This certificate provides students with the skills to create effective visual displays for the purpose of engaging customers and promoting sales. Coursework focuses on the visual merchandising of fashion goods, including apparel, accessories, and home goods; however, principles covered may be applied to additional merchandising and promotional scenarios. Students will apply elements and principles of design in creating visually effective displays for store fronts, windows or display cases, walls, and more through digital mockups, actual window installations, and in industry settings. Ideal for students of fashion, art, entrepreneurship, retail management, and marketing, but open to all majors.
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all certificate courses, which must be completed within four academic years, as well as maintain good academic standing. At least nine credit hours must be completed at NIU, 3 of which must be upper division. Fashion Merchandising certificate coursework may also be applied toward the Bachelor of Science degree or minor in Fashion Merchandising. Most courses are offered once a year, so schedule planning with the help of an advisor is recommended. Note that FSMD 152, FSMD 472, and FSMD 475 have corequisites or prerequisites that are not listed among the certificate courses. FSMD 475 does not count toward the two elective requirements for the B. S. in Fashion Merchandising.
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