The Fashion Retail, Merchandising, and Media Master of Arts program is taught in English at the American University of Florence (AUF). The program consists of 30 credits and is typically completed in 12 months. Upon successful completion of this program, students are awarded a Master of Arts degree.

General Program Structure

• Common Core: Candidates must successfully complete 6 credit hours with a focus on research methods and leadership
• Concentration Courses: 9 required credits of focused concentration coursework
• Electives: 12 credits, of which 6 credits are program requirements and 6 are chosen from other graduate-level disciplines
• Capstone Project: 3 credits for the final capstone project required for graduation

Objectives and outcomes for Fashion Retail, Merchandising, and Media

• Integrate research theory and industry practices to examine fashion business operations in retail and management.
• Develop effective communication strategies for the global fashion industry.
• Deepen expertise in local and international fashion contexts for product development, branding, and commerce with a focus area dedicated to the role of Italy and Europe.
• Gain a thorough understanding of the relationship between branding strategy and retail and merchandising processes.
• Apply ethical leadership approaches to developing innovative and sustainable solutions to the evolving nature of the fashion industry.

Program Curriculum
Common Core ( 6 credits )

• LAIERM560 Research Methodologies for International Educators
• LAPYEL550 Ethics, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship

Concentration Courses ( 9 credits )

• FTFMMR610 Advanced Merchandising and Retail Strategies
• BUMAIB620 International Brand Management and Strategies
• DIDMDC610 Digital Communication Strategies

Electives ( 12 credits )

• BUMAEM630 E-Commerce Management
• BUMKMR630 Marketing Research for New Product Development

2 courses from:

• BUMAHR630 International Human Resource Management
• HPHTCL650 Customer Loyalty and Engagement
• BUMAGB615 Managing in the Global Business Environment

Capstone Project ( 3 credits )

TOTAL CREDITS ( 30 credits )

For information about this program, its learning outcomes, and structure, please see here.

Your SAI Admissions Counselor will guide you in submitting all required application and enrollment materials.

Application
Upon submitting a SAI application to this program, you will begin to work closely with your US Admissions Counselor who will assist you each step of the way. While the final admission decision is made by the host school, SAI Admissions Counselors work closely with AUF and are able to guide and advise you in finalizing your application. If you have any technical questions about the degree, your Admissions Counselor can facilitate a conversation with the host school. Upon acceptance to your program of choice, your SAI Admissions Counselor will guide you and provide important resources through each enrollment step, including financial processing, visas, housing, and travel.

Financial Processing and Loans
To make a degree program abroad more achievable, SAI is able to offer US students the ability to obtain a private loan through St. Martin’s University to pay for their program. As you reach the point of enrollment, the SAI Business Office can provide assistance with financial processing, as well as student loan applications. Please contact your SAI Admissions Counselor for details about the student loan process.

Housing
Securing the right housing is an important step in having a positive experience abroad. Your Admissions Counselor can assist you with your overseas housing search: we can provide advice regarding good areas of the city, as well as options for housing agencies to consider. In general, students can expect to pay from $800 to $1,500 per month in housing, depending on criteria.

Visas
US students pursuing this degree program will be required to obtain a long stay study visa. Note that the visa application process can be complicated; we can assist and guide you as you go, but it’s important to begin this process as early as possible.

Not sure what to do next? Fill out the Get In Touch form below, and your Admissions Counselor can help!

This is a SAI Select Services Program; it includes the important on-site services!

• Program tuition
• Student health insurance providing full coverage and medical emergency evacuation
• SAI orientation to the host city and school
• SAI staff on-site providing assistance as needed and 24-hour emergency support

Pre-departure and Re-entry services

• Admissions counselor assigned to you, providing friendly assistance
• Helpful pre-departure tools and resources
• Assistance with student visa application
• Assistance with financial aid and loan processing
• Paid registration fees for national re-entry conferences
• SAI alumni network

Please see the following links for up-to-date calendar information:

Fall 2026 Intake

*prices are subject to change

Are you interested in one or more SAI graduate programs, or just have questions? Fill out the form below and one of our Admissions Counselors will reach out to you shortly.