Level 1 Credits
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
- WRIT-1036 Reason & Writing 1-Art & Design 3.00
- ACCT-1061 Accounting for Retail 2.50
- FASH-1002 Textiles 1 2.50
- FASH-1020 Fashion Illustration 2.50
- MRCH-1001 Visual Merchandising 1 2.50
- FASH-1021 Dynamics of Fashion 1 2.00
- COMP-1351 Design Principles 2.50
- FASH-1016 Trends, Styles & Influences 3.00
Level 2 Credits
Gen Ed - See requirement below
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
- COMM-3023 Comm. for Designers, Planners, Techs 3.00
- FASH-3020 Dynamics of Fashion 2 2.00
- FASH-1011 Visual Communications 1 3.00
- MATH-1131 Retail Math 1 2.00
- MRCH-1004 Visual Merchandising 2 2.50
- PROD-1044 Prop Production 3.00
- MGMT-1164 Customer Relationship Management 2.00
- FASH-3018 Textiles 2 3.00
Level 3 Credits
Gen Ed - See requirement below
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
- FASH-3005 Fashion Buying 1 2.00
- MRCH-1013 Store Planning 2.50
- FASH-3007 Visual Communication 2 3.00
- MRCH-3002 Visual Merchandising 3 2.50
- MATH-3012 Retail Math 2 2.00
- BUSI-1073 Retail Entrepreneurship 2.00
- FASH-1022 Brand Development 1 2.50
Level 4 Credits
Gen Ed - See requirement below
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:
- FASH-3011 Fashion Buying 2 2.00
- MRCH-3004 Styling for Photography 2.50
- MRCH-3005 Fashion Futures 3.00
- MRCH-3006 Visual Merchandising 4 2.50
- MGMT-3051 Retail Management 3.00
- FASH-3019 Brand Development 2 2.50
Add'l Req
Take the following Mandatory Course:
Normally taken in Levels 3 or 4
- MKTG-1051 Event Planning & Promotion 3.00
Gen Ed - Electives
Take 6 General Education Credits -
Normally taken in Levels 2, 3 or 4
ACCT-1061 - Accounting for Retail
A basic accounting course for non-accounting students. Topics covered include journal transactions, ledger postings and basic financial statements, procedures for cash, payroll and merchandise transactions using manual and Simply Accounting software in a simulated retail environment.
BUSI-1073 - Retail Entrepreneurship
A discovery of the planning decisions required by an entrepreneur involved in creating a new business, product or service. Discussions relating to researching, identifying, and understanding consumer markets, operational plans, management and organizational plans, financial decisions, and marketing and sales strategies which will culminate in the development of a business plan
COMM-3023 - Comm. for Designers, Planners, Techs
Professional communication is designed to improve students’ writing, reading, and speaking skills for work-related purposes. Emphasis is placed on process writing, composing, researching, documenting, evaluating, and editing program-related materials. Students also prepare a résumé/cover letter package and deliver an oral presentation based on research.
COMP-1351 - Design Principles
Students will use design principles to enhance their communication and presentation skills using various computer applications such as MS PowerPoint, MSWord, Illustrator, as they are used in the retail industry. Students will learn how to use the elements of design to create aesthetically pleasing professional presentation formats. Various exercises will be discussed and practiced throughout the term.
FASH-1002 - Textiles 1
A study of textile materials with emphasis on factors which affects their handling, appearance and performance. Students will learn and appreciate the properties of natural, man made, and synthetic fibers from yarn to fabric to completed fashion merchandise. Students will compile a swatch library of various textiles which support the concepts learned in class.
FASH-1011 - Visual Communications 1
Exposes students to various methods of visual communication used in the fashion industry including: digital camera techniques, creating images in Adobe IllustratorCS3, and editing images in PhotoShopCS3. Computer skills such as file/data management and importing/exporting files to various computer applications will be demonstrated and practiced throughout the course.
FASH-1016 - Trends, Styles & Influences
An exploration of social, economic, political, historical, and technological factors that affect the development of dress, architecture, art, interior design, tracing the influences through history to modern times. Students will develop a knowledge and vocabulary of fashion styles of periods studied and recognize the influence it has on present day design.
FASH-1020 - Fashion Illustration
Students will develop their skill in fashion illustration by introducing them to various techniques with pencil, pen, and marker. Techniques of shading, marker renderings, textures, and perspective drawings will be practiced as used by the fashion industry.
FASH-1021 - Dynamics of Fashion 1
An introduction to the importance of fashion through discussions of the various components, terminologies and stages of the fashion cycle. Students will research for written and oral presentations through individual and small group exercises using appropriate techniques.
FASH-1022 - Brand Development 1
Students will further the technological skills required of graduates entering the fashion industry benefiting from practical experience using industry specific software. Students will study the art of brand development of a line of clothing from concept to delivery and how various segments of the industry support this process. Computer applications: Adobe CS3and MS Office Suite are used to complete course exercises.
FASH-3005 - Fashion Buying 1
Provides the knowledge and preparation of a buyer’s role for various retail formats Discussions will include fashion terminology, line, proportion and fit as well as understanding the customer and identifying trends for men’s, women’s, and children’s fashions.
FASH-3007 - Visual Communication 2
Designed to introduce students to the process of planning and creation of branding and marketing messages. Students practice design principles and creative theory, as well as product research and analysis required to communicate to a specific target market.
FASH-3011 - Fashion Buying 2
Class discussions and activities concentrate on how buyers make their purchases. Students will study the differences between purchasing in the domestic and international market as will as negotiation techniques, assortment planning and writing purchase orders, other topics will include: pricing strategies, private label programs, retailer information systems, and promotions.
FASH-3018 - Textiles 2
Students will analyze apparel quality standards and control, mass-production processes, design development, sizing, fit, findings, stitching, and garment assembly. The emphasis will be placed on buying and merchandising decisions.
FASH-3019 - Brand Development 2
A continuation of Brand Development 1 where students will further enhance their knowledge of the process of creating and supporting a store brand of clothing. Students will complete a product knowledge package using the project started in Brand Development 1 with the following computer applications: IllustratorCS3, PhotoShopCS3, AccessVia, MS Office Suite, and MS FrontPage to complete course exercises.
FASH-3020 - Dynamics of Fashion 2
Students will gain an overview of industry levels and categories as well as retail operations focusing on children's apparel, woman's innerwear apparel, accessories, cosmetics, fragrances, and home fashions.
MATH-1131 - Retail Math 1
Designed to provide students with an understanding and working knowledge of business mathematical functions. The retail components of percentages, pricing, purchases, mark-up, and markdowns will be examined in detail using MS Excel. Industry terminology and techniques in formatting Excel will be stressed.
MATH-3012 - Retail Math 2
A continuation of Retail Math 1, designed to equip the students with an understanding and working knowledge of business mathematical functions. The retail components of stock planning, sales, purchases, 6-month merchandise plans, assortment plans, purchase orders, open to buy and income statements will be examined. Industry terminology and techniques in formatting Excel spreadsheets will be stressed.
MGMT-1164 - Customer Relationship Management
Designed to address aspects of identifying customers and their needs/wants, building customer relationships, and shaping the customer's perception of an organization and its products/services at all levels. Students will study how companies interact with their customers (B2C and B2B) to develop sales.
MGMT-3051 - Retail Management
Discussions and workshops on leadership skills and management techniques within the context of presenting the challenges and opportunities in the Canadian retailing environment. Topics include communications, employee hiring and motivation, supervisory leadership, handling grievances, performance appraisal, and employee training and development.
MKTG-1051 - Event Planning & Promotion
Event Planning and Promotion is designed to lead the student through the process of planning and coordinating an event. It will include developing a working schedule to coordinate, manage, and promote a special event or promotion within an assigned time frame and budget. Methods of production planning and practical decision making skills will be applied to the type and theme of the event which involves the audience, venue, promotion, publicity and fundraising. Team management, collaborative planning and creative problem solving are critical skills that are developed during the planning process.
MRCH-1001 - Visual Merchandising 1
Students will learn and apply the principles of colour and design to fashion and visual merchandising. a workshop environment allows for experimentation in two and three-dimensional design in window displays, fashion elements, merchandising and store planning, techniques, theories, props and tools of the trade in an atmosphere of teamwork.
MRCH-1004 - Visual Merchandising 2
This course will focus on visual merchandising. It will promote an intense practical training in window display and construction of design, mannequins, forms, colour, lighting, and production techniques. Students will create three-dimensional window displays such as full-scale windows, showcases and bulletin boards at the college.
MRCH-1013 - Store Planning
Through classroom theory, merchandising strategies, fieldtrips and comparison of stores students will be able to demonstrate retail principles as they relate to store planning, merchandise layout, traffic patterns, fixture layout, lighting plan, focal points, department adjacencies, colour and power wall presentations.
MRCH-3002 - Visual Merchandising 3
This course will focus on visual merchandising. An intense practical training in window display and construction of design, mannequins, forms, colour, lighting, and production techniques. Students will create three-dimensional window displays such as full-scale windows, showcases, and bulletin boards at the college.
MRCH-3004 - Styling for Photography
Fashion photo styling is taught through a combination of discussions, in-class workshops, and group assignments with an emphasis on working as part of a creative team. Discussions include various types of product, casting talent, use of props and backgrounds required to create an effective finished image for media.
MRCH-3005 - Fashion Futures
This course will incorporate effective job strategies and the development of a personal portfolio. Through guest speakers, students will learn about various merchandising professions, highlighting specific job profiles and opportunities.
MRCH-3006 - Visual Merchandising 4
A continuation of level three, this course focuses on improving the students creative display process of planning and executing various types of effective displays including special events, trade shows, exhibit design, practical projects, and analytical critiquing of presentations.
PROD-1044 - Prop Production
Provides the students with practical artist techniques to create props used in fashion presentations. Discussions in planning and researching materials will enable students to source materials needed to produce the end product within a budget. Discussions will also address how props will assist in selling a product.
WRIT-1036 - Reason & Writing 1-Art & Design
This course will introduce art and design students to essential principles of reading, writing, and reasoning at the postsecondary level. Students will identify, summarize, analyze, and evaluate multiple short readings and write persuasive response essays to develop their vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, and critical thinking. This course will also introduce students to selected topics and concepts in art and design.
