Curriculum
The following are the required courses for this major. Students who attend Orientation and meet with the Education Department can obtain personalized academic counseling to complete the program. Transfer credits, changes in curriculum, and other factors may affect the academic plan for individual students. The FIDM Education Department can provide additional information.
Associate of Arts, Professional Designation (A.A.)
BUAD 2850
Entrepreneurship
UNITS: 3
This course explores what it takes to launch a new venture, both as an entrepreneur and an employee. Students develop a business plan, including identifying opportunities and establishing objectives, matching customer profile to site locations, analyzing competitors practices, and developing a competitive marketing mix. Students also learn the necessary business establishment requirements and financial projections to secure capital or financing to initiate their business venture.
Prerequisites: COSM 2380, COSM 2450, SMED 2750
MMKT 1650
Consumer Behavior and Research
UNITS: 3
A course that examines the sociological and psychological variables that shape the consumer decision-making process. Students explore a variety of methodology and research techniques for understanding consumers wants and needs, attitude formation, purchase motivation, and consideration, as well as maximizing satisfaction and consumer loyalty.
Prerequisites: MMKT 1550, MMKT 2880
MMKT 2080
Brand Management Strategies
UNITS: 3
Students gain an understanding of basic brand principles through exposure to classic and contemporary branding strategies, applications, and case studies. Students explore key brand identity elements, positioning and leveraging brand equity.
MMKT 2420
Marketing Communications
UNITS: 3
Through the written word marketers evoke images that resonate with the target market. This course explores traditional and new media communication methodology. Students acquire a wide variety of writing skills to effectively communicate across traditional and new media platforms.
MMKT 2460
Global Marketing
UNITS: 3
Students gain insights on how different social cultures impact consumer behavior, product preference, the retail environment, and marketing communication. The course draws on case studies and competitive analysis to develop an understanding of best practices for success within the global marketplace. Emphasis is placed on the impact of digital marketing and sales platforms. Prerequisites: MMKT 2080, MMKT 2420
MMKT 2780
Integrated Marketing Communications
UNITS: 3
In this advanced marketing course, students explore creative message strategies including: traditional and new media, public relations, and other innovative means of communication. Applying these techniques, they create an effective integrated marketing communications campaign that meets the challenges posed by promoting in a sophisticated, rapidly evolving marketplace. Prerequisites: COSM 2250, SMED 2880, MMKT 2420
MRCH 1820
Trend Analysis & Styling Concepts
UNITS: 3
This course is an introduction to the methodology of tracking and forecasting trends in the fashion industry. Students examine how world economy, popular culture, visual arts, runway collections, and retail and street fashion combine in varying degrees to shape current styles and determine future trends. A culminating styling project challenges them to synthesize what they have learned in an informed prediction about future trends for a specific brand and target market. Prerequisite: MRCH 1420, TSCI 1500
MRCH 1950
Excel for Business Applications
UNITS: 3
This course is designed to assist the student in developing a facility with electronic spreadsheets in support of effective business management. Students develop a working knowledge of computerized spreadsheet and chart functions as applied to business management concepts with related mathematical formulas and operational requirements.
MRCH 2760
Advanced Business Applications
UNITS: 3
This advanced technology course prepares students for a variety of advanced Excel applications as required in todays business sector.
Prerequisite: MRCH 2250
MRCH 2770
Case Studies in Retail Strategies
UNITS: 3
In this capstone course, students analyze the current business practices of a prominent retailer with special attention to the organizations present strengths and weaknesses, the challenges it faces in todays global economic climate, and the impact of current trends in consumer purchasing behaviors on its financial health. Through research, the student assesses the organizations current value and makes informed recommendations for maximizing future growth. Prerequisite: SMED 2750
MRCH 2810
Sustainability & Social Responsibility
UNITS: 3
Introduces students to the concept, history, and science of sustainability and its relationship to the business of ethical fashion. Coursework topics focus on the development of eco-friendly materials, responsible manufacturing and distribution, and how companies are integrating social responsibility for the environment into their corporate philosophy and business practices. Prerequisites: COSM 2380, MMKT 2460, MPDV 2400, MRCH 2420, SMED 2750
SMED 2100
New Media Strategy
UNITS: 3
Students learn how to identify a target new media audience using profiling techniques, technographics and social computing. Through case studies and lectures students understand how to develop a strategy to effectively implement best new media practices into a business or brand.
Prerequisites: MMKT 2080, MMKT 2080
SMED 2750
E-Commerce Marketing
UNITS: 3
Students learn how to create a successful online business. Through class lecture and industry speakers students learn how to navigate e-commerce applications including document automation, domestic and international payment systems, online banking, and shopping cart software.
Prerequisites: MRCH 1950, MPDV 2820
SMED 2850
Marketing Analytics
UNITS: 3
This practical class looks at the application of data science to solve marketing problems. Students will learn to parse both big data and internal analytics to understand how to use both to improve KPI reporting, demonstrate return on investment and create effective marketing campaigns. The objective of this course is to understand the relationship of analytics to decision making and how to tell the story the who, what, how and why of the data. Prerequisite: MRCH 1950
SMED 2880
New Media Public Relations
UNITS: 3
Students use practical and hands-on experience to develop an understanding of the role new media plays in current public relations. Students gain practical knowledge of these techniques by developing and presenting individual online campaigns in class. Prerequisite: SMED 1700
TSCI 1500
Textiles & Product Analysis
UNITS: 3
Students in this course identify and select fabrics and fabric finishes to fulfill specific customer needs relating to garment structure, design aesthetic, performance, and care across divergent target market groups. Students also master the precise textile terminology essential to effective communication with designers, manufacturers, and marketers. Prerequisite: MRCH 1100
Total Units of Credit: 45
The Fashion Marketing option is available on the Los Angeles campus only.
Note: The Merchandising & Marketing degree is also known as a degree in Fashion Merchandising.