University of Kansas

What you'll study

The programme pairs the foundational marketing curriculum of a business degree with elective study and practical modules focused on the fashion industry and international trade. You take core courses in marketing principles, consumer behaviour, marketing research, digital marketing and marketing strategy alongside fashion-focused topics such as fashion merchandising and retail management, brand management for apparel and accessories, product development and sourcing, trend forecasting and visual merchandising.

• Business foundation: introductory economics, accounting fundamentals, statistics for business, organisational behaviour.
• Core marketing: principles of marketing, consumer behaviour, marketing research, brand and integrated marketing communications, pricing and distribution strategy.
• Fashion-specialist modules: fashion retail operations, apparel product development, sourcing and supply-chain considerations for textiles, visual merchandising and merchandising analytics.
• Digital and international focus: e‑commerce and social media marketing, international marketing, cross‑cultural consumer insights, global sourcing and trade policy.
• Practical learning: industry projects, internships with fashion retailers or brands, portfolio development, and a marketing capstone or honours project that applies marketing strategy to a fashion business challenge.

Structure

The degree follows a multi-year structure with general education and business core requirements in the early years, progression to marketing major courses in the middle years, and specialist fashion electives, practicum and capstone in the final years. Students are encouraged to take internships, study abroad opportunities, and cross-disciplinary electives from design, textiles or international studies to deepen industry-relevant skills.

Entry requirements

Applicants typically need a recognised secondary school qualification (or equivalent) meeting the university’s undergraduate admission standards and satisfaction of any required college/school prerequisites. Indicative expectations include a solid academic record with emphasis on quantitative and writing readiness. Standardised tests may be optional depending on the university’s current policy; check the university for the latest testing guidance.

• Recommended preparation: coursework in mathematics, English and economics or business if available at high school level.
• Portfolio: a creative portfolio is not usually mandatory for the marketing strand, but applicants with work in fashion design, styling or merchandising may include examples to support their application.
• International applicants: proof of English language proficiency (accepted tests and scores vary) and documentation equivalent to the secondary school credential.
• Additional considerations: relevant work experience, internships or extracurricular involvement in retail, styling, student marketing groups or fashion projects can strengthen an application.

Career prospects

Graduates combine marketing competence with fashion sector knowledge and are well placed for roles across brand, retail and supply-chain functions. Typical early-career roles include marketing coordinator, assistant buyer, visual merchandiser, retail manager, e‑commerce specialist, social media/community manager and merchandising analyst. With experience, alumni move into brand manager, buyer/planning manager, product development manager, sourcing and supply-chain roles, or start entrepreneurial fashion and lifestyle brands.

The international emphasis also supports careers with global fashion retailers, sourcing offices, international brand teams, trend forecasting agencies and consultancy firms that advise on market entry and cross‑border retail strategy.

Why study at University of Kansas

The University of Kansas offers a business-school environment with access to marketing faculty, experiential learning opportunities and connections to regional retail and creative industries. Students benefit from a curriculum that integrates marketing theory with practice—through internships, industry projects and cross-disciplinary electives—while having options to study abroad for exposure to international fashion markets. The campus supports student organisations and events where marketing and fashion students can build portfolios, run pop-up retail experiences and network with professionals.

Choosing this programme gives you the business acumen of a marketing degree plus specialised pathways and practical experiences geared toward the global apparel and fashion sectors, helping you launch a career at the intersection of creativity and commerce.