BellaOnline Forums Career Career Training My Career

I am interested in getting into fashion merchandising. I recently got a job working for a very famous department store and am thinking that I should take some online classes. Can you tell me what kind of degree I should be going for and if there is financial aid for this this degree?

Hi Emma,

Thanks for posting in the forum and GREAT question.

Most of the fashion merchanding courses are offered at schools that specifically say for example:
-The Art Institute of New York City (Many states/cities have "the Art Institute of...)
-The International Acedemy of Design and Technology

Most of the schools, like those above, do offer some sort of financial aid.

Other schools may have the program as well, but it would take a bit of searching and I'm not sure if the major schools do...for example - Collins College (not a major) offers the program.

Sometimes, you can get a degree in something like Marketing and learn the business side if the school does not have that specific degree. Most major colleges and universities do offer degrees in the arts.

As far as additional finanical aid, you may want to look for scholarships. That takes a LOT of work as well, but if you want it bad enough - as it seems you do - you will put in the effort I'm sure.

Best of luck to you!

Thanks for your valuable answer. Do you think it will be effective if i will be getting into fashion merchandising while on job.

Hi Emma,

I hope you're well today.

If you're asking if you can get on the job training for fashion merchanding - I would imagine so, if you work for a company dealing with fashion.

Even retail stores touch on it somewhat, but their "merchandising" positions are usually filled with people who have been in the industry for years or newly graduated with a degree in the field.

If you mean working at another job (let's say at a bank), the most you would be able to do is to take courses in fashion merchandising and work your way in through some sort of internship.

Of course, if you find an entry level job in the fashion industry, I'm sure there would probably interships or mentors available.