Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Fashion Merchandising & Management
DURATION
6 Semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Jun 2025
TUITION FEES
USD 1,615 *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning, On-Campus
* per unit for international students / USD 1,407 per unit for domestic students
Key Summary
Introduction
The Masters of Fine Art in Fashion Merchandising and Management program provides the in-depth knowledge and specialized skill set required for today’s fashion merchandising and management environment. Graduates will be capable of performing the major functions necessary to run a successful operation including planning, managing, and selling fashion products.
Program Outcome
Graduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:
MFA Thesis Project
- Present an original thesis concept worthy of the MFA degree
- Demonstrate the feasibility of their thesis project
Specialty Skills: Fashion Merchandising and Management: Merchandising Thesis
- Research, plan, and write advanced-level project inclusive of a 3-year business plan based on selling products or services
Specialty Skills: Fashion Merchandising and Management
- Projects must include a visual component and/or a prototype
- Gather, analyze and organize relevant data to support their projects
- Analyze case studies/and or project work, demonstrating critical thinking skills
- Make assumptions based on quantifiable research and statistics
- Establish realistic financial goals for a fashion business, retail or wholesale
- Correctly identify key points in the supply chain and demonstrate an understanding of the relationships between its members
- Demonstrate command of visual merchandising presentation for fashion products and services
- Identify trends and determine what merchandise can be developed, marketed, and sold
- Communicate professionally and effectively through written, visual and oral presentations using industry-standard software
Collaborative Skills
- Collaborate effectively to produce creative projects
Professional Practices
- Create a relevant and original portfolio and collateral materials that can be used to market themselves to the industry
Academy of Art University Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Academy of Art University will demonstrate the ability to:
- Produce a body of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in their chosen field of art and design.
- Solve creative problems within their field of art and design, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
- Communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral, and written presentation skills relevant to their field.
- Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles.
- Evaluate work in their field, including their own work, using professional terminology.
- Recognize the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on art and design products.
- Learn the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global marketplace for art and design.
Career Opportunities
Academy of Art University offers some of the best training and hands-on experience to help accelerate your career. We pride ourselves in doing an exceptional job preparing you to excel in your future fashion careers. Our degree programs are designed to equip aspiring fashion professionals with a comprehensive toolbox of marketable skills that lead to success in the fashion industry.
Visual Merchandising Director
As a visual merchandising director, you will help promote the image, products, and services of retail and wholesale businesses. You’ll create eye-catching displays using visual and graphic elements, and organize brand-related special events.
Gallery
Curriculum
Unit Requirements
| Major | 30 |
| Directed Studies | 18 |
| Graduate Liberal Arts | 9 |
| Elective | 6 |
| Total | 63 |
Degree Requirements
- Successful completion of Final Thesis Project
- A minimum grade of C in all required 63 units
- Minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and the following Academic Study requirements:
- 1 Art Historical Awareness & Aesthetic course
- 1 Cross-Cultural Understanding course
- 1 Art Historical Awareness & Aesthetic course
- 1 Cross-Cultural Understanding course
Curriculum
Semester 1
- FSH 631: Merchandising Principles (Major)
- FSH 634: Textiles & Other Raw Materials (Major)
- FSH 643: Digital Techniques for Fashion (Major)
Semester 2
- FSH 630: Fashion Marketing Strategy (Major)
- FSH 633: Retail Management and Operations (Major)
- FSH 657: Online Retailing & e-Commerce (Elective)
Recommended for summer - FSH 675: Visual Merchandising: Image & Brand (Major)
- GLA 613: Fashion, Arts, and Influence (Graduate Liberal Arts)
Recommended for summer
Semester 3
- FSH 635: Creating Competitive Strategy (Major)
- FSH 637: Product Planning and Sourcing (Major)
- FSH 638: Product Design and Development (Major)
Semester 4
- FSH 649: Entrepreneurship in Fashion: Strategic Brand Management (Elective)
- FSH 850: Market Research (Directed Studies)
- GLA 603: Anthropology: Experiencing Culture (Graduate Liberal Arts)
- GLA 685: Crowdfunding and Social Media Marketing for Entertainment (Graduate Liberal Arts)
Recommended for summer
Semester 5
- FSH 851: Product Sourcing & Assortment (Directed Studies)
- FSH 853: Visual Merchandising: Brand and Image (Directed Studies)
- FSH 855: Marketing Strategy & Plan (Directed Studies)
Semester 6
- FSH 700: Professional Practices & Portfolio for Fashion (Major)
- FSH 858: Financial Planning (Directed Studies)
- FSH 859: Thesis Wrap Up (Directed Studies)