You can earn this degree online through the Penn Foster College in the comfort of your home. It requires a student to be enrolled in several courses that include the History of Fashion, Introduction to Textiles, Essentials of Psychology, Consumer Behavior, Merchandising Planning and Buying, Retail Management and Fashion Promotion. A graduate of this course can later work in high paying jobs such as retail managers and fashion merchandising professionals.

This particular degree is ideal for people interested in fashion trends and fashion design. Students will also learn the tricks on how to advertise products and display them in the most attractive way to encourage customers to buy the items. Marketing is also an important aspect as well as learning the skills to predict future fashion trends not only in terms of clothing but to include shoes and accessories.

Some 88,000 positions will be open for these professionals until 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Those who work as retail managers and fashion merchandisers can expect to earn up to $61,000 every year. Fashion buyers can earn a yearly income of more than $43,000, merchandise planner up to $57,000 and visual merchandisers up to $58,000. Specifically, positions you can apply for after finishing this course are as a buying assistant, fashion coordinator, fashion advertising agent, sales representative, product developer, merchandise manager or as a manager of a retail store.

Being an associate degree, this takes only two years to complete involving some 60 college credits. Students are required to take up general education courses from accredited schools as much as possible.