The 18-month program, the first of its kind in the US, will launch in fall 2019 and will aim to provide its students with the skills and knowledge necessary to use consumer analytics in order to make business decisions in the fashion industry. Courses in the program will include Data Mining & Analytics, Advanced Marketing Metrics, Data Visualization & Communication Graphics, and Consumer Relationship Management. The program will also feature a semester-long consulting project for a corporate client.

“The field of consumer analytics offers a broad array of career opportunities,” said LIM College’s dean of graduate studies Susan Baxter in a release. “Graduates will be prepared to fill positions as data analysts, trend forecasters, business development specialists, market researchers, and customer relationship managers on the retail, wholesale and brand sides of the global fashion business.” The introduction of the new program reflects the growing importance of consumer analytics in the fashion industry as data technology is increasingly harnessed to drive everything from decisions concerning customer services to the conception of collections, as in the case of Yoox’s upcoming private label. “For nearly 80 years, LIM College has been committed to meeting the needs of employers in the fashion and related industries,” explained LIM College president Elizabeth S. Marcuse. “As businesses throughout the world increasingly seek to harness the power of data analytics, the demand for employees with advanced skills in this area is rising rapidly.” Applicants for Lim College’s new MS in Consumer Analytics must have a bachelor’s degree and at least two years of work experience.