Apparel and Textiles/Retail Merchandising

Students majoring in apparel and textiles at North Dakota State University can make themselves marketable for a variety of careers in retailing fields by following the retail merchandising curriculum. Retail merchandising is such a part of everyday life people often take it for granted, but it is one of the fastest changing, most dynamic industries in the world today.

Background Information

New retailing approaches have emerged as old formats have vanished. Sears catalog is gone but in its place are category specialists such as Best Buy, Home Depot, Blockbuster and Office Max. We have the Home Shopping Network and Internet shopping. Twenty-five years ago these major retail firms and formats were just a dream in an entrepreneur’s head. Today retailers use state-of-the-art computers and communication technologies to respond quickly to changing consumer demand. Changes in the retail industry have brought about many new and varied career opportunities world wide for college graduates interested in this highly competitive, exciting and profitable field.

Career Opportunities

Retailers undertake a wide variety of activities. They raise capital from financial institutions; purchase goods and services; develop accounting and management information systems to control operations; manage warehouses and distribution systems; design and develop new products; predict and act upon fashion trends; and undertake activities such as advertising, promotion, sales force management and market research. Thus, retail firms world wide offer opportunities for people with a wide variety of skills and education.

 

Graduates of the retail merchandising program hold positions such as buyers, store managers, visual merchandise directors, regional managers, store owners, interior merchandisers, account executives  and fashion coordinators with such companies as Eddie Bauer, Herbergers, Vanity, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, GAP, Laurie’s, The Limited, Scheels, and J.C. Penney, to name a few. Many stores limit their management positions to employees who have completed a four‑year degree. Often, recruiters consider the degree a minimum requirement for a management and/or buying career.

The Program

Positions available in the apparel and textiles retail field are diverse; therefore, this option provides you with an educational background which can fit into both short- and long-range career goals. The course of study includes classes on buying and merchandising, global retailing, retail market management, merchandise promotion, financial management and control, fashion economics, human behavior related to apparel selection decisions and the analysis of textile and apparel products using textile testing equipment.

Students choose to focus on the area of textile product or interior merchandising. The textile product merchandising focus includes courses such as sewn product manufacturing and analysis, history of fashion, product development, dress and human behavior. The interior merchandising focus includes courses such as history of interiors, design process and interior graphics; knowledge needed to enter retail interior careers.

A minor in business administration provides a general business background which prepares students for in-depth work in the retail merchandising field of study. An overall 2.5 grade point average is required to take business administration courses. A very strong general education
 curriculum assists students in learning critical thinking skills. Computer technology is an intrinsic aspect of the program.

Our Contacts Beyond College Walls

Special features of NDSU’s retail merchandising program which help prepare students for a retail merchandising career include: (1) acquiring sales and/or merchandising experience and earning college credit through summer retail internships, (2) participating in study tours to national or international destinations while earning college credit, and (3) obtaining a minor in business administration while earning the B.S. degree in apparel and textiles. Another choice some students make is to attend the world renowned Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City for a summer or a year or take advantage of international study abroad experiences made available by NDSU’s study abroad programs.

 

Through the above mentioned experiences students gain valuable sales and/or retail merchandising experience before graduation while a faculty member helps them gain insight into store functions. Students are encouraged to work in retail stores part-time while in school because learning takes place on the job as well as in the classroom. The study tours expose students to the fast pace of the constantly changing merchandising world.

 

The major benefits of a retail merchandising degree in this very competitive field are that our graduates have a better knowledge and understanding of: (1) all textile products and how these products can be expected to perform, (2) product development, (3) how fashion trends evolve, (4) the impact consumer behavior has on the fashion and interiors industry and (5) careers in the management and/or buying of soft goods and interior products.

Co-Curricular Activities

The Fashion, Apparel and Business Organization (FABO), brings in speakers and organizes field trips and other activities to provide interaction with professionals. Other organizations in the college and University provide further opportunities for leadership development and contact with professionals.

Scholarships

A limited number of scholarships are designated for students majoring in the department; additional scholarships are available to all college majors. For further information on scholarships, contact the Director of Student Services and Advancement.

Transfer Students

A suggested curriculum is provided; other combinations are possible. Students who plan to transfer to NDSU should contact the Department of Apparel, Design, Facility and Hospitality Management for guidance in selecting courses before or during the first year.

Contact Information

Director of Student Services and Development
College of Human Development and Education

North Dakota State University
Evelyn Morrow Lebedeff Hall 255D
Fargo, ND 58105

Tel: (701) 231-7071
Fax: (701) 231-7174
Email:Nancy.Gress@ndsu.edu
Web: www.ndsu.edu/hde

or

Department of Apparel, Design, Facility and Hospitality Management
College of Human Development and Education
North Dakota State University
Evelyn Morrow Lebedeff Hall 178
Fargo, ND 58105

Tel: (701) 231-8604 or (701) 231-7351
Fax: (701) 231-5273
Email: Holly.Bastow-Shoop@ndsu.edu
Web: www.ndsu.edu/adfhm

Office of Admission

North Dakota State University
124 Ceres Hall
Fargo, ND 58105

Tel: (701) 231-8643
Fax: (701) 231-8802
Email: NDSU.Admission@ndsu.edu
Web: http://www.ndsu.edu/prospective/students/

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