The Fashion Program at Marist College in Poughkeepise, NY features a comprehensive curriculum leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degree in Fashion Merchandising with concentration choice of Business, Product Development or Fashion Promotion. The Design major has been constructed to fully explore the critical elements of fashion design. Course offerings support all aspects of the design and construction process as well as the application of fashion industry-specific technology and software. The curriculum balances the creative aspects of design concept, drawing, color and rendering, collection development, etc. with technical education in sewing, textiles, patternmaking and draping, and the application of fashion industry-relevant technology including the newest industry computer software. Design majors are encouraged to pursue a minor in Fashion Merchandising or Product Development. These minors encourage a designer's development toward a more universal understanding of the fashion industry and nurture a strong competitive advantage in the employment market. Fashion Merchandising concentrates on the planning, procurement, and marketing aspects of the fashion business. Students learn to research target markets, analyze business results and develop strategies that effectively meet the needs of consumers. In their senior year, Merchandising students create an in-depth research intensive project in collaboration with a major fashion company. The Merchandising major relies upon foundation courses such as Fashion in Culture & Commerce, Digital Software Studies, Textiles, then advances with concentration specific offerings in Business, Product Development or Fashion Promotion. The Business concentration is augmented by courses in related fields (Accounting, Business, Communications and Economics) highlighting the importance of business skills in today's workplace. The addition of electives such as Accessory Merchandising, Fashion Branding & Licensing, and Product Sourcing greatly contribute to the enrichment and fulfillment of the concentration. The Fashion Promotion concentration is enhanced with courses in related fields such as, Fashion Show Production, Visual Merchandising and Communications. The Product Development concentration includes coursework such as Supply Chain Management, Private Label Development, Branding & Licensing and Sustainability.
