Fashion Certificate Programs

A Professional Certificate from LIM College lets employers know that you possess specialized knowledge in a particular area of the fashion industry and allows you to enhance your skills without committing to an entire degree program. Each Certificate program is comprised of a group of courses that can be completed in as little as 12 months. 

A Certificate program may be right for you if you seek to:

• prepare for a career change
• advance your career
• increase job security

Credit Certificates (Undergraduate)
Credit Certificate programs are comprised of 4 or 5 credit-bearing courses from our undergraduate curriculum which focus on a specific area of fashion. Courses are offered in the traditional classroom format during the evening or in “hybrid” mode - part of the course is completed in the classroom and part is conducted online. Classes are held during the fall (Aug. – Dec.) and spring (Jan. – May) semesters.

Certificates are available in:

Event Planning  (12 credit hours)
Acquire the skills needed to plan fashion industry, corporate and personal events. Through hands-on learning, you will learn event planning basics and build on those skills by planning an actual event from the initial stages through final execution. You’ll also discover what goes on “behind the scenes” at fashion shows and explore the public relations aspects of event planning. 

Courses:
Event Planning I (FASH 225)
This introductory course provides an overview that will enable students to plan well-organized, creative, and memorable events, from fashion shows and trunk shows to galas and product launches. Theme and venue selection, budget, invitations, publicity, participants, décor, music, and favors are discussed as integral components of this increasingly important aspect of the fashion industry. 3 credits.

Public Relations (MRKT 308)
Public Relations focuses on producing and writing news and feature releases based on current events, special events, and personalities. Students learn to evaluate publicity opportunities, comprehend angles and outlets, write publicity materials, and create special events. The final project is the production of a complete press kit. 3 credits.

Event Planning II (FASH 226)
Promoting team collaboration and calling on skills learned in Event Planning I, this course utilizes a hands-on format in which students create fashion-related events. Starting with the planning stages and continuing through final execution, emphasis is placed on the special details and insider tips essential to producing successful events. Client pitching, marketing, and promotional plans are included. 3 credits.

Fashion Show Production (FASH 235) 
This course covers the many aspects of producing a fashion show including budget planning, different types of shows and their purposes, the role of the show in contemporary merchandising, promoting and marketing, writing the show commentary, and the various responsibilities of the members of the production team. 3 credits. 

Retail Management: Buying and Planning (12 credit hours)
Designed for the working professional hoping to gain a foothold in the dynamic and growing world of retail management, this programs features hands-on, skills-based courses that will allow you to develop the skills necessary to move off the retail floor and into a career in buying, merchandise planning, customer relationship management, or retail management. 

Courses:
Retailing (MNGT 102)
Retailing is a combination of activities involved in selling goods and services, domestically and globally, directly to ultimate consumers. This course will focus on the different channels of retail organizations – brick and mortar, catalog, television, and e-tailing. The various functions of retailers discussed include establishing an image, merchandise planning, forecasting and budgeting, human resources, operations, store layout and design, and Management Information Systems. Corporate social responsibility will be discussed. The text will be supplemented with current events and case studies to stimulate critical-thinking skills and to develop a participative classroom environment. 3 credits.

Spreadsheet Applications (MFTC 219)
This course provides a hands-on approach to spreadsheet analysis, performance management, and graphics on the computer. Students learn how to enter data, develop formulas, correct mistakes, use special formula functions, print worksheets, use database features, combine files and graphics. Upon completion of the course students should have the necessary tools to develop worksheets for such applications as financial planning, budgets, and cost projections in Microsoft Office 2007. 3 credits.

Buying (MNGT 107)
This course familiarizes students with the buyer’s role within the framework of the different channels of distribution in the retail industry. The focus of the course is on the main functions of a buyer-branded versus private label, how much to buy, what to buy, vendor/ supplier negotiations, presenting and selling the merchandise, and how these functions can best be performed to maximize profit. Retail reports are discussed to familiarize the students with ways to react to business conditions. Students are assigned projects designed to broaden their knowledge in a marketing channel of their choice. 3 credits.

Merchandise Planning & Control (MNGT 202)
Students are introduced to all of the factors that retailing and marketing companies need to affect profits: Profit and Loss Statements, pricing - both initial pricing and markdowns, planning sales and inventory are discussed. Critical thinking is necessary to learn how to achieve the maximum profit for the company. 3 credits.

Visual Merchandising (15 credit hours)
To fulfill the expectations of today’s consumer, retailers place great emphasis on compelling merchandise presentations and organization of the store environment. Through this program you will gain an understanding of basic store layouts and retail design concepts and develop your own conceptual displays in a studio setting. You will also learn about graphics, contemporary display techniques and how retail stores coordinate product presentations with overall design concepts.  Completion of this certificate program will give industry professionals an opportunity to fulfill their career objectives of becoming a visual merchandise associate, display designer or consultant. 

Courses:
Introduction to Visual Merchandising (VMER 100)
The philosophies and techniques of merchandise presentation within a retail setting are introduced and discussed. Students will analyze real store environments and the role of basic elements of design within those environments. Emphasis will be placed on exterior and interior displays and the branding of a store image through the use of color, fixtures, display materials and lighting. Students will design and execute two and three-dimensional design projects based on a theme. All projects will be executed with an emphasis on holistic design and a professional organization of work. Lecture and studio. 3 credits.

Display Graphics (VMER 120)
Display Graphics exposes students to an in-depth analysis of the integral role of graphics in the visual merchandising field and the development of a store or company image. It emphasizes the importance of typography as the cornerstone of graphic communication. Creativity is encouraged through a series of conceptual exercises and challenges. Professional projects, selected readings, hands-on computer exercises, and defined field trips provide students with an overview of the history, terminology, and applications of retail graphics and a basic working understanding of computer- generated design solutions. 3 credits.

Product Presentation (VMER 330)
This course applies contemporary display techniques, equipment, and materials to the design of product presentations. The product presentations must demonstrate an understanding of marketing to a target customer. Additional topics include use of environment, lighting, professional fixtures, and forms. Specialized field trips, lecture, and studio.  3 credits.

Visual Technology (VMER 131)
The evolving retail model is continually implementing new systems to increase efficiency, profitability, and differentiation in a highly competitive marketplace. The retail process has become a multifaceted endeavor with many disciplines working together toward a common goal. Visual technology unifies the vital components of the retail and fashion business (fashion merchandising, marketing, and visual merchandising), through the use of advanced computer software. Students will develop and access product ideas with an easy-to-use visual database complete with storyboarding, reporting, image processing, color changing, and data-importing tools. A quantitative assortment planning process becomes visual as students “drag and drop” product images to create, analyze, and calculate the “buy” for store-graded assortment. Completing the process, students will then model fully merchandised virtual 3D stores. 3 credits.

Visual Presentation (VMER 250)
This is an examination of how the department store and small retail shops coordinate their product presentations with overall design concepts, fixturing, and graphic/signage components. Topics include: how selected resources are integrated into overall store plans and image and how to plan and budget for the visual merchandising division within the retail environment. Field trips and lectures.  3 credits.