The Department of Retailing offers a program leading to the of bachelor of science degree with a major in retailing (with emphases in retail management and fashion merchandising). These programs emphasize a strong liberal arts background and are designed to prepare students for management positions in their respective fields.

The major in retailing, with options in retail management and fashion merchandising, prepares graduates for managerial careers in the retailing and fashion industries. In addition, the program prepares students for sales careers and ownership of retailing businesses. The program includes a core of liberal arts courses, specialized management courses related to the field, and an internship in the industry.

Progression Requirements for Entering Students

Students who seek to enroll in the professional division of the Department of Retailing must complete the college progression requirements and 45 hours in the courses indicated below with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00. Students who do not meet the specific course, semester hour, and grade point average requirements for progression must continue in the preprofessional division or change to another major. Graduation requires a 2.00 GPA.

1. Curriculum for the Preprofessional Division (45 hours)

General Education (15 hours)

ENGL 101 and 102 (6 hours)
Mathematics (6 hours)
To be satisfied using one of the following options:

a. MATH 122 or higher and a second higher MATH course, except MATH 221, 222
b. MATH 122 or higher and one course in computer science, statistics, or PHIL 110 or 111
c. two courses in one of the following areas: computer science, statistics, or PHIL 110 and 111.

ECON 224 (3 hours)

Retailing Core Courses (12 hours)

RETL 261, 262, 265, and TSTM 264

Other Courses (9-12 hours)

It is recommended that students enroll in the courses applicable to meeting the University core requirements.

2. Restricted Courses

The following courses are restricted to students enrolled in the professional division of the Department of Retailing or those students who receive special permission of the department chair: RETL 462, 463, 465, 469, 487.

Course Grade Requirements

All courses used to meet the student's emphasis (i.e., retail management or fashion merchandising) must be completed with a grade of C or better.

Degree Requirements

1. General Education Requirements

Liberal Arts (33 hours)

ENGL 101, 102 (6 hours)
Two courses from English 282-290, one of these may be replaced by an English course above 290 or SPCH 140 (6 hours)
PSYC 101 (3 hours)
Six courses from liberal arts with a maximum of two courses in each field selected (18 hours)

Courses must include:

a. at least one course in history
b. at least one course in fine arts (art, music, theater)
c. ECON 224
d. Foreign Languages: Students shall demonstrate in one foreign language the ability to comprehend the topic and main ideas in written and, with the exception of Latin and Ancient Greek, spoken texts on familiar subjects. This ability can be demonstrated by achieving a score of two or better on a USC foreign language proficiency test. Those failing to do so must satisfactorily complete equivalent study of foreign language at USC.

Mathematics and Sciences (13 hours)

Numerical and/or analytical reasoning are required (6 hours).
This requirement may be fulfilled in one of the following ways:

a. MATH 122 or higher and a second higher MATH course, except MATH 221, 222
b. MATH 122 or higher and one course in computer science, statistics, or philosophy (110 or 111)
c. two courses in one of the following areas: computer science, statistics, or philosophy (110 and 111).

Two courses (one of which must have a laboratory) from the following sciences: astronomy, biology, chemistry, geological sciences, marine science, or physics (7-8 hours)

2. Major Requirements

RETL 261, 262, 265, 301, 344, 366, 369; TSTM 240, 264, 342; MKTG 350; HRSM 301 (34 hours)

3. Emphasis Requirements (27-30 hours)

Retail Management: RETL 350, 351, 425, 465, 487, and 9 additional hours of RETL courses selected from the following: RETL 201, 237, 268, 310, 365, 368, 388, 399, 460, 491, 525, or 562 (27 hours)

Fashion Merchandising: RETL 268, 365, 368, 388, 425, 462, 463, and 6 additional hours of RETL courses selected from the following: RETL 201, 237, 310, 350, 351, 399, 460, 487, 491, 525, or 562 (30 hours)

4. Minor/General Electives

Retail Management: minor or general electives (12 hours)
Fashion Merchandising: minor or general electives (9 hours)

Minor for nonmajors

Students with majors in other departments may supplement their major program of study by selecting a minor in retail management or fashion merchandising.

Minor in Retail Management. The minor consists of RETL 265 plus 15 hours of courses chosen from the following: RETL 310, 344, 350, 351, 366, 369, and 485.

Minor in Fashion Merchandising. The minor consists of RETL 265 and 268 plus 12 hours of courses chosen from the following: RETL 350, 365, 366, 368, 369, and 388.

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