Find your place in the business
Build the base for your bachelor's degree.
Learn how the various parts of the fashion industry work together. You'll take basic business courses as well as classes that focus on real-world applications in developing and selling fashion products and services.

Courses & Requirements
Program Overview
The Associate in Occupational Studies (AOS) in Fashion Merchandising degree program offers a curriculum that will give students a competitive advantage in fashion and fashion related industries. This highly-specialized, information-intensive academic program is intended as a terminal degree, providing graduates with the background needed to begin their careers.
College Core
Required Courses - 10 Credits
- FASH 1110 - Introduction to the Fashion Business credit(s): 3
- LIMS 1000 - First Year Experience credit(s): 1 or
credit(s): 1
- TECH 1310 - Business Spreadsheets credit(s): 3
- MRKT 1550 - Marketing credit(s): 3
General Education Requirements
Required Courses - 12 Credits
- COMM 1400 - Communicating Across Cultures credit(s): 3
- COMM 2010 - Critical Thinking: Reading, Writing and Research credit(s): 3
- ENGL 1100 - English Composition credit(s): 3 or
credit(s): 3 and
credit(s): 2* or
credit(s): 3 or
credit(s): 3 and
credits(s): 2*
- MATH 1050 - Mathematics for Professional Studies credit(s): 3 or
credit(s): 3 and
credit(s):2*
* Institutional credits - do not count toward total credit requirement
Required Courses - 4 Credits
- CARE 1300 - Internship Prep: Designing Your Career credit(s): 2
- CARE 1620 - Internship 1 credit(s): 2
Required Courses - 6 Credits
- ACCT 2700 - Accounting credit(s): 3
- MNGT 2310 - Management credit(s): 3
Required Courses - 12 Credits
- FASH 1110 - Introduction to the Fashion Business credit(s): 3
- FASH 2250 - Fabric for Fashion credit(s): 3
- FASH 2710 - Applied Concepts in Merchandising credit(s): 3
- VIST 1010 - Visual Communication credit(s): 3
General Electives
18 Credits
General Electives are any courses numbered 1000 or higher (except CARE 1890 - Micro-Internship (Optional)) which are not specifically required for the student’s degree program.
All undergraduate students who enroll at LIM College are assessed in the areas of writing and mathematics to ensure they receive adequate support while completing required coursework*.
Students are assessed by either:
- Submitting ACT or SAT scores for review
- Completing the LIM College placement tests
In addition, college-level English composition and mathematics courses will be reviewed for equivalency and used when determining placement test requirements.
Students will be placed based on any of the above submissions. If multiple submissions are made, LIM College will use the placement criteria that demonstrates the highest level of proficiency. Students who choose not to submit ACT/SAT scores and who do not take the LIM College placement test will automatically be placed into corequisite developmental courses in Writing and Statistics.
Corequisite developmental education courses do not carry credit towards the degree, but do carry hours which count towards full-time status. See Undergraduate Credits and Hours for further information.
*Students accepted into the Fashion Scholars program are qualified out of developmental education course work.
Students enrolled in the Global Pathway to Fashion Program will complete the following:
Level 3A
- FASH 1110 - Introduction to the Fashion Business credit(s): 3
- PATH 030A - The Language of Business and Fashion I credit(s): 9
- PATH 0410 - Undergraduate Support Lab credit(s): 3
- PATH 0490 - Undergraduate Pathway Special Topics credit(s): 3
Level 3B
- MRKT 1550 - Marketing credit(s): 3
- PATH 030B - The Language of Business and Fashion II credit(s): 9
- PATH 0410 - Undergraduate Support Lab credit(s): 3
- PATH 0490 - Undergraduate Pathway Special Topics credit(s): 3
In order to proceed to the next level and/or complete the program, students must earn a Global Pathways GPA of 2.00 or better.
PATH course credits are institutional credits - they do not count towards total degree program credit requirements.

Opportunities at LIM
Fashion Merchandising Careers
When you graduate, you can pursue a career in nearly any aspect of the fashion business, including product development, styling, event planning, and buying. Position titles for recent LIM grads have included Digital Merchandising Assistant, Wholesale Coordinator, Sustainability Manager, Merchandise Operations Coordinator, and Assistant Buyer.
Careers in Fashion MerchandisingInternship Experiences
You'll gain priceless experience - and make important connections - through required internships. Fashion Merchandising majors have done internships in everything from e-commerce to production to trend forecasting at companies that include Rebecca Minkoff, Saks Fifth Avenue, Urban Outfitters, and Ross Stores.
Browse Internship OpportunitiesClubs & Organizations
There’s more to college than attending class. Enhance your experience (and your resume) with co-curricular and extracurricular activities. Make the most of your time and get involved.
See how you can get involvedA record that speaks for itself
Approximately 800 companies in fashion and its related fields provide opportunities for our students.
Our undergrad Class of 2019 had a 94% post-graduation employment rate.
Ranked in U.S. News & World Report’s list of Best Online Graduate Business Programs and Best Online Bachelor’s Programs. (2019)
Our 2019-2020 tuition and fees were 25% lower than the national average for private 4-year colleges.
Among Fashionista’s Top 25 Fashion Schools in the World.
One of the Best Fashion Schools in the World according to The Business of Fashion.
A Georgetown University study of 4,500 colleges put LIM in the top 25% for long-term (40-year) return on investment.

Interested in taking the next step?
Apply to LIMFinancial Aid
Financial assistance can come in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study.
View Types of AidInvest in Your Success
Our 2019-2020 tuition and fees were 25% lower than the national average for private 4-year colleges.
View Tuition & Costs