Colorado State University Offers New Online Distance Certification in Apparel and Merchandising

Starting this summer, a new Colorado State University distance education program will offer students and professionals a competitive edge in the areas of apparel design, merchandising, retailing and sales management.

Students and industry professionals may immediately apply for the Department of Design and Merchandising online certificate series that focuses on nine courses. After completing just three of the courses, the student may apply for an Apparel and Merchandising Certificate.

"Anyone with an interest in design and merchandising will enjoy taking these courses," said Marianne Bickle, coordinator of educational outreach for the Department of Design and Merchandising at Colorado State. "All of the courses offered online apply directly toward the Apparel and Merchandising major or can be used as general elective credits."

The Apparel and Merchandising major at Colorado State, which includes both Apparel Design and Production and Merchandising concentrations, is popular among transfer students. Approximately 58 percent of the merchandising concentration credits in the online program transfer into the major.

The online certificate series began in the fall of 2000 with three courses. Due to the program’s popularity, the number of online courses in the department has expanded to nine. Many of the courses are application-oriented, and the curriculum for the online courses parallels that of the on-campus courses.

The courses for the certificate were chosen based on the level of interest among students – many of them are introduction courses that have no prerequisites. The courses include Fashion Industries; Adobe Photoshop for Textile Designers; Design Appreciation of Apparel and Merchandising; Merchandising Processes; History of Fashion Designers and Manufacturers; Consumers in the Marketplace; Customer Sales and Retail Strategies; Finance – Personal and Family; and, Retailing.

"Regardless of your location, online education is a wonderful way to learn," Bickle said. "It provides learners with maximum flexibility in their schedules, the opportunity to expand their knowledge base and enrich their lives."

For more information on this certificate series or other online courses offered at Colorado State, visit www.learn.colostate.edu or call (970) 491-5288.