What Are the Steps to Become a Fashion Merchandising Teacher?
As a fashion merchandiser, you decide how clothing and accessory are displayed in stores to best reflect the store's image and the clothing brands. As a fashion merchandising teacher, you show the next generation how to merchandise clothing so that customers are enticed to buy. You'll need to have a love for fashion and design to be a successful fashion merchandising teacher as well as a head for business.
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Earn a Bachelor's Degree
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Find a college that offers a bachelor's degree in fashion merchandising. You may wish to choose a college accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, as that means the school meets certain educational standards. You will typically have to take several math courses as a fashion merchandising major, as well as business courses and courses in fashion merchandising, textiles and consumer behavior. You may have the opportunity to work as an intern or participate in a co-operative program as part of your degree, which will give you hands-on experience.
Work in the Field
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Before you can become a teacher, you must have real experience as a fashion merchandiser beyond working as an intern. Many teaching positions require at least two years experience in the field. A number of retail establishments, from small, trendy fashion boutiques to big-box discount stores may hire fashion merchandisers to set up clothing and accessories displays in stores. You may also find work as a buyer, the person responsible for selecting and ordering the clothing lines a store will sell. As you gain experience in the field, you may be promoted to a merchandising manager or other supervisory position, which will improve your chances of later receiving a teaching appointment.
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Earn an Advanced Degree
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You'll need at least a master's degree, either in fashion merchandising or management or a master's of business administration to gain employment as a professor at a college. Some positions, usually tenure-track ones, require a Ph.D in fashion merchandising or apparel studies. Universities that offer advanced degrees in merchandising, fashion and apparel studies or another related degree include Philadelphia University, The Fashion Institute of Technology and Parsons.
Get Teaching Experience While Earning Your Degree
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Many job postings for merchandising teachers and professors state that experience teaching is preferred. The best way to get college-level teaching experience before you get out on the job market is during your graduate program. If a teaching assistantship is not automatically part of your graduate fellowship, seek out adjunct teaching positions or apply for an assistantship separately. Your professors and advisors will be of great help to you, as you may be able to convince one to let you sit in a a class and serve as an unofficial teaching assistant.
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