Academics

During the Fall and Spring semesters, you’ll need to enroll in at least 12 credit hours of on-site Florence coursework. You’re required to take one Italian language class; you can enroll in ITAL 15204 Basic Conversational Italian (2 credits), ITAL Elementary Italian (4 credits) or choose a higher-level Italian class if you already have some grasp of the language. These requirements are strictly enforced, and you won’t be able to continue with any FDM courses if you don’t enroll. Course offerings vary semester to semester depending on faculty availability and enrollment.

35589 - Italian Fashion and Culture (3 credits): ****REQUIRED**** 

You’ll examine the evolution of the fashion industry in Italy and discover more about the long tradition of craftsmanship, style and design that led to its post-war successes. As you study Italian history, creators, design and production processes, you’ll understand the evolving roles of key fashion centers like Florence, Rome and Milan. Alongside lectures, you’ll visits museums and cultural sites to understand Florence’s heritage and the role it’s played in the development of Italian fashion.

45589 - Field Experience European Fashion Study Tour Florence (3 credits): ****REQUIRED**** 

You’ll explore and develop a critical awareness of fashion trends as you analyze social changes, new lifestyles, textile trends and the relationship between fashion and art. There will be a focus on responsible fashion throughout your learning experience. Your lectures and workshops will equip you with the tools to understand social and fashion trends, and approach trips to major European fashion centers critically. You’ll visit design and fashion houses, workshops, museums and archives, art galleries, retail stores, trade shows and other inspiring areas of European art and culture.

30189 - Florence Fashion Design Studio I (Fall) (6 credits): 

Open fashion studio concept to support the creative process of croquis sketching and construction in the production of design work. Students explore markets, selling seasons, and specific construction techniques; and they further develop fashion design process approaches related to the European design industry. Prerequisite: FDM 20122 and FDM 20153 and FDM 20154

30289 - Florence Fashion Design II (Spring) (6 credits): 

This course continues the open fashion studio concept in a way that’s specific to the European design experience. It supports your entire creative process so you can produce design work. You’ll explore fashion markets, selling seasons, and specific construction techniques, and will further develop your approach to the fashion design process.  Prerequisites: FDM 30161 or FDM 30171 or FDM 30181; and special approval.

30262 - Merchandising Planning and Buying (3 credits): 

You’ll study market sources, fashion buying techniques, assortment planning and allocation and quantitative calculations to equip you for a successful career in the fashion industry. Prerequisites: FDM 20263; and MATH 11009 or MATH 11010 or MATH 11012 or MATH 10041; and Fashion Merchandising major.

30260 - Product Development in the Fashion Industry (3 credits): 

You’ll spend time researching, planning, developing and presenting a fashion product line for an identified target market, considering prices, styling and timing. Prerequisites: FDM 20030 and Fashion Merchandising (FM) major.

35070 - The Luxury Market (3 credits): 

You’ll analyze how innovative, successful luxury organizations use integrated marketing strategies. You’ll cover topics including the key elements that have helped the ‘Made in Italy’ brand succeed, such as shared value creation through strong partnerships with suppliers, employees, clients and customers. You’ll also learn about how the recent evolution of the fashion and luxury industries is helping to create a more human-centric business model. 

You can enroll in other courses offered by the Kent State Florence semester program if they fit your schedule.

During the summer semester, you’ll need to enroll in at least 6 credit hours of on-site Florence coursework. Course offerings vary semester to semester depending on faculty availability and enrollment.

35589 - Italian Fashion and Culture (3 credits): ****REQUIRED**** 

You’ll examine the evolution of the fashion industry in Italy and discover more about the long tradition of craftsmanship, style and design that led to its post-war successes. As you study Italian history, creators, design and production processes, you’ll understand the evolving roles of key fashion centers like Florence, Rome and Milan. Alongside lectures, you’ll visits museums and cultural sites to understand Florence’s heritage and the role it has played in the development of Italian fashion.

45589 - Field Experience European Fashion Study Tour Florence (3 credits): ****REQUIRED**** 

You’ll explore and develop a critical awareness of fashion trends as you analyze social changes, new lifestyles, textile trends and the relationship between fashion and art. There will be a focus on responsible fashion throughout your learning experience. Your lectures and workshops will equip you with the tools to understand social and fashion trends and approach trips to major European fashion centers critically. You’ll visit design and fashion houses, workshops, museums and archives, art galleries, retail stores, trade shows and other inspiring areas of European art and culture.