By Amy Wells
The Internet has revolutionized education. Distance and online learning is one of the fastest growing segments of the educational field. If you are thinking of attending fashion school for a fashion merchandising degree or certificate, you may want to consider an online fashion design program. These online programs have evolved and are more comprehensive and sophisticated to meet student needs.
As a fashion merchandising student, you'll learn the nuts and bolts of fashion design and marketing. You'll study the whole cycle of fashion creation, concentrating primarily on the manufacturing, buying, selling, and promotion of items to retail and other outlets. You'll also learn about the actual textiles that create fabrics, and their manufacture.
There are many advantages to studying fashion merchandising online. You will have a more flexible schedule, and can study around your job, or other responsibilities. A great way to get even more prepared for working in the field is to take a fashion-related job while you are attending school online. This will help you get real world fashion experience that can enrich your online education, and help qualify you for your fashion merchandising career once you graduate.
There are a number of schools that offer online programs. Many respectable and respected fashion campuses also offer an online component. Its better to enroll in an online program that is well-known and has a presence in the fashion industry. Many schools offer a two year associates degree or a certificate, and some schools offer a four year bachelor degree. Whatever degree program you choose, you want to make sure that your online program has the appropriate accreditation, so that when you graduate, your achievement has merit in the industry, and is recognizable.
Another factor to consider is the job placement assistance offered after you graduate. Most schools will have statistics regarding the number of graduates working the fashion merchandising industry. Before you enroll, you should review the school's job assistance program, and make sure it is comprehensive as possible.
A fashion merchandising career is one of the most flexible and varied in the fashion industry. Once you have achieved your diploma or certification, there are a wide variety of positions available. You could work in retail as store manager, or store owner. You could also work as a fashion buyer, merchandiser, fashion event planner, and that is just a small number of the variety of positions available.
If you live too far away to attend an on campus fashion school, or need more flexibility with your schedule, an online fashion merchandising program may be a good fit for you. More and more schools are catering to the needs of their students by offering online degree and certificate studies, and there are now a number to choose from. Your fashion career could be just a few mouse clicks away.