There are numerous fashion degree programs available for someone interested in pursuing a fashion career. Whether you are interested in fashion design, fashion merchandising, or the business side of fashion, there are many degrees that provide the building blocks you need to succeed in your fashion career. Specialization and additional education are options fashion professionals should always consider.

An associate's or bachelor's degree in Fashion Design is a great stepping stone to a number of careers in fashion. Fashion design students complete coursework in a variety of subjects including the following:

• fashion and textile vocabulary and terminology
• consumer trends and behavior
• hand drawing
• computer-aided design (CAD)
• pattern drafting and manufacturing
• fashion show production and promotion
• sewing and tailoring
• human anatomy
• fashion and art history and trends
• balancing of colors, proportions, textiles, and moods

Most fashion programs are staffed by industry professionals in design, marketing, and merchandising. They also often have guest instructors from major fashion design houses.

Degrees in Fashion Marketing and/or Fashion Merchandising focus primarily on the business side of the fashion industry. Graduates of fashion merchandising programs may qualify for positions as visual merchandisers and/or display artists, retail store managers, fashion buyers, stylists, showroom sales reps, or fashion editors, among many others. Students are educated in the following topics:

• reading consumer trends
• understanding consumer market segments
• business fundamentals
• marketing and merchandising techniques
• teamwork and collaboration
• social, environmental, and economic influences on the global fashion industry

Many fashion schools offer specialized courses of study in areas such as art and design technology, visual merchandising, retail management, and others. No matter which fashion study program you choose, you can receive a broad education that combines both the creative and technical sides of the style industry to prepare you for the challenges of the ever-changing, fast-paced world of fashion and design. You may even be able to take advantage of internship opportunities with established design firms or retail enterprises, allowing you to get a jump start on your fashion portfolio.

Learn more about how you can enter the fashion industry by requesting free degree information from one of the featured fashion school listed on our site.