Breaking into the fashion industry is not easy, therefore a lot of people prefer to get a degree in a more practical field. This way they have something to fall back on if things don't work out in fashion, whether this is men's fashion or for women. There is however the option of getting a certificate in fashion design and merchandising if you have a degree in another field and you want to transfer into the fashion industry.
A certificate in fashion design and merchandising is usually intended for people who already have a degree and who wish to break into the fashion industry. Most people who want to work in the field of fashion will actually pursue a degree in a different field and then take the certificate afterwards to prepare them for the fashion industry. In many cases they will have a related degree, for example in marketing. However in many cases they will have degrees that are in totally unrelated fields. Don't overlook this way of getting into the fashion industry. Having a broad range of skills can be a huge help and most of the stuff that you learned during your degree program will come in handy.
In most cases a certificate in fashion design and merchandising will be offered by design schools however they are also frequently offered by regular colleges as well. The entry requirements will vary depending on the school. Some will require just a bachelor's degree while others will require that you have certain specific course in fashion. If they do require specific courses as pre-requisites they will normally offer those course so that people who don't have them can take them.
In most cases a certificate program will last about one year. Of course if you have to take the pre-requisite courses first you can expect to add an extra semester. These programs are intended primarily for people who are looking for and entry level job in the fashion industry. There is after all only so much that you can learn in a one year course. However these programs can often be used to meet the entry requirements for a master's degree in the field of fashion.
One option that you might want to consider is to get your certificate online. There are an increasing number of schools that now offer these programs online. After spending four years working on your bachelor's degree you are likely going to be pretty anxious to get out there and start working. That can make an online program ideal. This is especially true if you are able to find a job in the fashion industry. You probably won't be able to find a job in design or in merchandising but there are lots of other areas to the fashion industry. If you get a job in one of these fields and then pursue your certificate online you may be able to transfer into one of the more glamorous fields later.