Fashion Merchandising - B.S.

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science degree in Fashion Merchandising allows for students to acquire a thorough background in the business aspects of the fashion industry, whereby they develop competencies in fashion theory, retail operations, management and buying, fashion forecasting and promotion, the merchandising for apparel manufacturing and the development and marketing of fashion goods.

Students participate in a study abroad/away experience, which includes opportunities to study for a semester in New York City; Florence, Italy; and Paris, France, as well as through collaborative partnership programs with universities in Hong Kong, South Korea and London.

Students in the Fashion Merchandising major must declare a minor at Kent State.

In addition, students in the Fashion Merchandising major have the opportunity to enroll in the combined degree program with the Master of Business Administration degree. The combined B.S./M.B.A. degree program allows high-achieving undergraduate students early admission into graduate school. Students enrolled in the combined degree program complete a maximum of 9 credit hours of graduate-level coursework for the M.B.A. degree during their senior year. This allows a student to accelerate their completion of the M.B.A degree after being awarded their undergraduate degree. Students complete a minimum of 150 credit hours (120 representing the B.S. degree in Fashion Merchandising and at least an additional 30 representing the M.B.A. degree). To be eligible for the combined degree program, students must first complete a minimum of 90 credit hours in the Fashion Merchandising major with at least a 3.300 overall grade point average. Upon achieving these requirements, students submit an admissions application to the M.B.A. program by the set application deadline. Students need to satisfy all requirements for the graduate admissions application.

Students in the Fashion Merchandising major can also pursue the B.S. Fashion Merchandising to Juris Doctor (JD) 3+3 degree pathway through Kent State University’s partnership with three Northeast Ohio law schools (Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Cleveland State University College of Law and the University of Akron School of Law). Interested students follow a three-year set degree plan and work closely with Kent State University’s Pre-Law Center. During the first three years, students complete almost all their general education and major requirements. During year four, students begin their first year of law school courses. Upon successful completion of the first year of law school courses, these credit hours are transferred back to Kent State University to complete the bachelor’s degree. After graduating, students complete their last two years of law school to earn their Juris Doctor.

Admissions

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Admission to the Fashion Merchandising major is selective.

First-Year Students: Prospective applicants must have a minimum 3.000 overall GPA (on a 4.000 scale)(starting with the fall 2026 admission term, a minimum 2.750 overall GPA is required).

Transfer Students: Prospective applicants must have a minimum 2.750 overall GPA based on minimum 24 credit hours of college-level coursework at an accredited institution. Those students meeting this GPA requirement but with fewer than 24 credit hours will be evaluated as new freshmen.

Students who do not meet the criteria for admission to the Fashion Merchandising major may be eligible for admission to the Pre-Fashion Design and Merchandising non-degree major. Starting with the fall 2026 admission term, students who do not meet the criteria for admission to the Fashion Merchandising major will be admitted to the Exploratory Program in University College.

In addition, students who do not meet the admission criteria may initiate the process for declaring the B.S. degree in Fashion Merchandising after completing minimum 12 credit hours of non-developmental coursework at Kent State University and earning a minimum 2.750 overall GPA.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Explain the components and processes of the fashion industry, fashion markets, fashion products and services to meet consumer needs.
2. Integrate knowledge of the fashion industry into real world scenarios through a variety of reflective, industry-focused experiential learning opportunities.
3. Apply critical thinking skills to various segments of the fashion value chain in forming strategic business decisions.
4. Apply research practices and systematic analyses to solve problems within the fashion industry.
5. Demonstrate professionalism and communication skills required within the fashion industry through visual, oral and written forms.

Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus