FASHION Merchandising
& Design
Programs & Degrees
At MCC you can choose to specialize in either Fashion Merchandising, Fashion Design or Fashion Retailing. Core courses prepare you for the nuances of the fashion industry—from the fashion vocabulary to business theory.
At completion of our Associates of Applied Science degree you are ready to begin your career or transfer to university and complete your Bachelor’s degree. We work with our students to find what path they want to pursue.
Fashion Merchandising and Design AAS
The Associate in Applied Science in Fashion Merchandising and Design prepares students for entry-level positions in fashion merchandising. Students acquire a basic knowledge of textiles, clothing construction, display and visual merchandising, and the fashion industry. The Fashion Merchandising program offers opportunities for students to select courses that reflect a special area of interest such as business management, advertising, or buying. The Fashion Design track offers opportunities for students to select courses that are in their field of study or design, illustration and clothing construction.
Graduates may find employment in assistant buying, display and visual merchandising, retail department or store management, forecasting, fashion writing or consulting, design or other aspects of the fashion industry.
An integral part of the program is an internship which provides on-the-job experience under the supervision of a professional in the retail field.
Image Consultant Certificate of Completion (30 credits)
The Certificate of Completion in Image Consulting is designed for students with an interest in Image Consulting. Students learn clothing strategies for all figure types, appropriate dress for all occasions, nutrition, and interpersonal skills. They develop the ability to advise clients and groups for an acceptable image. Completers of this certificate will have interned with a nationally certified Image Consultant through the Association of Image Consultants, Internationally (AICI), for a minimum of 480 hours. They may then apply for accreditation from AICI.
Theatre Costume Design Certificate of Completion (30 credits)
The Certificate of Completion in Costume Design and Production is designed for students with an interest in designing and sewing costumes for dance, opera, theatre or living history players. Students learn to design and sew costumes and accessorize for period productions. They learn to manage the costume wardrobe. Completers of this certificate will have interned with either college or community stage production crews for a minimum of 240 hours.
Retail Sales Manager Certificate of Completion (30 credits)
The Certificate of Completion in Retail Sales Management is designed for students with an interest in retail store management. Students learn about apparel and retail store management, merchandising, salesmanship, customer service, basic computer systems, and human resources. They develop the ability to train and manage personnel in a store, display and merchandise their areas or store, effectively train personnel to sell the merchandise, and manage stocks and profitability. Completers of this certificate will have interned with a store manager for a minimum of 240 hours. Career placement would be at the Department or Area Sales Manager position.
Alteration Specialist Certificate of Completion (22 credits)
The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Alteration Specialist is designed to prepare students for employment in alterations for the apparel industry. Students will develop skills in advanced clothing construction, tailoring and couture techniques appropriate for a variety of fabrics and designs, and fitting techniques for all types of apparel. They will develop the ability to select appropriate fashion fabrics, interfacing, and lining materials for specific items of apparel. Students completing this certificate will be able to alter and repair ready-make garments for a profession. Students completing the certificate can expect entry-level positions in the alteration profession for retailers, dry-cleaning industry or their own alteration establishment.
Study Tours
Las Vegas “MAGIC” Market Show
The first weekend in February, this three day tour reviews the many markets for buyers and wholesalers in men’s, women’s and children’s wear, shoes, active and accessories. Students also attend the global marketplace with representatives from every continent. Retailing via Casino resorts and the “The LV Strip” Malls offers students a unique look at an unusual luxury market. Students also have the opportunity to view stage costuming and costume wardrobes with the designers. The seminars are conducted by industry professionals.
New York Fashion Industry Tour
Sunday before Memorial Day week our tour of the New York fashion industry begins with an orientation from our Times Square hotel. Students start Monday morning with a city tour and begin their fashion seminars that afternoon. Seminars include a variety of professions within the fashion business and students receive an “insiders” look at these careers. Some seminars that students may attend are:
- WWD trade magazine fashion editor
- Visual Display director
- Fabric and Fashion Designers
- Accessory manufacturing
- Vintage apparel store and costume house
- Historic Costume collections at the Metropolitan Museum
- FIT and its Fashion Achieves
- National Sales offices of major manufacturers
- Boutique operations
- Fashion photograpy
- Advertising and Marketing firm
- Audience of The View television program
The tour also enjoys a group dinner at a famous restaurant and the students can purchase half price tickets for Broadway plays just steps from the hotel. The tour allows a good amount of free time for visiting historic sites, like the Statue of Liberty; attending entertainment venues, like MTV’s studio shows: and shopping, the most asked for venue!
Future England/France Study Tour - Winter Break 2010
Week 1: English Fashion: From Historic Collections to Teen Trendsetter
A one week tour of the museum historic collections from London, including the V & A and British Museum; Bath, and Yorkshire will set the stage for discovering how England became the fashion capital for “twenty-somethings”. See Princess Diana’s wardrobe at Kennsington Palace and the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London. We include a few free days for taking advantage of the January sales. Winter is a wonderful time to see England--few tourists and travel is half as much as summer!
Week 2: French Fabric and Fashions
A one week tour of the historic museums that house the remnants of original fabric mills of Nimes and Avinongn. See where and how denim began, how silks and calicos left Marseilles, and a high-speed train ride to Paris to view modern day fashion manufacturing and Haute Couture houses and the Musee de Textiles. January is sale month in Europe so save your dollars to exchange for Euros.
Dallas Market Show
During October 21-25, you will attend the Dallas World Trade Fashion Market, tour JC Penney's and Neiman Marcus' corporate offices, view the Balenciaga gallery at SMU, and tour various apparel manufacturers in the Dallas Metropolitan Area.
Contact MCC for more information on tour prices and reservations. Students must be 18 years of age at the time of travel.
Transfer Options
Our goal, for those interested in transferring to university for a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, Merchandising or Retailing, is to assist the student in locating an appropriate university for their chosen career.
Instate Transfer
- ASU – East Campus Chandler, AZ
MCC’s transfer agreement with ASU East allows students with an AAS in Fashion
Merchandising & Design to begin at Junior level and complete their Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management.Operations Management is a highly sought after degree for use in any business or managerial setting. It is especially useful for store management and the buying or corporate offices. You may transfer with either track 1, 2 or 3.
http://www.asu.edu/
- University of Arizona Tucson, AZ
The U of A offers one of the top retailing schools in the nation. This is a tier one university. The Terry Lundgren School of Retailing is a premere center for consumer and retail research. Named for U of A graduate Terry Lundgren, current CEO of Federated Stores, the school of retailing must be applied for in the sophomore year. MCC’s Fashion Merchandising track is transferable and we are currently working on an articulation agreement between the schools.
Students will earn a Bachelor of Science in Retailing. The university also grants masters and doctorates degrees in this field. Every major retailer interviews on campus and offers internships.
http://www.arizona.edu/
- Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ
NAU offers a Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising. The MCC Fashion Merchandising degree track transfers to the university. We are currently working on a transfer agreement.
Out of State
MCC has ongoing relationships with many private and public universities that have Retailing, Fashion Merchandising and Fashion Design majors. Faculty actively work with universities to make sure that the optimum credits transfer. A database for university fashion degrees is being completed for students use. MCC students continue to rank high in transferability. MCC's Associate degree transfers to over 100 colleges and universities within the USA and internationally. Currently, our graduates are attending Parson's, FIT, Rhode Island School of Design, Savanah College of Art, Woodbury, Kentucky State, LIM, Texas Tech, Colorado State University, Seattle Pacific University, and more.
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankindex_brief.php
Please contact Fashion Merchandising & Design for comments or corrections email phone: 480-461-7140
