Hinds Community College is offering a new Fashion Marketing program this fall at the Rankin and Raymond campuses as well as online.

The new program falls under the marketing department.

 "The Fashion Marketing Technology program of study is designed to provide specialized instruction in all phases of fashion marketing in order to prepare students for careers in fashion and its related professions and industries such as manager, wardrobe consultant, buyer, sale representative, visual merchandiser and fashion director," said Jane Foreman, marketing management instructor. "A combination of class work and practical experience is stressed."

 Completion of the two-year program leads to an Associate in Applied Science degree.  A one-year certificate of award in Fashion Marketing is also available.

Among the courses in the two-year program are Principles of Marketing, Fashion Design Fundamentals, Advertising and Textiles in Fashion. The program ends with a six-hour internship in Fashion Marketing.

"The world of fashion marketing is an exciting and ever-changing field with endless opportunities for students.  Our program is designed to not only give classroom instruction, but experience working in the field with local merchants," Foreman said. "We have several internships set up and local merchants ready to work with our students in their stores to give them the hands on experience they need. Our instructors not only have degrees in fashion but actual real world experience in the field having worked with many large national retailers. The retail industry is continuing to grow with opportunities for those with degrees in fashion."

David Campbell, Career/Technical dean for the Rankin Campus, said high school students having been asking for the program.

"There has been significant interest expressed by high school students in the Fashion Marketing program for the college to offer a two-year degree," he said. "We are pleased to be able to offer this option to students.

For information on the program, students can contact Jane Foreman, Rankin Campus, 601.936.5502 or Dana Bailey, Raymond Campus, 601.857.3228.