Design, B.S. (E, A, L)

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Fashion Merchandising
Design Management Concentration

The Department of Design offers a Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in Fashion Merchandising or Design Management. The undergraduate BS degree concentration in fashion merchandising prepares students for careers as professional buyers in the fashion industry; for careers in fashion merchandising and the merchandising of interior products; and a wide variety of allied professions related to the design industry. The undergraduate BS degree concentration in design management prepares students for careers in any business sector where design supports the efforts of the organization and where design strategy and activities are in keeping with the larger business strategy. It combines the design core classes coupled with minors from the Davis College of Business. Both concentrations provide “hands-on” experiences that enhance creativity and aesthetic sensibilities, while developing decision-making and creative problem-solving skills for accommodating all functional, technical, legal, and business concerns within a design solution. Radford University is accredited by National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

REAL Curriculum

This major fulfills the E, A and L areas of the REAL Curriculum. Students learn that people are impacted by design every day. Students explore a broad range of design industries. Students learn design as a business, design psychology, the history and philosophy of design and create original work using the design process that is critiqued by their peers and design professionals. Students understand and analyze how behaviors, beliefs, cultures and environments have an emotional impact how people think and act. Students explore how design thinking principles, humanistic inquiry and artistic expression can be utilized to solve real world problems both inside and outside their discipline. Student will learn how to apply the design process terminology to design solutions, analyze products and processes in the design industry and learn how they are applied in both interiors and fashion. Student will learn how the environment (interior and exterior) affects people at work, home and play. Student are prepared for professional practice by taking a broad range of studio classes, interacting with the department’s Advisory Board every semester, and learning from a variety of guest artists, jurors, and speakers. An internship component is required in order for students to gain “hands-on” experience and acquire real on-the-job learning experiences. Students will reflect and analyze their own strengths and weaknesses within the professional context of their internship experience.

REAL Foundational Requirements

Foundational Writing (3 credits)

ENGL 111 - Principles of College Composition (GE)

Foundational Math (3 credits)

REAL Cornerstone Requirements

Writing Intensive (WI) Courses (6 credits)

Writing Intensive courses are denoted below with a (WI). Two writing intensive courses are required to graduate, with at least one at the 300- or 400-level.

General Education Requirements

General Education courses will be denoted below with a (GE). Students are required to take at least 30 credit hours of general education designated courses within their degree requirements. The Bachelor of Science in Design program includes 33-42 general education credits.

Major Requirements (77 credits)

B.S. Degree Requirements (6 credits)

Six credit hours of Marketing courses (for Fashion Merchandising these need to be at the 300-level).

Required Outside Coursework (9 credits)

Design Core Courses (22 credits)

Concentrations (40 credits)

Fashion Merchandising Concentration (40 credits)

Required Courses (40 credits)

Design Management Concentration (40 credits)

Required Courses (34 credits)

Support Electives (6 credits)

Choose six credits from the following courses:

Total Credits for B.S. Degree (120)

Additional Degree Requirements

The GPA in- major is 2.5 and is calculated from required courses with a DSN, DSNM, DSNF, or DSNI prefix. A minimum grade of C or higher is required in all 100 level Design courses (DSN, DSNF, DSNI, & DSNM).

Summer Internship is a requirement of the degree. This class is taken for credit in the summer between the student’s 3rd and 4th year. DSN 340 is a prerequisite for this requirement.

Open Credit Hours (43 credits)

These credits can be used to fulfill additional courses, majors, minors, and/or REAL Curriculum requirements, including Foundational Writing and Foundational Math.

Total Credits Needed for Degree 120

Additional Information

All incoming students are required to have laptops. For additional details, please see the Division of Information Technology’s website (Technology Purchases). All computer applications used for classes in this department operate in the Windows-based format. Windows based laptops are recommended. Macs need dual operating systems (Windows & Mac OS).