For professionals in the fashion industry, career growth often requires more than creativity alone. Today’s leaders need strong research skills, strategic thinking, business knowledge, and the ability to solve complex industry challenges.
Kent State University’s 100% online Master of Fashion Industry Studies (MFIS) was designed with those needs in mind. Whether you’re already working in fashion, exploring a career change, or looking to expand your leadership opportunities, the MFIS program helps professionals develop the analytical and industry expertise needed to stand out in a competitive global marketplace.
Turning Passion into Professional Growth
For MFIS graduate Jodi Frontino, the program became an opportunity to combine her passion for fashion with meaningful research and professional development.
Long fascinated by consumer shopping behaviors—particularly in the off-price retail market—Jodi used the MFIS curriculum to explore an area of the fashion industry that has received limited academic research. Through coursework and faculty mentorship, she turned her curiosity into applied research, strengthening both her analytical skills and her professional confidence.
Her experience demonstrates one of the program’s greatest strengths: helping students connect real-world industry questions with research-based solutions.
A Program Designed for Today’s Fashion Industry
Unlike many graduate programs that focus exclusively on design or merchandising, the online MFIS takes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the global fashion industry.
Students explore topics including:
- Fashion systems thinking
- Consumer behavior
- Global market trends
- Sustainability and circular economy strategies
- Applied research methods
- Strategic leadership within the fashion industry
The curriculum prepares graduates to analyze industry challenges, identify opportunities for innovation, and develop practical solutions that create long-term value for organizations.
Learn While Continuing Your Career
One of the biggest advantages of Kent State’s online MFIS is its flexibility.
Because the program is delivered 100% online, students can continue working while earning their graduate degree. The asynchronous format allows professionals to balance coursework with career and personal responsibilities without sacrificing academic quality.
For Jodi, staying organized and treating coursework like a structured workday helped her successfully balance graduate school with life outside the classroom—a strategy many working professionals find valuable as they pursue advanced education.
Faculty Mentorship and Real-World Learning
Graduate education is about more than completing coursework—it’s about developing the confidence to tackle real industry challenges.
Throughout the MFIS program, students work closely with experienced faculty who provide guidance on research, industry trends, and professional development. Coursework emphasizes practical application, encouraging students to solve authentic fashion industry problems through research-driven thinking.
The required Fashion Industry Practicum further strengthens this experience by allowing students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world business challenges relevant to their current position or career goals.
Preparing for What’s Next
Today, Jodi works as an Assistant Buyer, applying many of the research, analytical, and strategic skills she developed during the MFIS program. She credits her graduate education with helping prepare her for this next step in her career.
Graduates of Kent State’s online MFIS pursue careers such as:
- Fashion buyer
- Brand manager
- Market or consumer research analyst
- Sustainability specialist
- Merchandising manager
- Product development professional
- Fashion entrepreneur
- Supply chain analyst
The program also provides a strong foundation for professionals interested in consulting, education, research, or leadership within the global fashion industry.
Is the Online MFIS Right for You?
If you’re looking to deepen your understanding of the fashion industry while developing the research, leadership, and strategic thinking skills employers value, Kent State’s online Master of Fashion Industry Studies offers a flexible path forward.
With interdisciplinary coursework, expert faculty, applied research, and the convenience of fully online learning, the MFIS prepares graduates to lead innovation across one of the world’s most dynamic industries.
Explore the online Master of Fashion Industry Studies and discover how Kent State Online can help you take the next step in your career.
