RETAILING
Where is the Department of Retailing located?
The Department of Retailing is located in the College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management at the University of South Carolina’s main campus in Columbia, SC. Our college is located in the Carolina Coliseum. The Department of Retailing’s offices are in Room 1020.
How many students are in the Retailing major?
We have approximately 450 students majoring in Retailing. It is split at about 60% in the Fashion Merchandising emphasis and 40% in the Retail Management emphasis. Our department continues to grow each day.
Are scholarships available to Retailing majors to offset college costs?
Yes, there are scholarships available for majors in the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management. For more information, contact Dr. Marianne Bickle, Interim Associate Dean at bickle@mailbox.sc.edu or 777-3805.
When can I come to the Department of Retailing to see someone for help?
Office hours for the Department of Retailing are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Normally, the last appointment for the day would be made at 4:00.
Does the Department of Retailing help students obtain employment when it’s time for them to graduate?
The Department of Retailing is happy to give recommendations to Retailing majors who are pursuing employment. In addition, the University Career Center, located on the sixth floor of the Close-Hipp (BA) Building on the USC-Columbia campus, offers job placement assistance to all USC students.
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ADVISEMENT
What are the requirements for students to transfer into the Retailing major?
For internal transfers (students already matriculating at USC-Columbia or one of the USC system campuses), applicants currently must have earned a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 to be accepted into the Retailing major. For external transfers (students matriculating at other higher education institutions, including both two-year and four-year institutions), applicants currently must have earned a cumulative GPA of at least 2.25.
What is the minimum grade point average (GPA) required to graduate with a B. S. in Retailing?
All Retailing majors currently must earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in order to graduate with a B. S. in Retailing.
How many total credits must I earn to graduate with a B. S. in Retailing?
Retailing majors must earn a minimum of 125 total credit hours to graduate with a B. S. in Retailing.
What degree will be listed on my diploma?
Bachelor of Science
Is there a central academic advisor for Retailing majors, or are they advised by faculty?
There is a central academic advisor for all Retailing majors: Dr. Reenea Harrison. She may be contacted at (803) 777-1264, or via email at reeneah@mailbox.sc.edu.
How often should I see my advisor?
After the initial visit with the central advisor when first admitted as a Retailing major, students will meet with the advisor during each fall and spring semester during the official advisement period for the next term. In addition, students may meet with the Retailing advisor for help whenever they have advisement questions or conflicts.
What happens if I’m late for an advisement appointment?
During the Department’s official advising period each semester, it is critical for all students to be on time for their advisement appointments so as not to cause other appointments to run late. Therefore, if you are more than five (5) minutes late for an advisement appointment, you will be asked to reschedule your appointment for another day.
What happens if I miss an advisement appointment?
If you must miss your advisement appointment, you should call the Department of Retailing (803-777-4846) as soon as possible to inform us that you will not be able to keep your appointment. Then, come to the Department to schedule another advisement appointment in the Central Advisor’s appointment book. The Department staff cannot make advisement appointments for you due to time constraints.
Should I take the Foreign Language Placement Exam or the Math Placement Exam?
Yes, the University requires students to take both placement exams. The results of these exams gauge what level of math or foreign language you should take here. On the Foreign Language Placement Exam, if you score at least a “2,” then you will not be required to take a foreign language for your Retailing major.
How can the fine arts requirement be fulfilled for the Retailing major?
In the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, the fine arts include art, dance, music and theater. The fine arts requirement may only be fulfilled by taking one 3-credit course in either the appreciation or history of art, dance, music or theater. Skills and performance courses may not be used to fulfill the fine arts requirement.
How can the natural science requirement be fulfilled for the Retailing major?
Retailing majors are required to take two (2) courses in natural sciences, one of which must include a lab. The Department of Retailing considers Astronomy (ASTR), Biology (BIOL), Chemistry (CHEM), Geology (GEOL), Marine Science (MSCI) and Physics (PHYS) natural sciences. Also included among the natural sciences for Retailing majors are two (2) courses in Environmental Studies: ENVR 101 (and ENVR 101 Lab which may or may not be taken) and ENVR 200 (which automatically has a lab included in the course). No other Environmental Studies courses are accepted to fulfill the natural science requirement for Retailing majors. [Please note that Geography (GEOG) is not a natural science for Retailing majors.]
Are Retailing majors required to choose a minor?
No, Retailing majors are not required to choose a minor; however, they may choose one, if desired.
May Retailing majors minor in either Retail Management or Fashion Merchandising?
No, all Retailing students are majoring in Retailing, which includes the emphases of Retail Management and Fashion Merchandising. You cannot minor in your emphasis.
What subjects are suitable as minors for Retailing majors?
Retailing majors who decide to choose a minor may minor in any discipline offered for a minor at the University of South Carolina with the exception of Business, Retail Management or Fashion Merchandising. For information on the minors offered at USC, please review the University’s Minors Bulletin located on the web at http://www.cas.sc.edu/ugrad/mbulletin.pdf.
Is it necessary to do study abroad as a Retailing major?
The Department of Retailing strongly encourages our students to pursue international travel whenever possible. Many Retailing majors decide to do study abroad either for a summer or for a semester. In addition, many of our majors take RETL 491M which is a course offered only during the University’s Maymester session that offers Retailing majors an opportunity to pursue study and travel to locations abroad, such as in Italy, France, Spain, China and Japan.
Is it necessary to get a Masters Degree in Retailing?
While it is not absolutely necessary for you to earn a Masters Degree in Retailing, earning this distinction should make you more competitive in the job market. A number of our undergraduate Retailing majors have recently decided to stay at USC to pursue the Master of Retailing Degree.
What careers can someone with a degree in Retailing pursue?
The following are some examples of careers that Retailing majors and minors pursue:
Consumer or Market Researcher
Corporate Trainer
Divisional Merchandise Manager
Divisional Sales Manager
General Merchandise Manager
General Sales Manager
Industry Journalist
Merchandise Buyer
Personnel Manager
Buying Office Administrator
Retail Analyst
Retail Manager
Sales Representative
Trend Analyst
Retail Technology Specialist
Apparel Manufacturer
Wholesaler
Visual Merchandiser
For more information on career opportunities in Retailing, visit the following links:
www.careers-in-marketing.com/rt.htm
www.black-collegian.com
www.prenhall.com
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INTERNSHIPS
Is an internship required to earn a B. S. in Retailing? If so, how many?
Yes, one 300-hour minimum internship is required to earn a B. S. in Retailing for both Fashion Merchandising and Retail Management.
May I complete more than one internship?
Retailing students are required to complete only one internship. However, if desired, they may pursue an unofficial internship on their own before or after pursuing the required internship. Please note that this unofficial internship may not take the place of the required internship for the Retailing major.
When should I see the internship coordinator?
Since Retailing students must be at least a junior before they pursue the required internship, they may see the internship coordinator during the advisement period when they will register for RETL 301: Pre-Internship Seminar, which they are required to take before pursuing the internship. Retailing students must also be at least a junior before they may take this seminar.
What courses must I take before taking the internship?
Retail Management students must take RETL 301: Pre-Internship Seminar, RETL 350: Sales Strategies and RETL 366: Retail Buying before they pursue the internship. Fashion Merchandising students must take RETL 301: Pre-Internship Seminar, RETL 366: Retail Buying and RETL 388: Contemporary Trends in Fashion before pursuing the internship.
Are the internships paid?
Many of the internships are paid. However, depending upon the location, some employers may require interns to receive academic credit instead of pay. For example, the fashion industry employers in New York City do not offer pay to their interns.
Does the Department of Retailing help students obtain an internship?
Students are primarily responsible for obtaining their own internships; however, the Department of Retailing assists students in acquiring internships whenever possible. Nonetheless, the Department encourages students to develop their job search skills through the process of acquiring an internship.
Are all internships conducted in the local area?
Forty percent of Retailing internships are pursued locally. However, based on recent internships, the Department of Retailing has placed interns in various locations such as the following:
New York City, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Miami, FL; Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; Baltimore, MD; Charlotte, NC; Raleigh, NC; Greenville, SC; Myrtle Beach, SC; Charleston, SC; and Columbia.
Also, we have students who complete their internships abroad in such locations as London, England; Paris, France; Florence, Italy; and Chile, South America. In addition, the Department of Retailing has a partnership with the Paris Fashion Institute in France.
With which employers have Retailing students interned in the past?
Retailing students have interned with a variety of employers such as the following:
Fashion Merchandising: Dillard’s, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Escada, Vera Wang, Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Tommy Hilfiger, Belk, Coach, Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, Theory, Bulgari and Vogue.
Retail Management: Dillard’s, Target, Walmart, Toys R Us, Sherwin Williams, Mohawk Industries, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Sam’s Club, Northwestern Mutual Financial, Bank of America, Wachovia, Biltmore Estates, Walgreen’s, CVS and Harley Davidson.
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