Student modeling in the Threads fashion show Student modeling in the Threads fashion show Student modeling in the Threads fashion show

Fashion Merchandising & Design
MS

Fashion merchandising and design degree

Clothes may make the person – but we'll help make your career. In the M.S. in Fashion Merchandising and Design, you'll engage with all aspects of the industry, from concept development to retail distribution. And you won't have to wait to use cutting-edge technology – our apparel labs are some of the most advanced in the country.

AT A GLANCE

Degree Type
Master of Science (M.S.)
Format
On Campus
Credit Hours
30 Credit Hours
Go To Why This Program Program HighlightsAccelerated Program Careers & Outcomes

What will I learn in my fashion merchandising and design degree?

Fashion changes every day. Your education should be ahead of the trends. Whether your interest is design, technology or business in fashion, our graduate program will help launch your career.

Our program offers flexible and customizable curriculum in three concentrations to specialize your career, in:

  1. Human-Centered Design
  2. Fashion Technology
  3. Fashion Marketing

Hands-on research is the core of our fashion merchandising and design program. You won't just study developments after they happen – you'll work with manufacturers and retailers to bring them to life.

That may mean working with Cotton Incorporated on a virtual selling space, helping Lululemon test thermal fabrics with one of our sensor-equipped manikins or subjecting Polartec fabric through its paces while filming runners with infrared cameras.

The industry partnership and collaborations are integral parts of our program. It means that when you graduate, you'll have experiences that will make you stand out in the job market.

You'll gain much of that experience in on-campus labs featuring technology you'll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. We're the only university in Michigan to have a 3D body scanner and thermal manikins (adult and baby form). And we're the first public university in the Midwest to have a MakerBot 3D Printing Innovation Center.

As important as technology is, faculty connections are even more important. Our experienced faculty will prepare you for executive-level positions in apparel and textile development, merchandising. They're expertise can also prepare you to pursue a doctoral degree and teach at the college level.

Courses What Will Transfer DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

Fashion merchandising and design program highlights

As a student in the fashion merchandising and design program, you will have the opportunity to:

  • Solve real-world problems: Work directly with corporate clients at our Center for Merchandising and Design Technology.
  • Fast-track your education: Get a jump start on grad school with our accelerated master's program. Earn both your bachelor's degree and this master's degree in just five years.
  • Explore modern tools: Learn to use 3D printers, a 3D body scanner, thermal manikins, thermotron chamber and more in your industry/research projects.

Accelerated master's in fashion merchandising and design

Earn up to 50% of your master’s in fashion merchandising and design while you finish your bachelor’s degree. You'll save time and money by counting up to 15 credits toward both your bachelor's and master's degree.

By double-counting all 15 credits, domestic students save up to $4,155 and international students save up to $1,560.

    • Minimum GPA at time of application:
      • 3.3 GPA of at least 15 credits at CMU,
      • OR a 3.0 GPA with a 3.3 GPA in the last 15 FMD credits.
    • Requirements to maintain eligibility: average of 3.0 and no E's in double-counted courses.

    If your GPA is lower than a 3.0 or you have fewer than 15 credits at CMU, you can still be considered for admission if you demonstrate why you are prepared to be successful in graduate coursework.

    You must have a minimum of 60 undergraduate credit hours completed before starting coursework in the accelerated master's in fashion merchandising and design.

    To take full advantage of the program, make sure you apply for admission before taking any of the courses listed below, or the double-counted courses also listed below.

    • Apply for admission before taking these courses:
      • FMD 345 (double-counted as FMD 545), FMD 447 (double-counted as FMD 597), FMD 560, electives for their Fashion major
    • Up to 15 credits of the following courses can be double-counted:
      • FMD 510, FMD 545, FMD 546, FMD 547, FMD 555, FMD 556, FMD 560, FMD 565, FMD 597, FMD 604, FMD 641, FMD 697

    You can earn a maximum of 15 undergraduate credits to double-count towards your graduate degree. These courses will be used towards major or general electives.

    The M.S. in fashion merchandising requires 30 credits. You may double-count 15 credits before finishing your bachelor's degree, leaving 15 credits remaining to complete your master's degree. If you don't complete all 15 double-counted credits before you finish your bachelor's degree, you'll need to take more than 15 credits to reach the 30 credits required for the M.S. in fashion merchandising.

    Fashion careers

    Take a look in your closet — there's a good chance a CMU grad has something to do with the clothes in there. Our alums have gone on to careers at Eddie Bauer, Adidas, Carhartt, Kohl's and many other designers and retailers. You might also go on to pursue a PhD and eventually teach at a college or university.

    Career Projected Salary
    Purchasing Agent $79,830
    Fashion Designer $80,690
    College Professor/Instructor $83,980
    Product Development Engineer $91,010
    Thermal manikin and baby manikin in environmental chamber for study

    Manikin used to test comfortability of infant car seats

    Mohammad Iftekharul Alam, a May 2023 graduate of Fashion, Interior Design and Merchandising, studied how the shape and material of infant car seat covers impact the thermal comfort of infants in summer conditions. 

    Alam says, “We took this opportunity because the infant manikin is fairly new to the industry and a lack of research has been done on the thermal comfort of the infants while they travel inside the car during summer conditions.”  To read more, check out the full news article.

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