April 1, 2014 (New York, NY) — LIM College, which is located in New York City and focused exclusively on the study of business and fashion, has received approval from the New York State Board of Regents to offer the nation’s first master’s degree program in Visual Merchandising.
The LIM College Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Visual Merchandising, which will launch in the fall of 2014, will give graduates a competitive edge as they pursue careers in today’s expanding and highly competitive visual merchandising profession. Graduates will be prepared for career paths that could lead to positions as corporate visual merchandising directors at department and specialty stores, creative directors at retail design firms and industry supply firms, or showroom directors.
“We are very proud to offer the nation’s first master’s degree program in visual merchandising,” said LIM College President Elizabeth S. Marcuse. “This program is a logical evolution of both the field of visual merchandising and LIM College’s role in educating future leaders in the business of fashion. As we mark our 75th Anniversary, we are committed to creating new opportunities in graduate education for the next generation of fashion and retail executives.”
Continued President Marcuse, “The MPS in Visual Merchandising will fill a need for advanced, specialized education specifically for upper-management and executives in visual merchandising. In addition to knowledge of visual merchandising as a discipline, students in the program will develop leadership and managerial abilities”
Throughout the 30-credit program, the principles, philosophies and technologies of visual merchandising will be taught through exploration of the marketplace, hands-on classroom learning and field experimentation with an emphasis on the principles and practices of sustainable design. Students will also be able to complete an additional three-credit internship/shadowing program. Full-time students will complete the program in three semesters throughout one calendar year. To accommodate students with full-time jobs, all coursework will be offered in the evening.
Says Eric Feigenbaum, Chair of LIM College’s Visual Merchandising Department, “Visual merchandising is an indispensable part of any retail strategy. This program is grounded in the premise that today’s retailer must understand the aesthetic component of their business and approach it as a profit center. Over the last several years, the field has moved from the basement studio to the executive boardroom.”
“The creation of this MPS program further reinforces the position of visual merchandising and design as an integral part of the true business of fashion. These students will be well-positioned to enter the industry with a keen understanding of management principles and leadership skills, while continuing to hone and develop their creativity,” according to Harry Cunningham, Senior Vice President – Store Planning, Design and Visual Merchandising for Saks Fifth Avenue.
For additional information about LIM College’s MPS program in Visual Merchandising, contact Paul Mucciarone, Graduate Admission Coordinator, at paul.mucciarone@limcollege.edu or 212.752.1530 Ext. 446, or visit: http://graduate.limcollege.edu/457.aspx