Fashion Merchandising - Coopersmith Career Consulting
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Descriptions and credit recommendations for all evaluated learning experiences
Varies (self-study, self-paced).
April 2025 - Present.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: classify natural, synthetic, and regenerated fibers, yarns, and fabrics; analyze fabric performance characteristics such as strength, durability, and care requirements; explain the textile production methods and their influence on fabric quality and sustainability; discuss the relationship between textile properties and their suitability for different end uses; describe the properties, classifications, and uses of natural, synthetic, and regenerated fibers; explain the processes involved in yarn production, fabric construction, and finishing techniques; analyze the performance characteristics of various textiles, including strength, elasticity, moisture retention, and care requirements; evaluate the suitability of different textiles for specific applications, such as fashion, interior design, and technical uses; summarize textile testing methods, including fiber identification, durability testing, and fabric performance evaluation; apply sustainability principles and ethical practices within the textile industry, including lifecycle assessment and eco-friendly materials; interpret and critique labels, standards, and regulations related to textiles and their implications for consumers and manufacturers; and compare and contrast the visual, tactile, and structural differences between woven, knitted, and non-woven fabrics. By the end of the course, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of how textiles are developed and utilized in various industries, including fashion, interior design, and technical applications.
Concepts and Principles of Textiles (FAS-334) is an undergraduate course that provides students with the fundamental concepts and principles of textiles, focusing on the relationship between fiber properties, fabric construction, and end-use applications. Topics include the classification and identification of fibers, yarns, and fabrics, methods of textile production, fabric performance characteristics, and sustainability in the textile industry. Students will explore the interplay between aesthetics, functionality, and durability in textile design and manufacturing.
In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 3 semester hours in Clothing and Textiles, Fashion, or Human Ecology (4/25).
Varies (self-study, self-paced).
April 2025 - Present.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: analyze the internal factors influencing consumer behavior, such as personality, perception, motivation, attitudes, and lifestyle, and their impact on buying decisions in the fashion and design industries; evaluate the external influences on consumer behavior, including culture, social groups, and economic factors, and their implications for marketing strategies in fashion and related fields; explain the stages of the consumer decision-making process and apply this understanding to develop targeted marketing strategies for fashion and design products; examine the psychological and emotional connections between consumers and fashion brands, and how these connections influence brand loyalty and purchase behavior; summarize the role of trends, innovation, and technology in shaping consumer preferences and buying habits in fashion and design markets; contrast the strategies to effectively segment target audiences and position fashion products to meet the specific needs and desires of different consumer groups; assess the impact of sustainability, ethical practices, and corporate social responsibility on consumer behavior and decision-making in the fashion and design industries; and evaluate the effectiveness of various marketing channels, including digital, social media, and traditional advertising, in influencing consumer buying decisions.
Consumer Behavior and Fashion Marketing is an undergraduate course designed for students in programs such as fashion design, fashion merchandising, interior design. advertising, and multimedia. The course focuses on the unique relationship between fashion, design, and consumer buying behavior, filling a gap in existing educational resources. Students explore the internal and external factors that influence consumer decisions, understand the processes behind buying choices, and learn how marketers effectively respond to consumer needs, essential for fashion students aiming to succeed in their respective fields.
In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 3 semester hours in Fashion Merchandising, Business Administration, Retailing, or Human Ecology (4/25).
Varies (self-study; self-paced).
April 2019 - Present.
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: recognize and identify the roles and responsibilities of a fashion stylist before and during a photo shoot; compare and contrast the three primary areas that encompass fashion styling; define industry terms to enhance professional communications as a stylist; identify personality traits and must-have skills of successful stylists; deconstruct an editorial fashion shoot and infer from fashion calendars and magazine timetables how to prepare for a photo shoot; describe the duties of a wardrobe stylist and how the job duties differ from a fashion stylist; apply the basic principles of design and create apparel and non-apparel looks utilizing methods of styling; explain the classifications of personal style; compile a list of potential careers in fashion styling; learn the aspects of building a professional styling portfolio; and develop a business plan for a styling business including how to build a client base and market a styling business.
This course introduces students to the role of styling and the business of and career tracks within fashion styling, including their own business or the film and entertainment industry. Major topics include: work and and responsibilities of the fashion stylist and wardrobe stylist, shopping and prepping merchandise, working with models on test shoots or photo shoots, styling professionalism, building a professional portfolio, social media, marketing, professional communications, sources of cultural inspiration and historical references. Instructional methods include: study guide, required readings, and a final exam.
In the associate/certificate degree category OR in the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 3 semester hours in Fashion Merchandising (4/19) (4/24 revalidation).
Varies (self-study; self-paced).
April 2019 - Present.
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: describe the nature of fashion; define and use basic vocabulary of the fashion industry; list and articulate each level of the industry and summarize how each level fits into the industry; recognize and give examples of the basic principles relating to fashion, its movement and influences including sociological, economic, psychological and environmental; discuss some of the historical development of apparel fashions; recognize specific segments within the fashion industry and describe how merchandising differs from sector to sector; identify and classify different forms of in-store and non-store retailing, their appropriate use, advantages and disadvantages; articulate the role the fashion industry plays in the global society; locate the significant and supporting domestic fashion centers in the United States and abroad and the varying roles they play in the apparel industry; identify and describe potential careers in each segment of the fashion industry; and describe the various types of retail distributors and fashion support services and explain how they service the merchants of fashion.
This course provides exposure to the terminology, activities, and operations that make up the apparel and non-apparel fashion industry and the forces, people, and environments who influence it. Major topics include: historical and contemporary influences on fashion, an overview of the levels in the industry, including raw materials, product development, retailing, and ancillary services, motivations of dress, theories of fashion adoption, and the fashion life cycle, fashion statements and forecast fashion trends, international and domestic fashion markets, how fashion is conceived, marketed, and sold. Career possibilities are presented for varying segments of the industry. Instructional methods include a study guide, required readings, and a final exam.
In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category OR in the upper division baccalaureate degree category, 3 semester hours in Introduction to Fashion Business or Fashion Merchandising (4/19) (4/24 revalidation).
Varies (self-study; self-paced).
April 2019 - Present.
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: describe how meanings of dress vary from society to society; explain the common purposes that dress serves (i.e., to protect, to communicate, or to personally satisfy); interpret scholarly publications about dress and ideas of research topics regarding dress; evaluate clothing as a form of human behavior, considering the social and cognitive factors influencing the management and perception of personal appearance in everyday life; assess the importance of social and cultural context in the creation and interpretation of clothing symbolism; differentiate psychological, sociological and anthropological perspectives of dress that influence appearance management; compare and contrast concepts and methods appropriate for the study of appearance in contemporary societies; and analyze how cultural and societal factors influence dress behaviors.
This course provides students with basic concepts and theories from social psychology applied to dress and its connection to human behavior. Major topics include: how dress reflects self-feelings, clothing as part of a nonverbal communication system and how it relates to human behavior changes and communicates gender, race, religion, and position establishes social identities and affects interpersonal encounters. Instructional methods include a study guide, required readings, and a final exam.
In the associate/certificate degree category OR in the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 3 semester hours in Sociology, Psychology, or Fashion Merchandising (4/19) (4/24 revalidation).
Varies (self study, self-paced).
Version 1: December 2019 – March 2025. Version 2: April 2025 - Present.
Version 1 and 2: Upon successful completion of this learning experience, students will be able to: identify and analyze the effectiveness of retail window displays based on design elements used to create a display; apply the elements and principles of design to visual merchandising; identify fixtures, props, signage, mannequins and display furnishings used in retail stores; describe the color wheel and identify color terminology; analyze a retail store layout by completing a retail store audit; create a 2-dimensional store planogram using appropriate computer-aided design software; plan or create a 3-dimensional shadow box or window display; critique the visual and operational elements of a fashion show; track, analyze, and interpret trends in visual merchandising and anticipate future needs within the industry; and research themes and visual presentations to develop additional design concepts.
Version 1 and 2: This course provides an overview of visual merchandising. Students learn how to design a customer experience in brick and mortar stores and translate brand identity through design basics. Major topics include: the importance of design elements including line, composition, color and lighting, fashion shows and special events. Instructional methods include a study guide, required readings, and a final exam.
Version 1: In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 3 semester hours in Introduction to Visual Merchandising or Visual Communication (1/20). Version 2: In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category OR in the upper division baccalaureate degree category, 3 semester hours in Introduction to Visual Merchandising or Visual Communication (4/25 revalidation).