furnishings or Fiber Arts Elective
Fiber Arts Track
o Classes:
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Principles of Apparel Design or Intro to Interior Design
Textile Evaluation
Seminar in Fiber Arts
Historic Costume or History of Interior Design I & II
Strategic Merchandise Planning
Textiles of Apparel or Textiles of Interiors
Internship
Apparel, Home Furnishings or Fiber Arts Electives
Internships
• Students complete a
required internship
• Internships are tailored to
individual interests
• Internships include 150
hours of on-site training
dispersed over 10 weeks
Kelly in New York at Marie Claire
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Internships
• Students have the option
of choosing an internship
site close to school, close
to home, or in an exciting
new location
Lauren at Saks Fifth Avenue
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Internships
Internships provide an
opportunity for students to
gain valuable real-world
experience and network
with professionals in their
field. Students may even
receive job offers as a
result of their internships.
Trina at Stitch Piece & Purl
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Internships
University of Akron students have completed
internships locally, nationally, and internationally
including:
o Ralph Lauren,
o Los Angeles
o Cosmo Girl,
o London, England
o Vera Wang
o Nordstrom
o Cleveland and Kansas
City
o JoAnn Fabrics
o Marie Claire
o New York
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Lucky Shoes
BCBG Max Azria
Saks Fifth Avenue
Victoria’s Secret
Abbott’s Bridal
Doreen Leaf Designs
Gucci
– Los Angeles
Sanity Boutique
Clinique
Obsess Boutique
– Cincinnati
Internships
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Katie Simmons interned with
Misti Alpaca, Peru
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Internships
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Katie steaming dresses for a
fashion shoot and knitting
with Peruvian women
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Fashion Interns in London
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Students have completed fiber arts internships with a
variety of companies including:
• Soho Publishing
– New York
• Bagsmith
– Cleveland, Ohio
• Tahki-Stacy Charles
– New York
• Cestari, Ltd.
– Churchville, Virginia
• Tanglewood Fiber
Creations
– St. Helens, Oregon
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• Pick-up Sticks
– Oakland, CA
• Coats and Clark
– Charlotte, NC
• Westminster Fibers
– Nashua, New
Hampshire
• CNS Yarns
– Montreal, Canada
• Classic Elite Yarns
– Lowell, Massachusetts
Program Resources
o Textiles Lab
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Program Resources
o Historic Costume Collection
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Program Resources
o Clothing Construction Lab
o with Bernina Sewing Machines
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Fashion Merchandising Travel
• New York City
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Fashion Merchandising Travel
• London
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Fashion Merchandising Travel
• Italy
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Program Resources
o Class Size
o 15-30 students per class
o Faculty Advisors
o Business Classes taught by the College of
Business Administration or Summit College with
the opportunity to expand electives into minors in
marketing/sales technology within the required
hours to graduation
o Family and Consumer Sciences Computer Lab
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Why should you choose The University of
Akron’s Fashion Merchandising Program?
• Smaller class formats that offer individual
attention
• A comprehensive textile curriculum for excellent
product knowledge
• A flexible electives component that allows you to
earn a minor within the required 130 credit hours
• Experienced, full-time faculty teach all major
courses
• Average an 80-85% graduation rate
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Student Fashion Association
The Student Fashion Association is a
student organization designed to
supplement the students’ academic
experiences. Activities include:
o Student Run Fashion Show
o Field Trips
o Guest lectures by visiting
professionals
o Service Projects
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SFA Fashion Shows
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SFA Fashion Shows
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SFA Fashion Shows
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Graduate Program
o Students have the opportunity to continue their
studies in a graduate program that specializes in
the historic/cultural aspects of fashion and
design.
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For More Information
o Contact Us:
o Clothing, Textiles and Interiors
The School of Family & Consumer Sciences
215 Shrank South
Akron, OH 44325-6103
330-972-7721
www.uakron.edu/fcs
SchoolofFCS@uakron.edu
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