What Are Some of the Different Types of Fashion Degrees?

Are you passionate about fashion and want to make a career out of it? Pursuing a fashion degree can be the critical pathway to developing your skills and knowledge in this exciting and opportunity-filled industry.

LIM students in materials lab

But with so many different types of fashion degrees and majors out there, it can be difficult to know which path to take. In this piece, we'll explore some of the different types of fashion degrees available.

Learn about Fashion Degrees at LIM

Fashion Merchandising Degree
If you're interested in fashion, but not necessarily in actually designing clothes, a fashion merchandising degree might be right for you. A fashion merchandising degree focuses on the entire business side of fashion from start to finish, including developing the product and getting it to customers, along with marketing, sales, and management. Students with a fashion merchandising degree combine their creative flair with analytical skills and business knowledge and can go on to become fashion buyers, product developers, fashion stylists, sustainability specialists, retail planners, and much more.


Fashion Marketing Degree
Fashion Marketing is about how fashion companies define their brands and promote and sell products and services to customers. In a fashion marketing degree program, you may learn how to create promotional strategies to build awareness of your fashion brand, analyze target markets, and develop advertising, PR, and communications plans for social media and other marketing platforms. With a fashion marketing degree, some of the career paths you can pursue include social media management, public relations, market research, advertising, publishing, and brand management.

Fashion Management Degree
A fashion management degree is a good choice for those interested in both fashion and business and with a particular interest in leading companies and/or teams of people. This type of degree focuses on the operation and management of fashion brands and companies and retail stores, including buying, inventory, supply chain, sustainability, corporate social responsibility, merchandising, and human resources management. Graduates with a fashion management degree can go on to work as fashion buyers, store executives, human resources and recruiting managers, among other careers.

Fashion Journalism, Fashion Media, or Fashion Communications Degree
If you are interested in the writing and communication side of fashion, a degree in fashion media, journalism, or communication might be a good choice. This type of degree focuses on writing, storytelling, video content creation, social media management, and public relations in the fashion industry. Graduates with a fashion journalism, fashion media, or fashion communications degree can consider a range of career options, including becoming a fashion writer, reporter, editor, publicist, marketer, or social media manager.

Fashion Design Degree
On the other hand, if you're particularly drawn to the artistic and creative side of fashion, a fashion design degree might be a better fit. This type of degree program generally teaches students about fashion sketching, pattern-making, and construction, as can provide opportunities to showcase your designs in fashion shows and competitions. Some of the career paths graduates with a fashion design degree can pursue include fashion designer, textile designer, or costume designer.

Textile Science Degree
If you're interested in the science behind fashion, a textile science degree might be for you. This type of degree focuses on the scientific properties and characteristics of textiles, including the materials, structure, design, and production of fabrics and garments. Graduates with a textile science degree can work in textile research and development, quality control, or production management.

As you can see, there are many different types of fashion degrees available to suit a variety of interests and career goals. Whether you're interested in business, communication, design or science, there's bound to be a fashion degree out there for you. By exploring the different types of fashion degree programs, you can make an informed decision about the best path to take to pursue your career in fashion—and then you can find the best fashion school at which to start making your career dreams come true!