Merchandising, Apparel and Textiles (B.S.)
This program incorporates research and problem-solving techniques, business strategies and consumer trends into a curriculum focused on a variety of merchandising, apparel and textiles fields such as sourcing, product development, marketing, visual merchandising, buying and planning, and retail management. Graduates of the program are equipped for careers in an international or domestic market ranging from buying to retail entrepreneurship.
The MAT program develops graduates who are consumer- and technology-focused. Students study concepts and develop skills necessary for understanding consumer and market trends and retailing and buying strategies. You will learn about industry structures that facilitate the development, sourcing, marketing and merchandising of consumer goods and services in the domestic and international marketplace.
Courses
Coursework is composed of instruction and hands-on interactions designed to complement the internship opportunities that will help you achieve your individual career goals.
You will be challenged to exercise creative thinking in business operations, merchandising strategies and consumer issues. You will gain the knowledge and experience you need to understand current trends and applications in the merchandising, apparel and textiles industries. Upon graduation, the knowledge you have obtained can be applied to business, management and professional development settings.
Students complete several projects focusing on various aspects of merchandising, apparel and textiles, such as sourcing, market trends, consumerism, marketing, entrepreneurship, retailing, visual merchandising, textiles and brand management. Courses such as MAT 237: Aesthetics in Merchandising introduce students to design principles that they later use to create window displays in Lexington retail stores. In MAT 514: Retail Entrepreneurship, students learn concepts of business ownership and develop a business plan for their own retail store.
Other industry-focused courses include:
- Dress & Culture
- Textiles for Consumers
- Brand Management
- Merchandise Planning & Control
- Electronic Retailing
- Merchandising Strategy Analysis
- Color Theory
Program Details
MAT students also have the option to pursue any minor available through the university. Many of our students are either particularly business-focused or very visually creative so they add either a Business minor or a more creative minor to complement their MAT curriculum. The following are popular minors with MAT students as they have requirements that overlap with the MAT major.
Undergraduate certificates generally involve 12 credit hours with two required courses and two elective courses. Some certificates’ courses are already required or are electives for the MAT program, so you could earn a certificate by only taking two additional courses. Here are some options:
- Clinical Healthcare Management Certificate: Take HHS 241: Health & Medical Care Delivery Systems and CLM 345: Quality, Productivity Improvement and Evaluation; then use MGT 301 and RTM 345 to complete the certificate.
- Innovation and Entrepreneurial Thinking Certificate: Take COM 381: Communication, Leadership and Entrepreneurial Thinking and EXP 455: Capstone Experience in Innovation and Entrepreneurial Thinking; then use two from MGT 301, MKT 300, HMT 414 or MAT 514 to complete the certificate.
Some students choose to take their studies a step further and add either a second major or second degree. Popular choices are Management or Marketing, as they are closely related to MAT and many of the same business pre-major courses are required by both degrees, making it possible to complete both degrees within four years.
As you enter college and try to decide which degree matches your interest, always think ahead about career opportunities and positions available. With a Bachelor of Science in Merchandising, Apparel and Textiles, you will have the opportunity to integrate concepts, philosophies and components that are applicable to various careers such as:
- Retail Store Manager
- Planning Manager
- Brand Manager
- Fashion Buyer
- Stylist
- Small Business Owner
- District/Regional Store Manger
- Product Management
- Visual Merchandiser
- Marketing
- Fashion Forecaster
- Quality Assurance Manager in Textiles
- Public Relations
- Showroom Manager
- Brand Representative
- Fashion Coordinator/Director
- Loss Prevention
Average Salaries for Popular MAT Jobs
- Purchasing Manager: 2022 Median Pay - $75,120
- Sales Manager: 2022 Median Pay - $130,600
- Management Analyst: 2022 Median Pay - $95,290
