This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2024-2025 VCU Bulletin. We may add courses that expose our students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning. We may also add content to the general education program that focuses on racial literacy and a racial literacy graduation requirement, and may receive notification of additional program approvals after the launch. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.

The major in fashion merchandising requires a strong background in marketing, business and specialized professional courses with an emphasis on globalism. Students are directed toward assignments that will develop their skills in research, writing, presentation and critical thinking. Graduates find career opportunities in fashion forecasting, product development, advertising and promotion, retail management, buying, and international marketing.

Internships provide not only experience but industry contacts, and are strongly recommended. They may be conducted primarily during the summer semester.

Study abroad programs are readily available for fashion merchandising majors.

Student learning outcomes

Upon completing this program, students will know and know how to do the following:

  1. Creative problem-solving and critical thinking: Transferable skills
    Fashion merchandising students will demonstrate creative problem-solving and critical thinking through the completion of assignments and projects from freshman year through the senior capstone project. Throughout the student’s tenure in the program, courses include exercises in creative problem-solving and critical thinking around simulation learning, research projects, forecasting projections, management skills and research papers, which includes self- and peer-directed learning.
  2. Worldview and multidisciplinary approach to the fashion industry
    Fashion merchandising students will receive a worldview and multidisciplinary approach to the fashion industry through course work, which exhibits the importance of transforming fashion into an ethical and sustainable business model. Encouraging students to be part of the evolution needed in the fashion industry through projects and assignments, which include sustainability, ethics, economics, culture, global supply chain, design principles and the history of contemporary fashion.
  3. Dynamic merchandising skills
    Technical skills required in the fashion industry such as Photoshop, Illustrator, CLO 3D, Excel, Word and retail math will be revealed throughout introductory, intermediate and advanced course work. Additionally, students will display skills in portfolio development, the visual presentation of concepts, ideation and design principles.
  4. Professionalism
    Fashion merchandising students exhibit professional verbal, visual and digital presentation skills, which includes critical feedback. Additionally, the soft skills of professionalism consisting of punctuality, meeting deadlines, dependability, a sense of urgency and effective communication are central to professionalism.