At the University of Rhode Island, the Fashion Merchandising and Design Department offers a major in either "textiles, fashion merchandising and design," or in textile marketing. Students in either major are encouraged to complete a double degree in a foreign language important in the fashion industry, like Italian or French. Southern New Hampshire University offers a two-year degree in fashion merchandising. Program graduates are employed by companies like Coach, Timberland and Macy's.
While most universities offer fashion design and merchandising as separate majors, at the University of Georgia and Florida State University, they are offered as single combined degrees. At UGA, the fashion merchandising major includes coursework in product development and design, as well as retail and merchandising. The Florida State University's fashion major is called Retail Merchandising and Product Development, and features a similar mix of both fashion retail and design study.
Kent State University in Ohio is home to the Fashion School, which offers two undergraduate degrees in fashion. For students interested in the design aspects of the profession, the major in fashion design might be appealing, while business-oriented fashion students can enroll in the fashion merchandising major. Southern Illinois University offers a similar combination of programs, which include specializations in fashion design, fashion styling and fashion merchandising. Unlike Kent State, however, SIU's programs are housed within the university's architecture school, which provides an interesting perspective on the art of fashion.
Colorado State University's offerings include majors in apparel design and production and merchandising. California State at Long Beach, meanwhile, offers the same two majors, but also offers a unique double major, in which students can learn about both the design and merchandising sides of the fashion industry. Washington State University also offers this same combination of majors, with no double major option. However, Washington students have the opportunity to showcase their creativity at the Annual Mom's Fashion Weekend Show.