Ohio State University Degree in Fashion and Retail Studies
Fashion Merchandising prepares students to manage and merchandise fashion apparel, textiles, beauty and accessory products that will be manufactured and sold around the world. This major combines coursework that teaches creative and analytical skills.
A degree in Fashion Retail Studies can lead to a variety of career paths. Opportunities for internships, networking and volunteering help hone skills while building industry connections.
Study Abroad Opportunities
With a degree in fashion and retail studies, you’ll be ready for the global marketplace. You’ll acquire the skills to manage and merchandise fashion apparel, textiles, beauty and accessory products in a wide range of retail environments.
In addition to coursework, you’ll have opportunities for study away programs in both New York City and international fashion capitals. These one-week trips over spring break give you hands-on learning in a variety of businesses in these fashion centers, plus a planned excursion to Versailles, France.
You’ll also be part of a tight-knit FMPD student body. This community is heavily involved in career fairs, speaker events and the BGSU student association branch of the National Retail Federation. This affiliation provides you with benefits including discounts to attend the NRF Big Show in New York, membership in the student group on LinkedIn and eligibility for scholarships. This helps you to build a strong network that will last well beyond graduation.
Industry Advisory Board
The industry advisory board provides students with a network of business leaders who can provide insight into emerging trends. This can help businesses beat the competition, streamline their customer service based on new purchasing behaviors or tailor their products to reach a specific audience. In addition, the advisors can also serve as mentors for students.
The TATM Industry Advisory Board (IAB) is comprised of global industry and government executives with on-campus representation. The IAB meets two times a year in the fall and spring. IAB members provide advice to faculty on program direction, connect with students through co-ops and internships, offer feedback on curriculum and research, support and funding opportunities including the Textile Management Science Lab and enhance visibility of the FTM Program.
The purpose of the IAB is to bring independent external industry, government and regional community members to advise and counsel the Graduate Studies and Research Division and select UB schools and programs on their respective activities and initiatives from an industry and market perspective.
Internships
Students in our undergraduate Fashion Merchandising program have the opportunity to participate in a minimum of two internships. These professional experiences provide hands-on learning in areas including purchasing, product development and merchandising at store and corporate levels globally.
In addition to internships, FMPD students also have access to global study programs, a Costume and Textiles Museum, the chance to help produce Trend Magazine – OSU’s fashion publication, as well as opportunities for career fairs, industry speaker events and trips to the NRF Big Show in New York City.
The university’s career center, Buckeye Careers, helps connect FMPD students with these opportunities through virtual workshops and job fairs. The center also provides resources like a state-of-the-art apparel design studio and textile lab, computer-aided-design (CAD) labs, as well as study abroad opportunities in places such as Paris, Italy, Shanghai and Tokyo. The university’s location in the heart of the fashion capital of the world makes it a top choice for future retail leaders.