Bachelor of Science
Fashion Merchandising & Retailing
Program Overview
Fashion has always been woven into the fabric of our society (pun intended), and it can bind generations or define cultures. Fashion can be practical and protective — or expressive and liberating — but few people consider how many career avenues the fashion industry can offer.
Fashion Merchandising & Retailing is a fast-paced, global industry in which business meets creativity. You’ll learn about the economics involved in buying and selling fashion merchandise, how to forecast future trends in the industry, and the strategies needed to display and sell merchandise effectively.
Choose to focus on either:
- Merchandise Buying
- Fashion Marketing & Visual Merchandising
“Johnson & Wales prepares me to make an impact on the world by connecting us to successful alumni in the industry,” explains Chase Menendez '22. Hear Chase’s story:
Internships
Throughout your education at JWU, you’ll experience fashion merchandising and retailing firsthand through internship opportunities, professional site visits with industry leaders, and the chance to participate in a variety of industry events.
Field Trips & Networking
This program also offers opportunities that are specifically geared for Fashion Merchandising & Retailing students, including studying at Florence School for the Arts or touring corporate headquarters in New York City.
Sample Fashion Courses
In addition to classes, free elective credit can be applied to a number of options such as Directed Experiential Education (DEE), internship, minor or study abroad. You are encouraged to contact an advisor before scheduling free elective credits.
For a full course listing, visit the JWU Catalog:
7 Questions with Fashion Merchandising Major Zahria Jones
Fashion Merchandising & Retailing major Zahria Jones '25 chose the major because she loves the concept of working around fashion and understanding the business side of it: “Something valuable I’ve learned so far about the business side of fashion is how much detail goes into simply going to buy merchandise from vendors. It is a lot more than picking which garment you like best.”
Featured Faculty
Associate Professor & Program Lead, Fashion Merchandising & Retailing
As one of the lead faculty in the Fashion Merchandising & Retailing program, Fisher focuses heavily on hands-on learning projects.
Professor
With a background in both costume design and academia, Jablon-Roberts is passionate about helping students discover the many and varied aspects of clothing, from textiles and sustainability to history and forecasting.
Learn the Business of Fashion
“This is definitely the place to be if you want to learn how to operate a business, and fashion is a business,” explains Associate Professor and Marketing Department Chair Diane McCrohan. In this video, McCrohan and fellow Associate Professor Pat Fisher discuss the major differentiators of JWU’s Fashion Merchandising & Retailing program.
Faculty Contact
Patricia Fisher
Associate Professor & Faculty Lead
Fashion Merchandising & Retailing Program, College of Business
401-598-1397
Email
