Twin Cities campus

This is archival data. This system was retired as of August 21, 2023 and the information on this page has not been updated since then. For current information, visit catalogs.umn.edu.

 
Twin Cities Campus

Retail Merchandising B.S.

DESGN GARP Administration
College of Design
  • Program Type: Baccalaureate
  • Requirements for this program are current for Spring 2023
  • Required credits to graduate with this degree: 120
  • Required credits within the major: 73
  • Degree: Bachelor of Science
Retail Merchandising at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities highlights the interface between the retail industry and design. You will learn about a wide range of retail strategies and management capabilities such as industry research, consumer behavior, promotions and marketing, sourcing and buying, leadership skills, retail technology, digital retail analytics and social media, as well as customer experience design. The program offers a wide range of educational and career opportunities, including hands-on learning projects, professional guest speakers, case studies, travel to study abroad foreign and/or domestic retail centers, and professional experiences like internships in store or corporate environments with start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. Entry-level positions include omni-channel retailing management, visual merchandising, retail buying, fashion marketing, product development and brand management, sourcing and supply chain management, retail analytics and customer relationship management, sales representative, store and human capital management, advertising, and sales promotion.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
  • via classroom (the majority of instruction is face-to-face)
Admission Requirements
Admission is competitive and space is limited.
For information about University of Minnesota admission requirements, visit the Office of Admissions website.
General Requirements
All students in baccalaureate degree programs are required to complete general University and college requirements including writing and liberal education courses. For more information about University-wide requirements, see the liberal education requirements. Required courses for the major, minor or certificate in which a student receives a D grade (with or without plus or minus) do not count toward the major, minor or certificate (including transfer courses).
Program Requirements
At least 15 credits upper division credits in the major must be taken at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus.
Required Retail Merchandising Basic Courses
DES 1111 - Creative Problem Solving (3.0 cr)
MKTG 3001 - Principles of Marketing (3.0 cr)
CI 1871 - Computer Literacy and Problem Solving (4.0 cr)
DES 1101W - Introduction to Design Thinking [AH, WI] (4.0 cr)
or DES 1101V - Honors: Introduction to Design Thinking [AH, WI] (4.0 cr)
APEC 1101 - Principles of Microeconomics [SOCS, GP] (4.0 cr)
or APEC 1101H - Principles of Microeconomics [SOCS, GP] (4.0 cr)
or ECON 1101 - Principles of Microeconomics [SOCS, GP] (4.0 cr)
BA 2551 - Business Statistics in R [MATH] (4.0 cr)
or SOC 3811 - Social Statistics [MATH] (4.0 cr)
or STAT 3011 - Introduction to Statistical Analysis [MATH] (4.0 cr)
or STAT 3022 - Data Analysis (4.0 cr)
WRIT 3562W - Technical and Professional Writing [WI] (4.0 cr)
or WRIT 3562V - Honors: Technical and Professional Writing [WI] (4.0 cr)
or ENGL 3027W - The Essay [WI] (4.0 cr)
MGMT 3001 - Fundamentals of Management (3.0 cr)
MATH 1031 - College Algebra and Probability [MATH] (3.0 cr)
or CI 1806 - College Algebra through Modeling [MATH] (3.0 cr)
or MATH 1051 - Precalculus I [MATH] (3.0 cr)
or MATH 1142 - Short Calculus [MATH] (4.0 cr)
or MATH 1271 - Calculus I [MATH] (4.0 cr)
or MATH 1371 - CSE Calculus I [MATH] (4.0 cr)
Required Retail Merchandising Core
RM 1201 - Fashion, Ethics, and Consumption [CIV] (3.0 cr)
RM 2215 - Introduction to Retail Merchandising (3.0 cr)
RM 2234 - Retailing in a Digital Age [TS] (3.0 cr)
RM 3124 - Consumers of Design (3.0 cr)
RM 3201 - Career and Internship Preparation for Retail Merchandising (1.0 cr)
RM 3242 - Retail Buying (3.0 cr)
RM 4196 - Internship in Retail Merchandising (1.0-2.0 cr)
RM 4217 - International Retail Markets [GP] (3.0 cr)
RM 4248 - Creative Leadership in Retailing (3.0 cr)
Retail Merchandising Electives
Complete a minimum of 18 credits from the list.
Take 18 or more credit(s) from the following:
· ADES 2213 - Textile Product Analysis (4.0 cr)
· ADES 2214 - Softlines Analysis (3.0 cr)
· ADES 3217 - Fashion: Trends and Communication (3.0 cr)
· ADES 3121 - History of Fashion, 19th to 21st Century (3.0 cr)
· ADES 4215 - Product Development: Softlines (4.0 cr)
· ADES 4218W - Fashion, Design, and the Global Industry [WI] (3.0 cr)
· DES 2101 - Design and Visual Presentation (3.0 cr)
· DES 2701 - Creative Design Methods (3.0 cr)
· RM 3170 - Topics in Retail Merchandising (1.0-4.0 cr)
· RM 3196 - Field Study: National or International (1.0-4.0 cr)
· RM 3243 - Visual Merchandising (2.0 cr)
· RM 3244 - Virtual Reality Retailing (2.0 cr)
· RM 4117W - Retail Environments and Human Behavior [WI] (3.0 cr)
· RM 4123 - Living in a Consumer Society (3.0 cr)
· RM 4212W - Dress, Society, and Culture [WI] (3.0 cr)
· RM 4216 - Retail Promotions (3.0 cr)
· RM 4234 - Digital Retail Analytics and Social Media (3.0 cr)
· RM 4247 - Advanced Buying and Sourcing (3.0 cr)
Upper Division Writing Intensive within the Major
Students are required to take one upper division writing intensive course within the major. If that requirement has not been satisfied within the core major requirements, students must choose one course from the following list. Some of these courses may also fulfill other major requirements.
Take 0 - 1 course(s) from the following:
· ADES 4218W - Fashion, Design, and the Global Industry [WI] (3.0 cr)
· ENGL 3027W - The Essay [WI] (4.0 cr)
· RM 4117W - Retail Environments and Human Behavior [WI] (3.0 cr)
· RM 4212W - Dress, Society, and Culture [WI] (3.0 cr)
· WRIT 3562W - Technical and Professional Writing [WI] (4.0 cr)
· WRIT 3562V - Honors: Technical and Professional Writing [WI] (4.0 cr)
 
More program views..
View college catalog(s):
· College of Design

View future requirement(s):
· Fall 2023

View sample plan(s):
· Retail Merchandising BS Sample Plan

View checkpoint chart:
· Retail Merchandising B.S.
View PDF Version:
Search.
Search Programs

Search University Catalogs
Related links.

College of Design

TC Undergraduate Admissions

TC Undergraduate Application

One Stop
for tuition, course registration, financial aid, academic calendars, and more
 
DES 1111 - Creative Problem Solving
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Des 1111/Des 1111H
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Development of creative capability applicable to all fields of study. Problem solving techniques. Theory of creativity/innovation.
MKTG 3001 - Principles of Marketing
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Mktg 3001/Mktg 3001H
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Introduction to terms, concepts, and skills for analyzing marketing problems. Factors outside the organization affecting its product, pricing, promotion, and distribution decisions. Cases from actual organizations. prereq: ECON 1101 or ECON 1165
CI 1871 - Computer Literacy and Problem Solving
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: CI 1871/PSTL 1571/RM 1203
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Competencies in computer applications used in the social sciences and business to solve problems. Using advanced word processing techniques to create complex documents, electronic spreadsheets to analyze data and present it graphically, database management programs to store, organize, and query data, and presentation software to communicate ideas.
DES 1101W - Introduction to Design Thinking (AH, WI)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Des 1101W/Des 1101V
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Theories/processes that underpin design thinking. Interactions between humans and their natural, social, and designed environments where purposeful design helps determine quality of interaction. Design professions.
DES 1101V - Honors: Introduction to Design Thinking (AH, WI)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Des 1101W/Des 1101V
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Theories/processes that underpin design thinking. Interactions between humans and their natural, social, and designed environments where purposeful design helps determine quality of interaction. Design professions. prereq: Honors student
APEC 1101 - Principles of Microeconomics (SOCS, GP)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Econ 1101/1165 ApEc 1101/1101H
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Economic behavior of consumers/firms in domestic/international markets. Demand, supply, competition. Efficiency, Invisible Hand. Monopoly, imperfect competition. Externalities, property rights. Economics of public policy in environment/health/safety. Public goods, tax policy.
APEC 1101H - Principles of Microeconomics (SOCS, GP)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Econ 1101/1165 ApEc 1101/1101H
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Economic behavior of consumers/firms in domestic/international markets. Demand, supply, competition. Efficiency, Invisible Hand. Monopoly, imperfect competition. Externalities, property rights. Economics of public policy in environment/health/safety. Public goods, tax policy. prereq: Honors student, proficiency in high school algebra
ECON 1101 - Principles of Microeconomics (SOCS, GP)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Econ 1101/1165 ApEc 1101/1101H
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Microeconomic behavior of consumers, firms, and markets in domestic and world economy. Demand and supply. Competition and monopoly. Distribution of income. Economic interdependencies in the global economy. Effects of global linkages on individual decisions. prereq: knowledge of plane geometry and advanced algebra
BA 2551 - Business Statistics in R (MATH)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: BA 2551/SCO 2550
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
The purpose of the course is to develop skills for improving data-driven decision-making using statistical techniques in the powerful statistical software environment R. As an introductory statistics course, the content will include three main areas of statistics: Descriptive Statistics, Statistical Inference, and Analysis of Relationships with Scatterplots, Correlation and Linear Regression. Developing statistical literacy is increasingly important in understanding data and engaging in the complex business world. BA 2551 focuses on statistical reasoning and how to implement statistical methods in a business context using R. Topics include (but are not limited to) descriptive statistics, statistical inference, variability, sampling, distributions, correlation analysis, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, graphical summaries of data, and introduction to linear regression. Through weekly in-class lab sessions and critical thinking assignments related to statistics in business, the course will train students to become informed consumers of numerical information and provide foundational skills in R to compute statistical procedures in future courses. We use existing packages in R as a tool to enable us to solve business problems that can leverage mathematical and statistical thinking. prereq: [Math 1031 or equiv]
SOC 3811 - Social Statistics (MATH)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
This course will introduce majors and non-majors to basic statistical measures and procedures that are used to describe and analyze quantitative data in sociological research. The topics include (1) frequency and percentage distributions, (2) central tendency and dispersion, (3) probability theory and statistical inference, (4) models of bivariate analysis, and (5) basics of multivariate analysis. Lectures on these topics will be given in class, and lab exercises are designed to help students learn statistical skills and software needed to analyze quantitative data provided in the class. prereq: Undergraduates with strong math background are encouraged to register for 5811 in lieu of 3811 (Soc 5811 offered Fall terms only). Soc Majors/Minors must register A-F.
STAT 3011 - Introduction to Statistical Analysis (MATH)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: AnSc 3011/ESPM 3012/Stat 3011/
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Standard statistical reasoning. Simple statistical methods. Social/physical sciences. Mathematical reasoning behind facts in daily news. Basic computing environment.
STAT 3022 - Data Analysis
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Practical survey of applied statistical inference/computing covering widely used statistical tools. Multiple regression, variance analysis, experiment design, nonparametric methods, model checking/selection, variable transformation, categorical data analysis, logistic regression. prereq: 3011 or 3021 or SOC 3811
WRIT 3562W - Technical and Professional Writing (WI)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Writ 3562V/Writ 3562W
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
This course introduces students to technical and professional writing through various readings and assignments in which students analyze and create texts that work to communicate complex information, solve problems, and complete tasks. Students gain knowledge of workplace genres as well as to develop skills in composing such genres. This course allows students to practice rhetorically analyzing writing situations and composing genres such as memos, proposals, instructions, research reports, and presentations. Students work in teams to develop collaborative content and to compose in a variety of modes including text, graphics, video, audio, and digital. Students also conduct both primary and secondary research and practice usability testing. The course emphasizes creating documents that are goal-driven and appropriate for a specific context and audience.
WRIT 3562V - Honors: Technical and Professional Writing (WI)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Writ 3562V/Writ 3562W
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
This course introduces students to technical and professional writing through various readings and assignments in which students analyze and create texts that work to communicate complex information, solve problems, and complete tasks. Students gain knowledge of workplace genres as well as to develop skills in composing such genres. This course allows students to practice rhetorically analyzing writing situations and composing genres such as memos, proposals, instructions, research reports, and presentations. Students work in teams to develop collaborative content and to compose in a variety of modes including text, graphics, video, audio, and digital. Students also conduct both primary and secondary research and practice usability testing. The course emphasizes creating documents that are goal-driven and appropriate for a specific context and audience. Honors section includes discussion on scholarly readings in technical and professional writing as well as a final project that must be addressed to a real-world audience.
ENGL 3027W - The Essay (WI)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: EngC 3027W/EngL 3027W
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
This is a course for students ready to face more challenging assignments and deepen their comfort and skill with writing. The instructor helps the student develop more sophisticated research strategies and experiment with more creative stylistic choices. Assignments might include autobiographies, critical comparisons, reviews of articles or books, cultural analyses, persuasive essays, and annotated bibliographies. Students in this course learn to 1) generate topics and develop essays with greater independence than they exercised in freshman composition, 2) write for multiple audiences?academic and non-academic?making appropriate decisions about content, rhetoric, structure, vocabulary, style, and format, 3) write creative non-fiction and other genres incorporating complex description and analysis, 4) analyze the conventions and styles of writing in their major field, and 5) experiment with new and more sophisticated writing strategies and styles.
MGMT 3001 - Fundamentals of Management
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
This course is about the foundational principles of management, encompassing disciplinary and topical boundaries. We will look at these principles from the perspective of how they guide action, specifically: planning, organizing, leading and controlling. By the end of the course, students will know the basics of how to set up organizations to be effective and innovative, and not just efficient. During the course, you will engage with the material in the course and understand how management frameworks can be used to choose the right internal structures and processes that can best react to your particular industry context and general business environment.
MATH 1031 - College Algebra and Probability (MATH)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: CI 1806/Math 1031
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Graphs of equations and functions, transformations of graphs; linear, quadratic, polynomial, and rational functions, with applications; inverses and compositions of functions; exponential and logarithmic functions with applications; basic probability rules, conditional probabilities, binomial probabilities. prereq: 3 yrs high school math or satisfactory score on placement exam or grade of at least C- in [PSTL 731 or PSTL 732 or CI 0832]
CI 1806 - College Algebra through Modeling (MATH)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: CI 1806/Math 1031
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Math modeling, including linear, polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic functions, counting/probability. Excel or calculators used to develop equations/graphs from theoretical/real interdisciplinary data. Projects enable students to use models to examine trends, make predictions. prereq: Three yrs high school math or grade of at least C+ in PsTL 0731 or PsTL 0732 or CI 0832 or placement test score or instr consent
MATH 1051 - Precalculus I (MATH)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Graphs of equations and functions, transformations of graphs; linear, quadratic, polynomial, and rational functions with applications; zeroes of polynomials; inverses and compositions of functions; exponential and logarithmic functions with applications; coverage beyond that found in the usual 3 years of high school math. prereq: 3 yrs of high school math or satisfactory score on placement test or grade of at least C- in [PSTL 731 or PSTL 732 or CI 0832]
MATH 1142 - Short Calculus (MATH)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
A streamlined one-semester tour of differential and integral calculus in one variable, and differential calculus in two variables. No trigonometry/does not have the same depth as MATH 1271-1272. Formulas and their interpretation and use in applications. prereq: Satisfactory score on placement test or grade of at least C- in [1031 or 1051]
MATH 1271 - Calculus I (MATH)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Math 1271/Math 1381/Math 1571/
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Differential calculus of functions of a single variable, including polynomial, rational, exponential, and trig functions. Applications, including optimization and related rates problems. Single variable integral calculus, using anti-derivatives and simple substitution. Applications may include area, volume, work problems. prereq: 4 yrs high school math including trig or satisfactory score on placement test or grade of at least C- in [1151 or 1155]
MATH 1371 - CSE Calculus I (MATH)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Math 1271/Math 1381/Math 1571/
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Differentiation of single-variable functions, basics of integration of single-variable functions. Applications: max-min, related rates, area, curve-sketching. Use of calculator, cooperative learning. prereq: CSE or pre-bioprod concurrent registration is required (or allowed) in biosys engn (PRE), background in [precalculus, geometry, visualization of functions/graphs], instr consent; familiarity with graphing calculators recommended
RM 1201 - Fashion, Ethics, and Consumption (CIV)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Apparel business. Overview of steps in the process of creating, merchandising, selling, and consuming apparel. Various ethical positions reflected in manufacturer, retailer, and consumer decision making are considered.
RM 2215 - Introduction to Retail Merchandising
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
This course is designed to introduce concepts involved in the retail business and provide a high-level overview into all aspects of managing, planning and executing within this environment. Concepts include omni channel/multichannel retailing, digital retailing, consumer behavior, buying, inventory planning, supply chain, pricing, financial planning, human resources, store locations, store layout, and visual merchandising.
RM 2234 - Retailing in a Digital Age (TS)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
Students will explore and evaluate the impact of emergence of retail technology on the retail industry and consumers as well as on the society at large. Changes in the retail business and consumer behaviors will be examined in relation to emerging technologies. Both benefits and concerns related to digital retailing will be discussed.
RM 3124 - Consumers of Design
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ApSt 5124/RM 4124
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Contemporary approaches to consumer behavior. Focus is on understanding why people buy certain products/services by reviewing the examples found in the design-related industry, including apparel. This course discusses various psychology related theories to understand internal and external influences shaping consumer decisions.
RM 3201 - Career and Internship Preparation for Retail Merchandising
Credits: 1.0 [max 1.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Research career opportunities related to retail industry, set career objectives based on an assessment of individual skills/interests, and identify job search skills to implement a transition from college to employment. prereq: Retail merchandising major
RM 3242 - Retail Buying
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Principles/mathematics of merchandise inventory control, merchandise selection. prereq: [2215 or DHA 2215]; [MATH 1031 or MATH 1051 or MATH 1142 or MATH 1151 or MATH 1155 or MATH 1271 or CALG student group]; [jr or sr]; retail merchandising [major or minor] or instr consent
RM 4196 - Internship in Retail Merchandising
Credits: 1.0 -2.0 [max 2.0]
Grading Basis: S-N only
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Supervised work experience in the retail industry, business, or related field of study, plus related assignments.
RM 4217 - International Retail Markets (GP)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Operating a retail business in foreign countries. How international markets differ from U.S. market. Effects of sociocultural systems within foreign countries. Theories of international trade. Interface between countries and firms. Strategic alternatives for global retail operations.
RM 4248 - Creative Leadership in Retailing
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Theory/research on creative leadership. Opportunities to apply knowledge to contemporary issues facing practicing retail leaders.
ADES 2213 - Textile Product Analysis
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of fibers, yarns, textile structures, and finishes. Their effect on performance/appearance of textile products, including apparel, interior, and industrial textiles.
ADES 2214 - Softlines Analysis
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Physical characteristics of softline products related to function for target market. Class experiences based on methods of analysis, including visual inspection, quality, construction, costing, and fit/sizing. prereq: DHA major or minor or instr consent
ADES 3217 - Fashion: Trends and Communication
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Relation of fashion trends to visual analysis of apparel. Application to design/retail. Study of techniques and processes of identifying socio-cultural indicators, past and present trends, and methods for determining future trends in fashion and related industries. Communication skills are developed through assignments, in-class activities, lecture/discussion, guest-speaker presentations, and a trend forecasting project.
ADES 3121 - History of Fashion, 19th to 21st Century
Credits: 3.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: ADes 4121/ApSt 5121
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Survey of apparel and appearances in Western cultures, from the 18th century to the present. Role of gender, race, and class with respect to the change in dress within historical moments and social contexts will be addressed. Students will learn and apply research approaches and methods in the study and interpretation of dress using objects from the Goldstein Museum of Design.
ADES 4215 - Product Development: Softlines
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Product development for apparel and other sewn products. Developing products in a lab studio for effectiveness, reliability, and marketability. Team approach using merchandising/design principles to develop products for specific markets. prereq: 2213 or DHA 2213 or apparel design major or clothing design major or retail merchandising major or instr consent
ADES 4218W - Fashion, Design, and the Global Industry (WI)
Credits: 3.0 [max 6.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Relationship of fashion, dress, and culture to fashion industry. Globalization, fashion centers, design, time/place. Focuses on Chinese fashion industry. prereq: Upper level undergraduate or grad student
DES 2101 - Design and Visual Presentation
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
This course introduces students to three of the main design software applications in the industry: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe InDesign through a practical, hands-on approach, focusing on teaching students to develop designs using the applications and prepare files for production.
DES 2701 - Creative Design Methods
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
This class is an introduction to a variety of tools and methods used in developing new products, services, and experiences. The focus of the class is on the early stages of design which includes user research, market research, idea generation methods, concept evaluation, concept selection, intellectual property, and idea presentation. Students will learn the divergent and convergent design thinking process to frame problems, and generate, refine, and communicate ideas. Students work individually and in groups applying the content taught in lecture to multiple assignments and a semester-long design project.
RM 3170 - Topics in Retail Merchandising
Credits: 1.0 -4.0 [max 16.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer
In-depth investigation of specific topic.
RM 3196 - Field Study: National or International
Credits: 1.0 -4.0 [max 10.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Faculty-directed field study in national or international setting. prereq: instr consent
RM 3243 - Visual Merchandising
Credits: 2.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Retail store environment. Physical/psychological effects that initiate/motivate consumer behavior. Merchandise display: creativity, department layout, fixturing, lighting, cross merchandising, visual resources, signing, maintenance. prereq: 2215 or instructor consent
RM 3244 - Virtual Reality Retailing
Credits: 2.0 [max 2.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
Students will use a virtual 3D store modeling software package, to conceptualize and design store interior, layout, fixtures, lighting, signs, merchandising planograms based on an understanding of visual merchandising foundational knowledge.
RM 4117W - Retail Environments and Human Behavior (WI)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
Theory/research related to designed environments across retail channels. prereq: 2215 or DHA 2215, [jr or sr or grad student], [design major or minor or instr consent]
RM 4123 - Living in a Consumer Society
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ApSt 5123/RM 4123
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Fall
Consumerism within U.S. society. Commodification of health care, education, and production of news. Commercialization of public space/culture. What drives consumer society. How meaning is manufactured. What the lived experiences are of consumers today. Postmodern market. Alternatives to consumer society. prereq: Sr, retail merchandising major or minor
RM 4212W - Dress, Society, and Culture (WI)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Contemporary dress from diverse cultures within/outside USA analyzed using social science concepts. Dress as nonverbal communication system. prereq: [Jr or sr or grad student], [design major or minor or instr consent]
RM 4216 - Retail Promotions
Credits: 3.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: ApSt 4216/ApSt 5216/RM 4216
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Role of integrated marketing communications in retail businesses. Promotion techniques/media characteristics. Application of theories behind consumer decision making. prereq: 2215, [jr or sr or grad student], [DHA major or minor or instr consent]
RM 4234 - Digital Retail Analytics and Social Media
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
In this digital era, a large volume of digital footprints of users is being generated. The characteristics of users and their behaviors are tracked through various digital media such as websites, social media, and mobile platforms. Using quantitative methods to measure and analyze this ?big data? has become crucial as it allows retailers and marketers to make informed decisions concerning consumer behavior. This course is designed to prepare students to become leaders in the digital retail world by leveraging various digital metrics and insights related to sales, reach, customers, to make strategic business decisions.
RM 4247 - Advanced Buying and Sourcing
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
This course is designed to familiarize students with the decisions involved in running a retail business and the concepts and principles for making those decisions. Major topics covered include sourcing, factory production and operations, supply chain management, translating trends into designs, managing merchandise assortments, merchandise planning systems, buying and sourcing, retail pricing and building a six month financial plan. MS-Excel for solving strategic problems in retail buying.
ADES 4218W - Fashion, Design, and the Global Industry (WI)
Credits: 3.0 [max 6.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Relationship of fashion, dress, and culture to fashion industry. Globalization, fashion centers, design, time/place. Focuses on Chinese fashion industry. prereq: Upper level undergraduate or grad student
ENGL 3027W - The Essay (WI)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: EngC 3027W/EngL 3027W
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
This is a course for students ready to face more challenging assignments and deepen their comfort and skill with writing. The instructor helps the student develop more sophisticated research strategies and experiment with more creative stylistic choices. Assignments might include autobiographies, critical comparisons, reviews of articles or books, cultural analyses, persuasive essays, and annotated bibliographies. Students in this course learn to 1) generate topics and develop essays with greater independence than they exercised in freshman composition, 2) write for multiple audiences?academic and non-academic?making appropriate decisions about content, rhetoric, structure, vocabulary, style, and format, 3) write creative non-fiction and other genres incorporating complex description and analysis, 4) analyze the conventions and styles of writing in their major field, and 5) experiment with new and more sophisticated writing strategies and styles.
RM 4117W - Retail Environments and Human Behavior (WI)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
Theory/research related to designed environments across retail channels. prereq: 2215 or DHA 2215, [jr or sr or grad student], [design major or minor or instr consent]
RM 4212W - Dress, Society, and Culture (WI)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Contemporary dress from diverse cultures within/outside USA analyzed using social science concepts. Dress as nonverbal communication system. prereq: [Jr or sr or grad student], [design major or minor or instr consent]
WRIT 3562W - Technical and Professional Writing (WI)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Writ 3562V/Writ 3562W
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
This course introduces students to technical and professional writing through various readings and assignments in which students analyze and create texts that work to communicate complex information, solve problems, and complete tasks. Students gain knowledge of workplace genres as well as to develop skills in composing such genres. This course allows students to practice rhetorically analyzing writing situations and composing genres such as memos, proposals, instructions, research reports, and presentations. Students work in teams to develop collaborative content and to compose in a variety of modes including text, graphics, video, audio, and digital. Students also conduct both primary and secondary research and practice usability testing. The course emphasizes creating documents that are goal-driven and appropriate for a specific context and audience.
WRIT 3562V - Honors: Technical and Professional Writing (WI)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Writ 3562V/Writ 3562W
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
This course introduces students to technical and professional writing through various readings and assignments in which students analyze and create texts that work to communicate complex information, solve problems, and complete tasks. Students gain knowledge of workplace genres as well as to develop skills in composing such genres. This course allows students to practice rhetorically analyzing writing situations and composing genres such as memos, proposals, instructions, research reports, and presentations. Students work in teams to develop collaborative content and to compose in a variety of modes including text, graphics, video, audio, and digital. Students also conduct both primary and secondary research and practice usability testing. The course emphasizes creating documents that are goal-driven and appropriate for a specific context and audience. Honors section includes discussion on scholarly readings in technical and professional writing as well as a final project that must be addressed to a real-world audience.