Florida State University

What you'll study

The programme is built on a conventional Bachelor of Marketing curriculum enriched with courses and electives that address the fashion sector and international trade. You will study core business and marketing subjects alongside fashion-focused modules to develop both strategic marketing capability and industry-specific competence.

• Core marketing and business modules: principles of marketing, marketing research, consumer behaviour, brand management, digital marketing, marketing analytics, business statistics, accounting and micro/macro economics.
• International business and strategy: international marketing, global supply chain and logistics, cross-cultural management, trade and tariff fundamentals, and country/market entry strategy.
• Fashion and retail-specific modules: fashion merchandising and buying, retail operations and management, visual merchandising, trend forecasting, apparel product development, sourcing and vendor relations, and sustainable practices in apparel.
• Capstone, practical learning and electives: a senior capstone or practicum project, credit-bearing internships with retailers or brands, study abroad or international field programmes, and electives in e-commerce, social media strategy, creative direction or textile basics.

The typical structure follows university general-education requirements and a sequence of business core courses in the early years, followed by specialised marketing and fashion electives in the second half of the degree. Emphasis is placed on applied projects, case studies, group work and an industry placement or capstone.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a recognised secondary-school qualification. Typical entry expectations include strong performance across a broad range of subjects, with evidence of numeracy and written communication skills. Pre-university study in mathematics, English and a social science or business subject is helpful.

• International applicants: required to meet university-wide academic standards and English language proficiency via recognised tests or accepted qualifications.
• Transfer students: may be able to transfer business or general-education credits; applicants should consult the university admissions office for faculty-specific transfer rules.
• Portfolio: a portfolio is not typically required; however, applicants with experience in retail, fashion projects or internships should highlight this in their application.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for roles across marketing, retail and the fashion value chain, especially where international channels and brand positioning are important. The degree emphasises practical skills employers seek in product, retail and digital commerce environments.

• Brand or product manager for apparel and lifestyle brands
• Merchandise planner or fashion buyer for department stores and speciality retailers
• Retail operations manager or store leadership roles
• E-commerce manager, digital marketing specialist or social media strategist for fashion businesses
• Sourcing, supply-chain coordinator or vendor relations roles focused on apparel
• Market research analyst, trend forecaster or consultant specialising in consumer clothing markets

Why study at Florida State University

Florida State University offers a comprehensive business education with opportunities to combine marketing theory and analytics with industry-facing fashion and retail experience. Students benefit from the university's career services, internship networks and elective options across departments—allowing collaboration with design, merchandising or international business faculty.

FSU’s campus environment and links with regional and national retailers make it straightforward to secure internships and practicum placements. The programme’s focus on experiential learning, study abroad options and applied capstone projects is designed to prepare graduates for global careers in fashion marketing and retail management.