BS Fashion Design and Merchandising at Iowa State University

Programme overview

Total credits required: 123 including a minimum of 18 credits in FDM at Iowa State University for the degree (12 of the 18 credits must be at the 3000-4000 level). The major in Fashion Design and Merchandising provides a broad-based program of study with flexibility in creating program options. Courses are required in general education and the apparel industry professional core.

Faculty: College of Health and Human Sciences | Duration: 123 credits | Study mode: full-time | Location: Ames, IA, United States

What you will study

Curriculum totals 123 credits. Required and core courses listed in the curriculum include FDM 1650 Fashion and Society: An Introduction; AESHM 1110 Professional Development for AESHM; AESHM 1110L AESHM Program Orientation and Learning Community; AESHM 2110 Leadership Experiences and Development; AESHM 3110N Seminar on Careers and Internships: Apparel, Merchandising, and Design; AESHM 4700N Supervised Professional Internship: Apparel.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission is to Iowa State University and its college, not to the individual major (Iowa State does not make admission decisions by major). First-year applicants are admitted on the Regent Admission Index (RAI = ACT composite x 3 + cumulative GPA x 30 + years of high school core courses x 5); an RAI of at least 245 with the minimum high school course requirements (4 years English, 3 years mathematics including algebra, geometry and advanced algebra, 3 years science, 2 years social studies) receives automatic admission, and applicants below 245 may be considered through individual review. Iowa State is test-optional for first-year applicants.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Entry terms for first-year applicants include Fall 2026, Spring 2027 and Summer 2027. International undergraduate applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and may be submitted up to one year before the intended start date; applying at least six to eight weeks in advance is strongly recommended.

International undergraduate applicants pay a nonrefundable application fee of $65 by credit card through the online application system; fee waivers are not offered. SAT/ACT are not required for applicants educated abroad or for transfer students. First-year applicants: Iowa State is test-optional for ACT, SAT or CLT scores; admission is based on the Regent Admission Index. Apply with the institutional application or the Common App.

Apply through the official page: https://apps.admissions.iastate.edu/apply/online/

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