Home Furnishings Merchandising Minor

Program Overview

The Home Furnishings Merchandising Minor provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the industry through courses in product development, design, merchandising, and more. The program prepares graduates for careers in home furnishings companies, equipping them with skills in creative problem-solving, communication, and trend analysis. Students benefit from a recognized faculty, professional development events, and student organizations. The program's location near the Dallas Market Center offers industry access and internships.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• Program Type: Minor
• Format: On Campus
• Estimated Time to Complete: 2-3 semesters
• Credit Hours: 18
• Overview: This minor provides a comprehensive understanding of the home furnishings industry, encompassing product development, design, trends, merchandising, and more.
It focuses on the creative, aesthetic, and functional aspects of this multi-billion dollar industry.
• Objectives: The program aims to equip students with marketable skills in areas such as decorative accessories, estimating, drawing and planning, consumer behavior, buying, sourcing, aesthetics, furniture industry, textiles, and historic furniture.
It also develops competencies in creative problem solving, written and oral communication, trend analysis, consumer behavior, and flexibility.

Teaching:

• Faculty: The program boasts a faculty recognized as one of the most comprehensive in the nation, having received the American Textile Manufacturers Institute Award for Excellence for innovative and exemplary programs and research.
• Professional Development: The program offers various professional development events featuring industry executives, including the Executive+Scholar Lecture Series, Merchandising Career Expo, and the Consumer Experience Symposium.
• Student Organizations: Students can engage with peers and industry professionals through organizations like Merchandising Inc. and the National Retailing Federation Student Association.

Careers:

• Industry Focus: The program prepares students for careers in the home furnishings industry, which includes companies that design and produce furnishings and decorative accessories in the U.S. and abroad.
• Competitive Advantage: The program's focus on creative problem solving, communication, trend analysis, and consumer behavior makes graduates highly competitive in this growing field.

Other:

• Location Advantage: The program is located at the University of North Texas, which is close to the Dallas Market Center and numerous companies involved in the home furnishings industry.
• Course Examples: The program includes courses such as:
• Introduction to Retail Merchandising
• Chronology of Styles and Trends in Furnishings & Décor
• Furnishings & Décor: Products and Processes
• Drawing and Planning for Furnishings & Décor
• CAD for Furnishings & Décor
• Aesthetics and Environment