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Fashion Merchandising

Also offered as: Minor

Combine creativity with the strategy that moves fashion from idea to customer. EIU's Fashion Merchandising B.S. blends apparel development, visual merchandising and design foundations with retail math, e-commerce, forecasting, sustainability and hands-on industry experience.

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Fashion Merchandising

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Degree Level
Bachelor of Science
Delivery
In Person
Time to Degree
8 Semesters
Credit Hours
120 Total, 56 in Major
Careers
Designers, Managers
Fashion Merchandising students at EIU

Why Study Fashion Merchandising at EIU?

  • Study both the creative and business sides of fashion in one interdisciplinary degree
  • Learn apparel construction, product development and visual merchandising alongside retail math, e-commerce and forecasting
  • Examine fashion through cultural, historical, consumer and sustainability perspectives
  • Shape electives or a complementary minor around career interests such as buying, retail management, entrepreneurship or styling
  • Work closely with faculty who can help connect your interests with internships and professional goals
See it for yourself Schedule a Visit
"From the moment I stepped onto campus, every professor, staff member, and student I encountered treated me with such genuine warmth and respect, as if I were already a valued member of their community. Despite not having officially joined the EIU family, I immediately felt a deep sense of belonging. The atmosphere was one of comfort and inclusivity, where everyone seemed genuinely invested in my success and well-being."
Abbey McCord
Fashion Merchandising | Class of 2025
Abbey McCord, Fashion Merchandising at EIU

Hands-On Experience

  • Complete an individually planned internship related to your professional goals
  • Apply skills through apparel construction, product-development and visual-merchandising coursework
  • Build leadership and industry connections through the Merchandising and Apparel Design Association
  • Participate in the annual School of Art + Design trip, exhibitions, student art sales and visiting-professional programs
  • Pursue study abroad and student collaboration grants that connect fashion with culture, business and design
Hands-On Experience, Fashion Merchandising students at EIU

What You'll Learn

Fashion merchandising is the business of understanding what people want, how products are developed and how fashion reaches the right customer. EIU's program combines creative skills with the analytical and strategic side of the industry.

View in Catalog
$131,273
Median Salary for These CareersMedian salaryThe median is the middle value: half of the people counted earn more and half earn less. It is an estimate for a typical graduate, not a promise of what you will earn. Pay varies by employer, location, experience and the specific job.

Career OutcomesCareer outcomesThese are example careers that graduates of this program often pursue, taken from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET occupation list. They are examples, not job guarantees, and many graduates work in other fields.Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor

  • Fashion Designers
  • Marketing Managers
  • Sales Managers
  • Market Research Analysts & Marketing…
  • Search Marketing Strategists
  • First-Line Supervisors of Retail…
  • Web & Digital Interface Designers
  • Video Game Designers
  • Art, Drama, & Music Teachers,…

Career Insights

Job Outlook ★ Bright Outlook Bright OutlookBright Outlook careers are ones with a promising future. They're expected to grow quickly, to have lots of job openings, or to be brand new and emerging. A career earns the label if it meets any one of these: projected growth of 5% or more, at least 75,000 projected openings, or New & Emerging status.
Grow Rapidly: Jobs in this career are expected to grow 5% or more over the next several years, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics projections.
Openings: Employers are expected to need at least 75,000 people for this career over the next several years. That count includes new jobs created by growth and spots opened when workers move on.Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor Grow Rapidly / Openings
Preparation Needed Considerable (4/5)Job Zone 4: Considerable preparationMost of these careers require a four-year bachelor's degree. They also tend to build on several years of work-related experience or training.Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor
Personality Fit EnterprisingEnterprising interest typeYou like business and leadership. This type of work includes managing, selling, marketing and leading, including in politics or law.Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor

Connect With Us

Katie Shaw
Professor - Fashion Merchandising & Graduate Coordinator - MA in Studio Art
kashaw2@eiu.edu
2812 Doudna Fine Arts Center
217-581-6410
Katie Shaw Message Katie

Message Katie

or email kashaw2@eiu.edu directly
Deborah Reifsteck
Senior Instructor of Fashion Merchandising; Academic Advisor for Art + Design
ddreifsteck@eiu.edu
1917 Doudna Fine Arts Center
Deborah Reifsteck Message Deborah

Message Deborah

or email ddreifsteck@eiu.edu directly
Billy Panther
Head of Panther Pride
Old Main
217-581-2223
Billy the Panther Message Billy

Message Billy

or email billy@eiu.edu directly

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