The MPS in Fashion Merchandising and Retail Management program is a 30-credit, one-year graduate program that teaches students how to source and develop products, create financial plans, and translate consumer insights into effective merchandising strategies.

Graduates develop skills in fashion buying and retail planning, operations, and metrics. Specializations are available in Product Development and Sourcing, Buying and Operations Management, Sustainability in Fashion, and Fashion and Lifestyle.

Fashion Merchandising and Retail Management courses focus on the development of skills that fashion business employers are looking for in management-level employees, and our fashion merchandising curriculum continually evolves to keep pace with industry trends. 

Key courses include:

• Fashion Merchandising
• Fashion Retail Management
• Retail and Merchandise Metrics
• Product Development in Fashion
• Technology in Fashion Merchandising and Management

You can also opt to complete LIM’s graduate Career Success Track, which consists of three required internship or career seminar courses.

Master’s in Fashion Merchandising and Retail Management degree students can select from one of four specializations:

• Buying and Operations Management (on campus): Gain expertise in product selection, inventory management, store management, pricing, and promotion.
• Fashion and Lifestyle (on campus or online): Develop a deeper understanding of consumer behavior, merchandising, licensing, supply chains, and project management.
• Product Development and Sourcing (on campus): Acquire a specialized skill set in vendor management, textile sciences, trend analysis, quality management, and negotiation.  
• Sustainability in Fashion (on campus): Learn how to make the fashion industry more sustainable and environmentally-friendly.

This is a STEM-designated program. Graduate students on an F-1 visa who receive a STEM degree can apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT if they have a job/job offer from an E-Verify employer and meet the required criteria.*

Students in this program may apply to do CPT starting their first semester.**

*Final determination to approve or deny post-completion OPT and the 24-month extension is made by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

**Students must enroll in the Career Success Track to apply for CPT in their first semester (additional tuition charge applies).

A key component of our fashion merchandising master’s program is the opportunity to complete an internship within the fashion business. 

Graduates of the program have interned with many prominent companies, including, but not limited to:

• Nike
• Christian Louboutin
• Rebecca Minkoff
• Salvatore Ferragamo
• Valentino

You can also choose to complete the Career Success Track*, which consists of three required internship courses across consecutive semesters that provide you with real-world skills, knowledge, and experience to help attain your career goals.

With a Fashion Merchandising and Retail Management degree, you can pursue various professional roles throughout the business of fashion and help position yourself for career growth and advancement. 

Potential areas of focus include:

• Buying
• Demand Planning
• Licensing
• Product Development
• Merchandising
• Sourcing
• Wholesale or Retail Operations

The global fashion market is expected to reach a value of over $2.25 trillion by 2030. With strong connections to major industry players, a location in New York City, the center of the fashion world, faculty who are themselves industry professionals, and an alumni network that spans the business of fashion, LIM Fashion Merchandising and Retail Management students enjoy an unmatched learning environment and have countless opportunities to make connections that matter.

Our students don’t just learn about the industry; they become immersed in it through a variety of opportunities for resume-building experience that helps them stand out among other aspiring professionals with a master’s in fashion merchandising.

International students in this program may apply to do Curricular Practical training (CPT) starting in their first semester. Students must enroll in the Career Success Track to apply for first semester CPT and an additional tuition charge applies.

LIM College is exclusively focused on the business of fashion and lifestyle. We provide inside access to aspects of the fashion industry that so many other schools simply cannot offer.

LIM's Marcuse School of Graduate Studies is highly regarded for the quality of its business education and has longstanding connections throughout the fashion industry. As a result, Fashion Merchandising and Management students have access to top industry professionals and leading companies. 

Working closely with our industry-expert faculty, LIM students benefit from their professors’ knowledge and firsthand experience, establishing critical professional connections that can last a lifetime.

In addition to lifetime career services and myriad professional development opportunities, LIM students can take advantage of a range of academic resources and counseling services. 

With a variety of student clubs and organizations and other campus activities, we foster an active and diverse community of ambitious students and professionals.

At the Marcuse School of Graduate Studies, we value your pursuit of higher education to reach your professional goals. Our admissions process ensures that you have the opportunity to showcase your unique qualities and potential. 

To that end, we ask that prospective graduate students submit the following admissions materials:

1. Application for admission: Fill out and submit our online application.
2. Transcripts: Submit official transcripts from the institution from which you earned (or will be earning) your undergraduate degree. We may also request transcripts from other colleges or universities you attended at the undergraduate or graduate level.
3. Résumé: Share your professional and educational experiences through a résumé or curriculum vitae (CV) that demonstrates chronological work experience.
4. Essay: Write a 350-500 word essay on one of the following topics:
5. Describe your specific career aspirations and your reasons for pursuing a master's degree.
6. Describe a career-related achievement or failure. How has this experience impacted your career?
7. Discuss your commitment and dedication to working in the global fashion and lifestyle industry.
8. Letter(s) of recommendation: Submit one letter of recommendation* from an academic or work-related reference. This letter should demonstrate insight into your teamwork, leadership, communication, and intellectual and interpersonal skills and abilities, as well as your strengths and weaknesses. (*Two letters of recommendation are required for MBA applicants.)
9. Interview: All master’s degree applicants take part in an interview. Depending on if you are a domestic or international applicant, you can schedule an in-person, phone, or online interview.
10. English Proficiency: All non-native English language speakers must demonstrate English language competency.