Retail Merchandising Minor

Program Coordinator/Contact

Jane Hegland, Department Head
Department of Consumer Sciences
Wagner Hall 229
605-688-5196

Program Information

A minor in Retail Merchandising will provide a focus on the retail and merchandising function, and will provide opportunities for students to become professionals capable of entering the workforce of retail and fashion. The minor is a way for students to diversify their education and incorporate analytical thinking, business skills, and global apparel perspective into their overall academic experience. The coursework is designed to prepare students with a better understanding of the retail and merchandising function in the apparel and fashion industry, which will expand their understanding of how the retail experience and the merchandise meets the needs of the consumer, allows them to identify the origins and meanings of trends, and broadens their understanding of the political, economic, and social factors that play a role in the global market.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the minor in Retail Merchandising will:

• Define terminology, concepts, and theories related to the apparel industry, retail environment, and the role of fashion in society.
• Demonstrate understanding of the economic, political, and social issues that underlie the global apparel industry.
• Recognize and appraise the strategic and operations-oriented policies, methods, and procedures used by successful retailers in today’s global economy.
• Identify the origins of trends and examine their influence on the consumer market.

Academic Requirements

Fashion Studies and Retail Merchandising majors are not eligible for the minor.

Course Delivery Format

Students learn through lecture, laboratory, and hands-on learning experiences.