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Management: Fashion Merchandising (Bachelor of Professional Studies)
The Fashion Merchandising specialization emphasizes the business functions of promoting and selling fashions in the retail sector
and coordinating the design, production and retail processes in the manufacturing sector of the fashion industry. This specialization
combines fashion studies, and business/career studies to prepare graduates for entry-level employment in fashion merchandising.
The Fashion Merchandising Program features several unique opportunities for students to explore the many facets of the
fashion industry, including trips to New York City for seminars with fashion industry professionals. A fashion tour class is offered
annually in January, during which students visit an array of small and large fashion sites, which may include design rooms,
showrooms, retailers and museum fashion exhibits.
Each year the department presents a professional-caliber juried fashion show that captures the energy and excitement of the
fashion industry. The show is a culmination of an entire year of illustrating, draping, patternmaking, construction of garments, and
show planning. Students also complete a three-credit-hour fashion internship where they have the opportunity to experience the
fashion industry up close.
A New York City semester is an option for qualifying students, during which they are enrolled in Cazenovia College and taking
their senior-level courses in New York City, including internship, senior collection research and planning, and an elective class.
Options are also available for study-abroad programs.
This program is fully accredited through the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education. Visit
http://www.cazenovia.edu/about/institutional-research/accreditation to learn more about our accreditation status and to review the
2011-2012 Annual Report to IACBE.
Goals:
• Provide students with a liberal arts education that combines general education courses with fashion and business courses;
• Prepare students for fashion industry careers in fashion production, manufacturing and/or sales;
• Provide students with career-focused academic experiences through various internships and other off-campus classes and
seminars and co-curricular experiences.
Facilities:
The Fashion Design program is housed in South Campus B, a few blocks from the main campus. This facility includes:
• Sewing/design laboratory including domestic and industrial sewing machines, pattern cutting tables and other design
equipment.
• A CAD lab with dual platform Macintosh computers installed with fashion industry software including OptiTex
patternmaking and NEDGraphics presentations, as well as hardware such as scanners, and printers capable of
printing up to 44" fabric.
• A material resource room.
• Lecture and seminar rooms.
Special Features:
• Fashion Tour Class: The week-long Fashion Tour in New York City is offered each spring semester to provide students with an
overview of the fashion industry and to prepare them for internships. Students attend seminars with management personnel at
fashion businesses including showrooms, design rooms, retailers, industry associations and museums. In addition, students tour
the famous garment district for fabric and trim sourcing during a four-day field trip to New York.
• Fashion Show: Each April the Fashion Studies Department sponsors a professional caliber juried fashion show that captures the
energy and excitement of the fashion industry. The show gives students an opportunity to display their designs to an audience of
friends, family, and industry professionals. Students may participate in the planning and production of the show through the
Fashion Promotion class. The show is the culmination of an entire year of illustrating, patternmaking and construction of
garments, and show planning by all fashion students.
• Senior Collection/Senior Project: All students are required to complete a senior project in which they write a major research paper.
Merchandising students focus on the analysis of a business topic and design students also create the concept and garments for
an original fashion collection. This highly creative project is the culmination of four years of education in the Fashion Studies
Department.
Internship Preparation:
Students must complete a required number of credits in their program and demonstrate knowledge-based and social
competency to qualify for internship placement
The Fashion Tour class provides students with an overview of the fashion industry and prepares them for internships
Faculty and staff in the Fashion Studies Program, College Career and Internship offices work with students to help define their
goals, explore internship options, and complete the application process
Visit http://www.cazenovia.edu/academics/divisions-and-majors/business-and-management/management-fashionmerchandising/fashion
for information on the semester in New York City program and local and regional internship sites.
Academic Catalog | Cazenovia College | www.cazenovia.edu 101