At a glance:

The Fashion Merchandising program at the University of Tennessee at Martin provides students a foundation to pursue a successful career in the many job opportunities in the fashion industry.  Our concentration not only allows the student to learn about the various aspects of the fashion industry but also gives them an opportunity to take courses that meet their specific career goals.  Students enroll in a variety of required courses that help them develop skills and knowledge through active learning in the classroom through assignments, team projects, laboratory experiences, on-site field trips and study tours.  Upon graduation students are employed in a variety of jobs from wholesale and retail to corporate headquarters in many metropolitan areas, and small and large cities across the United States.

Why should a student choose the program at UT Martin?

• The fashion merchandising program gives students an opportunity to shape their course of study to meet specific goals.
• The faculty has an individualized focus, with one-on-one advising in order to give students an opportunity to explore career possibilities and create plans of action to personalize the required curriculum to meet the varied needs of the student.
• The small class sizes allow faculty to provide individualized instruction and provide an atmosphere for active learning.

Are there any special opportunities available such as internships, global travel, etc?

• Yearly, fashion merchandising travel study tours are offered to allow students to be exposed to the fashion industry in the many fashion centers of the U. S. including Atlanta, Chicago, and New York City.
• Students have the opportunity during their Senior Year to perform a field experience in a wholesale or retail setting based on their career goals. Locations vary from small to large cities with retail specialty stores, department stores, and regional wholesale markets.
• Students become involved in many fashion merchandising related activities including creating fashion displays in local retail stores and producing fashion shows.

What can a student do after graduation – graduate school, possible careers?

• Students can choose from a variety of careers depending on their focus, including:  retail manager, fashion buyer, fashion representative, fashion consultant, sales representative, and visual merchandiser.
• Students can choose to go to graduate school, studying in such areas as business and retail management

What kind of student organizations, clubs, or honor societies can a student join?

The Fashion Merchandising Association (FMA) offers the student studying fashion an opportunity to interact with fellow students in many projects and activities.

• Each year FMA selects a community organization in which to work with to provide a service related to textiles and apparel.

FMA participates in various campus activities to provide information about the organization and fashion in general to various audiences at senior preview day, college fall festival, and first year experience welcome week.




What kind of facilities and equipment will be available to the student?

• Our classrooms are furnished with the latest audio visual equipment (computers, projectors, image capturing equipment, DVD players) to facilitate effective teaching and learning, for presentations, demonstrations and a variety of hands-on activities.
• Laboratories include textile testing equipment, clothing construction equipment, mannequins, dress forms, visual display props, a historic costume collection, an international costume collection, and a textiles library.



Does the faculty specialize in certain areas?

• Faculty members in family and consumer sciences have educational credentials and research interests in their particular specialized fields of teaching.

Teaching                                                                              Research
Retail Merchandising                                                      Clothing and Adornment in World Cultures
Visual Merchandising                                                     International Textiles and Apparel Manufacturing
Fashion Selection and Personal Image                    19TH Century Fashions
Clothing and World Cultures                                       Status of Women in Developing Countries





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