Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
Apparel Merchandising and Product Development degree program:
Students learn to select apparel based on quality, style and performance, in Apparel Merchandising and Product Development. Techniques are gained to allow for optimizing merchandising range from strategic planning, buying, layout, and sales. Developing private label items starting with customer profiles, trend analysis, fabric and color selection, style drawings, and presentation of product lines are all part of product development. The product development teams of retail corporations have designers, merchandisers and the manufacturers working together.
Apparel Merchandising and Product Development degree program:
Entry-level careers in the global, highly diversified fashion industry can be acquired by entering the Apparel Merchandising and Product Development degree program. Modern merchandising concepts that operate in a consumer-driven textile/apparel/retail complex are of the curriculum focus.
The curriculum includes courses in:
- Textiles and marketing
- Methods of evaluation and price control
- Computer design
- Product development
- Sourcing
- Worldwide issues and their impact
- Textile
- Apparel industries
The mandatory courses offered at the College of Business have been designed with the intent to provide a solid foundation in retail practices and management. Elective courses are offered so that students may have the option of choosing areas to focus on for more in-depth study, or broadening their knowledge of additional fields. BGSU students gain a diverse background through general education courses such as math, natural science, social science, arts and cultural diversity.
To obtain a BA, students must show competence in the process and mathematical calculations they will need to plan and manage profits and inventories in the textile and apparel business. They must also demonstrate that the required technical skills that are involved in the apparel product development processes are applied. Realization of the impact technology has on the fashion industry and the ability to apply that to product development and merchandising, selection of products, and production are all aspects of great importance as well. The relationship between consumer's behavior and the culture from which they come, must be understood if success is to be achieved in the fashion business.
