Retailing, B.S.
Admissions
Entrance Requirements
The College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management has a pre-professional and a professional division of student classification. All new students will begin in the pre-professional division. Progression into the professional division requires the approval of the department and the successful completion of the requirements indicated under each departmental heading.
In addition to the academic admission requirements of the University and of the College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management for admission to the pre-professional division, an enrollment limit into the professional division may be imposed by various departments. Such a limit would become necessary if enrollment levels exceed available department staffing and facility resources. In the event of an enrollment limit, admission to a department may take into account the applicant’s grade point average and other factors which may include the applicant’s potential for success in that major.
Freshmen Students
In order to be admitted to a program of study in the College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management, freshmen applicants must meet all University admission requirements through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Transfer Students
In order to be admitted to a program of study in the College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management, transfer applicants from outside of the USC system must meet all University admission requirements through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and have at least a 2.25 GPA. The Hospitality, Tourism, Retailing, and Sport and Entertainment Management majors require a higher GPA than the minimum University entrance standards. Transfer applicants for Sport and Entertainment must have a cumulative GPA of a 3.0 on all college-level work attempted. Transfer applicants for Hospitality, Tourism, and Retailing must have a cumulative GPA of a 2.5 on all college-level work attempted.
Students from other USC campuses who wish to enter the College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management must fulfill one of the following requirements:
- Be in good standing, meet all University admission requirements through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, and have the cumulative GPA required for the program (see below).
- Be in good standing and have completed 30 semester hours with the cumulative GPA required for the program (see below).
Required GPA for Change of Campus: hospitality management - 2.50; interdisciplinary studies (2.0 and separate application required); retailing - 2.50; tourism management - 2.50; and sport and entertainment management - 3.0.
Students enrolled in other colleges on the Columbia campus must meet the following GPA requirements on all work taken :hospitality management - 2.50; interdisciplinary studies (2.0 and separate application required); retailing - 2.5; tourism management - 2.50; and sport and entertainment management - 3.0.
Degree Requirements (120 hours)
Program of Study
| Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| 1. Carolina Core | 31-43 |
| 2. College Requirements | 20 |
| 3. Program Requirements | 3-15 |
| 4. Major Requirements | 54 |
Founding Documents Requirement
All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade in the subject areas of History, Political Science, or African American Studies that covers the founding documents including the United State Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation and one or more documents that are foundational to the African American Freedom struggle, and a minimum of five essays from the Federalist papers. This course may count as a requirement in any part of the program of study including the Carolina Core, the major, minor or cognate, or as a general elective. Courses that meet this requirement are listed here.
Requirements (120 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Carolina Core (31-43 hours) | ||
| CMW - Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written 1 | ||
| ENGL 101 | Critical Reading and Composition | 3 |
| ENGL 102 | Rhetoric and Composition | 3 |
| ARP - Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving | ||
| CC-ARP course(s) | 6 | |
| SCI - Scientific Literacy | ||
| CC-SCI course(s) | 7 | |
| GFL - Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language | ||
| College of HRSM students must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language by achieving a score of 2 or higher on the foreign language placement test or by completing one foreign language course through 110 or 121. | ||
| CC-GFL course(s) | 0-6 | |
| GHS - Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking | ||
| CC-GHS course(s) | 3 | |
| GSS - Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences | ||
| CC-GSS course(s) | 3 | |
| AIU - Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding | ||
| CC-AIU course(s) | 3 | |
| CMS - Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component 2 | ||
| CC-CMS course(s) | 0-3 | |
| INF - Information Literacy 2 | ||
| CC-INF course(s) | 0-3 | |
| VSR - Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility 2 | ||
| CC-VSR course(s) | 0-3 | |
| 2. College Requirements (20 hours) 1 | ||
| HRSM 201 | HRSM Professional Development Seminar | 1 |
| HRSM 301 | HRSM Advanced Professional Development Seminar | 1 |
| HTMT 344 | Human Resource Management in Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management | 3 |
| RETL 242 | HRSM Professional Communications | 3 |
| RETL 261 | Principles of Accounting I | 3 |
| RETL 262 | Principles of Accounting II | 3 |
| SPTE 240 | Business Law | 3 |
| SPTE 274 | Computer Applications in Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management | 3 |
| 3. Program Requirements (3-15 hours) | ||
| Supporting Courses (1 hour) | ||
| HRSM 101 | HRSM Professional Development Career Exploration Seminar | 1 |
| Minor (0-18 hours) Optional | ||
| Retailing majors may pursue a minor in any course of study offered by the College of HRSM or the University outside the Department of Retailing. College of HRSM required courses may not be counted toward a minor. | 0-18 | |
| Electives (0-14 hours) | ||
| The additional hours of electives may vary depending upon how students fulfill the Carolina Core requirements. | 0-14 | |
| 4. Major Requirements (54 hours) 1 | ||
| Retailing majors must select a concentration in either Retail Management or Fashion Merchandising and Digital Innovations. The Department of Retailing does not offer a retailing major without a concentration. | ||
| Major Courses (33 hours) | ||
| RETL 265 | Principles of Retailing | 3 |
| RETL 295 | Retailing Practicum | 3,6 |
| RETL 310 | Digital Retailing | 3 |
| RETL 340 | Sustainability in Fashion and Retail | 3 |
| RETL 366 | Retail Buying | 3 |
| RETL 369 | Retail Promotion | 3 |
| RETL 421 | Retail Finance | 3 |
| RETL 425 | Customer Experience Management | 3 |
| RETL 465 | Global Sourcing in Retail and Fashion | 3 |
| RETL 495 | Retailing Internship 3 | 6 |
| Fashion Merchandising & Digital Innovations Concentration (21 hours) | ||
| Principles of Fashion Merchandising | ||
| Digital Innovations in Fashion Merchandising | ||
| Visual Merchandising and Store Design | ||
| Fashion Product Analysis | ||
| Space Optimization for Merchandise Management | ||
Select two from the following: | ||
| Fashion History: A Global View | ||
| Fashion Through the Ages: 1800 A.D. to Present | ||
| The Changing Consumer Marketplace | ||
| Asset Protection for Retailers | ||
| Sales Strategies | ||
| Retail Entrepreneurship | ||
| Principles of Customer Service | ||
| Fashion Forecasting | ||
| Retail Branding Strategies | ||
| Category Management | ||
| Multi-National Retailing | ||
| Retail Management Strategies | ||
| Fashion and the Law | ||
| Retail Logistics | ||
| Retail and Fashion Business Planning | ||
| Advanced Merchandising Management Strategies | ||
| Advanced Retail Promotion and Social Media Analytics | ||
| Special Topics in Retail Management | ||
| Retailing/Fashion Merchandising Field Study | ||
| Retail Management Concentration (21 hours) | ||
| Asset Protection for Retailers | ||
| Sales Strategies | ||
| Retail Entrepreneurship | ||
| Principles of Customer Service | ||
| Retail Management Strategies | ||
Select two from the following: | ||
| The Changing Consumer Marketplace | ||
| Principles of Fashion Merchandising | ||
| Visual Merchandising and Store Design | ||
| Digital Innovations in Fashion Merchandising | ||
| Fashion Product Analysis | ||
| Retail Branding Strategies | ||
| Space Optimization for Merchandise Management | ||
| Multi-National Retailing | ||
| Legal Aspects of Entrepreneurship and E-Commerce | ||
| Retail Logistics | ||
| Retail and Fashion Business Planning | ||
| Advanced Merchandising Management Strategies | ||
| Advanced Retail Promotion and Social Media Analytics | ||
| Special Topics in Retail Management | ||
| Retailing/Fashion Merchandising Field Study | ||
- 1
Must be passed with a grade of C or higher.
- 2
Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements — Overlay-approved courses offer students the option of meeting two Carolina Core components in a single course. A maximum of two overlays is allowed. The total Carolina Core credit hours must add up to a minimum of 31 hours. Some programs may have a higher number of minimum Carolina Core hours due to specified requirements.
- 3
RETL 495 is estricted to retailing majors.
Students in RETL 495 may enroll in up to 7 additional credits for a total of 13 credit hours. Students will not be permitted to enroll in more than 13 total credit hours while completing RETL 495.
It is strongly recommended that students do not take additional courses while completing RETL 495.
Course is offered fall, spring and summer; summer is the preferred time for students to complete the course.
Students are responsible for securing their own internship and should contact the internship director for assistance and resources to identify and apply for opportunities of interest.
Major Map
A major map is a layout of required courses in a given program of study, including critical courses and suggested course sequences to ensure a clear path to graduation.
Major maps are only a suggested or recommended sequence of courses required in a program of study. Please contact your academic advisor for assistance in the application of specific coursework to a program of study and course selection and planning for upcoming semesters.
Retailing, B.S. Fashion Merchandising & Digital Innovations Concentration
Retailing, B.S. Retail Management Concentration
Retailing, B.S. Fashion Merchandising & Digital Innovations Concentration
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| ENGL 101 | Critical Reading and Composition | 3 |
| Carolina Core ARP Requirement | 3 | |
| RETL 268 | Principles of Fashion Merchandising | 3 |
| HRSM 101 | HRSM Professional Development Career Exploration Seminar | 1 |
| Carolina Core Requirement 3 | 3 | |
| UNIV 101 | The Student in the University (or Carolina Core Requirement) 3 | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 102 | Rhetoric and Composition | 3 |
| Carolina Core ARP Requirement | 3 | |
| RETL 265 | Principles of Retailing | 3 |
| HRSM 201 | HRSM Professional Development Seminar | 1 |
| Carolina Core Requirement | 3 | |
| Carolina Core Requirement 3 | 3-4 | |
| Credit Hours | 16-17 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| RETL 261 | Principles of Accounting I | 3 |
| SPTE 240 | Business Law | 3 |
| RETL 242 | HRSM Professional Communications | 3 |
| HRSM 301 | HRSM Advanced Professional Development Seminar | 1 |
| Foreign language or other Carolina Core Requirement 3,4 | 3-4 | |
| Credit Hours | 13-14 | |
| Spring | ||
| RETL 295 | Retailing Practicum 5 | 6 |
| RETL 262 | Principles of Accounting II | 3 |
| Foreign language or other Carolina Core Requirement 3,4 | 3 | |
| Carolina Core Requirement or Elective 3,6 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| RETL 366 | Retail Buying | 3 |
| RETL 310 | Digital Retailing | 3 |
| HTMT 344 | Human Resource Management in Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management | 3 |
| Carolina Core Requirement 3 | 3-4 | |
| Credit Hours | 12-13 | |
| Spring | ||
| RETL 365 | Visual Merchandising and Store Design | 3 |
| RETL 340 | Sustainability in Fashion and Retail | 3 |
| RETL Elective 7 | 3 | |
| SPTE 274 | Computer Applications in Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management | 3 |
| Carolina Core Requirement or Elective 3,6 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| RETL 348 | Digital Innovations in Fashion Merchandising | 3 |
| RETL 369 | Retail Promotion | 3 |
| RETL 368 | Fashion Product Analysis | 3 |
| RETL Elective 7 | 3 | |
| Carolina Core Requirement or Elective 3,6 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| RETL 462 | Space Optimization for Merchandise Management | 3 |
| RETL 421 | Retail Finance | 3 |
| RETL 425 | Customer Experience Management | 3 |
| RETL 465 | Global Sourcing in Retail and Fashion | 3 |
| Elective 6 | 2 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Summer | ||
| RETL 495 | Retailing Internship 8 | 6 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 122-125 | |
- 1
Regardless of individual course grades, students must maintain a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA.
- 2
Some colleges require a minimum GPA for major courses. Courses indicated below are included in the major GPA for this program of study.
- 3
The Carolina Core provides the common core of knowledge, skill and academic experience for all Carolina undergraduate students.
- 4
College of HRSM students must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language by achieving a score of 2 or higher on the foreign language placement test, or credit equivalent to USC 109 and 110 courses, or credit equivalent to the USC 121 course.
- 5
Supervised work experience in an area of the retail industry, selected by the student and approved by the Retailing Internship Director.
- 6
The Retailing major curriculum includes 2-14 hours of approved (free) electives, depending on how students fulfill the Carolina Core requirements and whether or not students choose a minor.
- 7
RETL Electives (6 hours): Some RETL electives have prerequisites that must be completed. Check each course’s description in the Bulletin for information. Select 2 of the following: RETL 115, 116, 237, 330, 350, 351, 362, 388, 460, 472, 485, 487, 530, 535, 551, 562, 569, 590, 592.
- 8
Internship experience within the industry that prepares students for permanent placement. Students are responsible for securing their own internship and should contact the internship director for resources to identify opportunities of interest and to seek approval once an internship has been secured. Students are not permitted to enroll in RETL 495 without seeking the approval of the internship director first. It is strongly recommended that students not take additional courses while completing RETL 495. Students will not be permitted to enroll in more than 13 total hours while completing RETL 495.
Program Notes:
- All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade that covers the founding documents. This course may fulfill any requirement in the program of study. Courses that meet this requirement are listed in the academic bulletin.
- Clarification of RETL 295: Retailing Practicum vs. RETL 495: Retailing Internship
- RETL 295: Retailing Practicum—a practicum is a job in retailing or a closely-related field, for example, as a clerk or an associate in a store, boutique or gift shop, in an insurance or real estate company, in a bank or other financial institution, etc.
- RETL 495: Retailing Internship—an internship gives the student more responsibility and an intense experience in retailing or a closely-related field and may take one of two forms:
- 1) the student is participating in an employer’s formal internship program as an intern, or
- 2) the student is interning for an employer that does not have a formal internship program; however, the student is working in a position on a higher level than the practicum; for example, as an assistant manager, an assistant buyer, a manager trainee, etc.
- Students must complete RETL 295: Retailing Practicum before they can enroll in RETL 495: Retailing Internship. Both are required for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Retailing.
- No courses of remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward the Bachelor of Science Degree in Retailing.
- The last 30 credit hours toward your degree must be earned in residence at the University of South Carolina-Columbia.
Retailing, B.S. Retail Management Concentration
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| ENGL 101 | Critical Reading and Composition | 3 |
| Carolina Core ARP Requirement | 3 | |
| RETL 265 | Principles of Retailing | 3 |
| HRSM 101 | HRSM Professional Development Career Exploration Seminar | 1 |
| Carolina Core Requirement 3 | 3 | |
| UNIV 101 | The Student in the University (or Carolina Core Requirement) 3 | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 102 | Rhetoric and Composition | 3 |
| Carolina Core Requirement | 3 | |
| RETL 261 | Principles of Accounting I | 3 |
| HRSM 201 | HRSM Professional Development Seminar | 1 |
| Carolina Core Requirement 3 | 3 | |
| Carolina Core Requirement 3 | 3-4 | |
| Credit Hours | 16-17 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| RETL 262 | Principles of Accounting II | 3 |
| SPTE 240 | Business Law | 3 |
| RETL 242 | HRSM Professional Communications | 3 |
| HRSM 301 | HRSM Advanced Professional Development Seminar | 1 |
| Foreign language or other Carolina Core Requirement 3,4 | 3-4 | |
| Carolina Core Requirement 3 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| RETL 295 | Retailing Practicum 5 | 6 |
| RETL 340 | Sustainability in Fashion and Retail | 3 |
| Foreign language or other Carolina Core Requirement 3,4 | 3 | |
| Carolina Core Requirement or Elective 3,6 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| RETL 366 | Retail Buying | 3 |
| RETL 310 | Digital Retailing | 3 |
| HTMT 344 | Human Resource Management in Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management | 3 |
| SPTE 274 | Computer Applications in Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| RETL 350 | Sales Strategies | 3 |
| RETL 362 | Principles of Customer Service | 3 |
| RETL Elective 7 | 3 | |
| Carolina Core Requirement or Elective 3,6 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| RETL 465 | Global Sourcing in Retail and Fashion | 3 |
| RETL 369 | Retail Promotion | 3 |
| RETL 351 | Retail Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| Carolina Core Requirement or Elective 3,6 | 3 | |
| Elective 6 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| RETL 421 | Retail Finance | 3 |
| RETL 425 | Customer Experience Management | 3 |
| RETL 330 | Asset Protection for Retailers | 3 |
| RETL Elective 7 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Summer | ||
| RETL 495 | Retailing Internship 8 | 6 |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120-122 | |
- 1
Regardless of individual course grades, students must maintain a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA.
- 2
Some colleges require a minimum GPA for major courses. Courses indicated below are included in the major GPA for this program of study.
- 3
The Carolina Core provides the common core of knowledge, skill and academic experience for all Carolina undergraduate students.
- 4
College of HRSM students must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language by achieving a score of 2 or higher on the foreign language placement test, or credit equivalent to USC 109 and 110 courses, or credit equivalent to the USC 121 course.
- 5
Supervised work experience in an area of the retail industry, selected by the student and approved by the Retailing Internship Director.
- 6
The Retailing major curriculum includes 2-14 hours of approved (free) electives, depending on how students fulfill the Carolina Core requirements and whether or not students choose a minor.
- 7
RETL Electives (6 hours): Some RETL electives have prerequisites that must be completed. Check each course’s description in the Bulletin for information. Select 2 of the following: RETL 237, 268, 348, 365, 368, 460, 462, 485, 525, 535, 551, 562, 569, 590, 592.
- 8
Internship experience within the industry that prepares students for permanent placement. Students are responsible for securing their own internship and should contact the internship director for resources to identify opportunities of interest and to seek approval once an internship has been secured. Students are not permitted to enroll in RETL 495 without seeking the approval of the internship director first. It is strongly recommended that students not take additional courses while completing RETL 495. Students will not be permitted to enroll in more than 13 total hours while completing RETL 495.
Program Notes:
- All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade that covers the founding documents. This course may fulfill any requirement in the program of study. Courses that meet this requirement are listed in the academic bulletin.
- Clarification of RETL 295: Retailing Practicum vs. RETL 495: Retailing Internship
- RETL 295: Retailing Practicum—a practicum is a job in retailing or a closely-related field, for example, as a clerk or an associate in a store, boutique or gift shop, in an insurance or real estate company, in a bank or other financial institution, etc.
- RETL 495: Retailing Internship—an internship gives the student more responsibility and an intense experience in retailing or a closely-related field and may take one of two forms:
- 1) the student is participating in an employer’s formal internship program as an intern, or
- 2) the student is interning for an employer that does not have a formal internship program; however, the student is working in a position on a higher level than the practicum; for example, as an assistant manager, an assistant buyer, a manager trainee, etc.
- Students must complete RETL 295: Retailing Practicum before they can enroll in RETL 495: Retailing Internship. Both are required for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Retailing.
- No courses of remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward the Bachelor of Science Degree in Retailing.
- The last 30 credit hours toward your degree must be earned in residence at the University of South Carolina-Columbia.