Laura Nix Bishop
Recruitment Coordinator
College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management
The University of South Carolina's Bachelor of Science in retailing offers two distinct areas of concentration:
- Retail Management
- Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations
Retail management presents a broad scope of product sales and customer service, including everything from e-commerce to sales strategy in a limitless variety of categories. Fashion merchandising and digital innovations is dedicated to helping students gain a focused understanding of the business of fashion—from Fashion Product Analysis (RETL 368), to Visual Merchandising (RETL 365), to Fashion and the Law (RETL 530).
Curriculum
The required minimum of 120 credit hours includes a strong business focus, two career-related work experiences and a wide variety of course options so students can customize their degree to match their career goals.
Sample Course Overview
- English
- Freshman seminar
- History
- Principles of fashion merchandising
- Principals of retailing
- Public speaking
- Math/statistics or computer science
- Accounting
- Computer applications in business
- Business law
- Business communications
- Economics
- Professional development seminar
- Retailing practicum experience
- Retail management or fashion merchandising electives: Students focusing on retail management are introduced to courses that cover management methods, location analysis, store organization, personnel planning, buying and pricing techniques, and customer service policies for retail firms. Those concentrating on fashion merchandising delve into the role of fashion in buying, selling, and promoting merchandise, addressing the needs of individuals in retail organizations from entry-level positions to buyers.
- Personnel organization and supervision
- E-commerce
- Loss prevention
- Marketing / services marketing
- Retail branding strategies
- Retail buying
- Retail promotion
- Retailing internship experience
- Sales strategies
- Contemporary trends in fashion: This course explores current industry movements, innovations, and consumer preferences shaping the global fashion market.
- Fashion product analysis: Students examine fabric, construction, quality standards, and marketability of fashion products to understand their role in retail success.
- Merchandise management strategies: This focuses on inventory planning, pricing, and product assortment techniques to maximize retail profitability and efficiency.
- Multinational retailing: Students analyze the strategies, challenges, and opportunities of operating retail businesses across international markets.
- Retail management strategies: Provides an in-depth look at leadership, operational planning, and decision-making in retail organizations.
- Retail shopper analysis: Students study consumer behavior, shopping patterns, and purchasing decisions to develop effective retail marketing and sales strategies.
- Retail management electives: These advanced electives allow students to tailor their degree with specialized coursework in areas such as technology, branding, or operations.
- Small business organization and operation: Covers key principles of launching, managing, and sustaining a successful small retail business.
- Visual merchandising / store design: Students explore the principles of store layout, display techniques, and branding to create engaging in-store experiences.
For more details about the degree requirements and curriculum for the B.S. in retailing, please visit the academic bulletin.
Undergraduate Internship Requirement
The program requires two internship experiences prior to graduation, so every student graduates with two career experiences on their resume. The first can be any retail industry job and is typically completed during sophomore year. The second is usually completed during junior or senior year and involves taking on more responsibility in a managerial or supervisory position to provide students with leadership training.
Career Success
The college provides dedicated internship directors, experienced faculty and a director of corporate engagement to help students get the most out of opportunities to work with companies like Apple, Under Armour, Ralph Lauren, Belk, Amazon, Target, Zappos and more. Our alumni work all around the world in every sector of retail, in big-name companies and businesses they started from scratch.
Here are just a few examples of the high-growth career paths for retailing alumni: apparel manufacturer, buyer, consumer analyst, corporate trainer, customer relationship manager, digital merchandiser, e-commerce manager, financial planner, logistics manager, loss prevention specialist, marketing manager, merchandiser, omnichannel strategist, product designer, retail manager, retail planner, sales manager, retail entrepreneur, stylist, supply chain manager, visual merchandiser, and wholesaler.
Check out the photo gallery below to see where some of our alumni are finding their career success following graduation.
Experiential Learning
Teaching becomes powerful when students see lessons brought to life through real-world experiences. That’s why hands-on learning is a hallmark of our degree programs. Go beyond the classroom with behind-the-scenes field trips, exclusive work opportunities, study abroad courses and opportunities to attend national industry conferences and the biggest events in fashion.
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New York Fashion Week
A trip to New York Fashion Week is a dream for any student working toward a career in the fashion industry. USC's College of HRSM has partnered with industry leaders to make it possible for students to not only attend, but access experiences not available to the general public. The experience includes entry into select runway shows, networking opportunities with industry leaders and a panel discussion with entrepreneurs and top collegiate licensee executives. Students also attend NYFW runway shows, as well as backstage tours to observe the production and execution of a fashion show in action.
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Gamecock iHub
Under the management leadership of retailing faculty and staff, the Gamecock iHub is operated by students—providing a valuable opportunity to earn real-world experience working with a global retail leader. Students gain pragmatic knowledge in sales, inventory management and operations, and also gain niche training in areas of marketing, brand management and asset protection. The store is the first of its kind in the region and only the second in the nation to incorporate student experiential learning into its business model.
Student Organized
Make new friends and career connections by getting involved in one of the many student organizations on campus. Join USC Fashion Board and host a runway event. Or, join the student chapter of the National Retail Federation to enrich your professional development. The opportunities are endless and we're here to help you make the most of your college experience.
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National Retail Federation
The student chapter of this national industry organization provides talented students interested in retail with unique educational and scholarship programs, networking opportunities and access to the latest industry news and research.
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USC Fashion Board
Fashion Board is committed to helping its members achieve both personal and professional growth in the fashion, beauty and retail industries through collaborations with local retailers and hands-on fashion-related experiences.
Get in Touch