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.
The courses have been intentionally placed and should be prioritized in
the order
in which they appear. If you are unable to take all the courses in
a semester, you
should prioritize enrolling in the courses in the order below.
Some courses have
been noted as “Appropriate for Intersession” 
. Should you need (or want) to take
classes
in the summer and/or winter intersessions,
the program recommends these courses as appropriate for the condensed
schedule of
the intersessions.
Some pathways combine a “Certificate of Achievement” and an “Associate
Degree”. If
you are pursuing only the Certificate of Achievement, you are only
required to take
the courses marked “Program Requirement” 
.
All pathways include at least one “Gateway Course” 
which introduces you to the program and/or field of study and helps you
decide if you want to continue with this Academic and Career Path.
Most Associate degrees (though not Associate Degrees for Transfer)
require satisfying the SMC Global Citizenship requirement. If the Program
Requirements do not include a “Global Citizenship course” 
, be sure to select a General Education course that also satisfies Global Citizenship.
Fashion merchandising students learn and experience each step of the development, promotion, and sales of fashion and lifestyle product lines. Fashion trends are identified and analyzed in order to understand the direction of product development, the positioning in the marketplace, the importance of proper sales representation via visual presentation, advertising, public relations, and social media in the fashion cycle from initial concept to brick-n-mortar and e-commerce sales.
Upon completion of the program, students will:
- Upon completion of the program, students will demonstrate the ability to analyze and assess the marketable trends in fashion and lifestyle product lines for all target markets; understand the logistics from fashion production to wholesale, retail, and resale; develop pre-and-post promotional activities necessary to launch brands/private labels in order to maintain success in the local and global marketplace; utilize critical thinking in solving design, sales or promotional issues; have the ability to utilize software applicable to promotional needs, and understand the working relationship between designers and marketers. Additionally, students will have skills pertinent to successfully enter third-year college fashion programs, advance in management positions, or enter major retail executive buying/ management training programs.
General Education
Available Online
