What the Degree Covers
Fashion Merchandising pairs creative coursework with the analytical side of retail: merchandise allocation and planning, international sourcing, branding and marketing, retail management and analytics, merchandising and buying.
The goal is an entry-level position in fashion retail management, merchandising or buying, with a path toward planning, sourcing and brand roles.
Degree Requirements
The B.S. in Fashion Merchandising totals 128 credits:
- 64 credits in the major
- 36 to 44 credits in the university core
- 22 to 30 credits of electives
The major’s requirements overlap closely with HPU’s marketing minor, so students can add it with little extra coursework. A Visual Merchandising Design minor and a fashion design certificate in pattern making, apparel construction and textile science are also available.
Key Fashion Merchandising Courses
- ART 1150: Digital Art and Design
- FMD 1100: Introduction to Fashion Merchandising
- FMD 2100: Social Constructs in Fashion
- FMD 3650: Digital Merchandising in the Fashion Industry
- MKT 3180: Marketing Communication
- VMD 2235: History of Fashion
- VMD 2300: Materials and Textiles
- VMD 3200: Visual Merchandising Studio II
Read full course descriptions in the HPU Undergraduate Bulletin.
A Required Industry Internship
Every Fashion Merchandising student completes an internship at a fashion, wholesale or retail company before graduating. It is part of the degree, not an add-on.
Students have interned at CHANEL, Calvin Klein, Kate Spade, Neiman Marcus, Tory Burch, Restoration Hardware and Victoria’s Secret, and in product development at Interloop.
Working the High Point Market
At the biannual International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, students work in merchandising and sales positions and in visual merchandising and showroom design and setup.
Trips to New York put students in front of industry professionals in their offices and showrooms.
Japan, Spain and Florence
Maymester courses in Japan and Spain examine how each culture shapes fashion and design.
In the spring of junior year, students can earn certificates in fashion merchandising specializations at the Lorenzo de’ Medici Institute in Florence.
Research and Creative Work
The Council on Undergraduate Research recognized HPU with its 2025 Campus-Wide Award for Undergraduate Research Accomplishments. At the 14th annual High-PURCS symposium in April 2026, more than 410 undergraduates worked with 88 faculty mentors to deliver 260 presentations across 40 disciplines.
Learning From Industry Leaders
Designers including Alexander Julian and Stuart Weitzman have spoken on campus. Fashion Forward, the student group, runs a publication and pop-up fashion shows that give students a place to test merchandising and styling ideas.
Explore Fashion Merchandising at High Point University
The fashion merchandising curriculum at High Point University combines retail analytics, design coursework and a required internship.
Accreditation & Awards Careers & Student Organizations
Questions about the program? Email Jane Nichols at [email protected].