Merchandising

Most students complete at least one internship before they graduate, many completing two or more. Faculty have established contacts with key fashion and retail brands in local, regional and national cities including Atlanta, New York and Dallas. Faculty routinely assist students in identifying and narrowing their interests and initiating contact with desired employers. Throughout their studies and beyond graduation, merchandising students have access to resume assistance, mock interviews, and practice facilities. Recent graduates have gone on to start careers at Saks Fifth Avenue’s buying offices, Disney’s product development and design studios, Tory Burch’s corporate headquarters, and Anthropology’s visual merchandising division.

Through experiential learning and hands-on classrooms, the Southern Miss Merchandising program teaches the skills necessary to thrive in the fast-paced, ever-changing business world. Students acquire creative skills and knowledge, supplemented by analytical expertise enabling them to excel at both creative and logical thinking. Courses are designed to give students real-world experience and build a solid professional foundation. Most courses include hands-on learning in partnership with industry professionals to solve problems and design creative solutions to real-world challenges.

Merchandising students have a number of opportunities to earn course credit through study tours and study abroad programs domestically and abroad. Students see course concepts in action by meeting with top level industry professionals and touring corporate offices, design studios, product development companies, buying offices and more. Programs vary from one-to-two-week study tours in key merchandising hubs, such as New York City, Atlanta, or Hawaii and longer programs from three weeks to a month in London, Milan, Florence, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Seoul. These programs give students exposure to a wide range of career options and internship opportunities.

Merchandising and non-merchandising students who want to find ways to sharpen their skills while networking with business and community agencies can participate in the Fashion Merchandising Organization (FMO). In addition to organizing professional development activities, the student-led FMO invites guest speakers and orchestrates field trips and other activities, including occasional fashion shows.