The Department of Retailing offers a Bachelor of Science in Retailing with Specializations in Retail Management and Fashion Merchandising. The program focuses on strong business and liberal arts core. Team building, communications, decision-making, and problem-solving skills are emphasized; 30 industry-specific courses are offered. Faculty and industry experts teach in the classroom.

The newest addition to the Department of Retailing is the offering of a Master of Retailing. This program provides a specialized study focused on retail technology, strategy, and international retailing. The Master of Retailing program is uniquely suited for career directed individuals seeking advancement to corporate-level management positions or taking advantage of emerging opportunities in retail technology.

The optional Bachelor's/Master's Degrees Accelerated Program is also offered through the degree program. Under this plan, a student will reduce the time necessary to earn bachelors and masters degrees by applying up to nine hours of graduate credits to both undergraduate and graduate program requirements. Students accepted into this program must have at least 90 hours of undergraduate credit, a minimum overall GPA of 3.40, and at least 3.40 in the course work taken in their major field of study.

The Department of Retailing at the University of South Carolina Boasts:

• One of the largest four year retailing programs in the nation
• Average RETL class is 50 students
• Award winning faculty
• Commitment to the community:
  More than 60 students in five RETL courses volunteered services to Habitat for Humanity RESTORE. Department Chair Marianne Bickle won the University of South Carolina’s Outstanding Service Award in 2007
• 100 students annually participate in paid Retail Management and Fashion Merchandising internships; 99% of the students receive permanent placement offers at the conclusion of the internship.
• The Department offers more than 30 industry specific courses, combining theoretical and practical application of industry concepts.
• The Department of Retailing at the University of South Carolina is the only program that offers an emphasis in Retail Management and Fashion Merchandising.
• Students are able to earn credit by studying abroad for an entire semester or during Maymester (i.e., three weeks). Examples of countries students have gone include London, Hong Kong, Paris, Florence, and Venice.
• One of the few Retailing programs nationwide that have a full-time internship director year round on staff to assist students in finding full and part-time positions.
• 2007 was an international year for many retailing students
  Fourteen students studied in Florence and Venice
  Nine students studied in Paris
  Five students studied in Taiwan
• Global Virtual Scholars from China presented to over 50 students in real-time regarding retailing differences between South Carolina and China 

STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES

Department of Retailing 2010 Critical Issues
in Retailing Study Tour
Students will visit and learn about the Fashion and Textile Museum, Zandra Rhodes studio, the theatre, American InterContinental University, Dover St. Market, Roman Baths and Costume Museum, Tower of London; have a guided tour of the V&A Museum, Harvey Nichols store and tea, St. Pauls and Westminster Abbey, Liberty’s, National Gallery of British Museum; meet with Martin Cooper, designer for Burberry and professional photographer; meet with Prudence hat designer of Vivienne Westwood, Tom Ford; a walking tour of Stella McCartney, Matthew Williamson and Vivienne Westwood, go on a River Cruise, and take a full day to Bath by coach. Find out more!

Travel Scholarships for the above trips are available. Click here.

Paris, London, the Caribbean! Exciting study abroad opportunities are available for 2010. Space is limited. Register Now! Travel Scholarships for the Spring/Summer 2010 trips are available. Click here.

NEWS

Fashion Fights Cancer
A passerby looking through the windows of 701 Whaley St. last night might have dreamt they had been transported to New York Fashion Week instead of Columbia. Models decked in local fashions sauntered down the runway to raise money for breast cancer research in an event sponsored by USC’s Fashion Board. More...
Click here for slideshow
-- The Daily Gamecock

Congratulations to Jason Carpenter who was recently ranked, eighth among the top 20 North American retailing authors based on appearances in the four major retailing specialist journals in Runyan, R.C. (2009), North American Author and Institution Rankings in Retail Research: An Analysis of Retail Journals from 1994 – 2008, Proceedings of Retailing 2009: Strategic Challenges and Opportunities in Uncertain Times, The Ninth Triennial Academy of Marketing Science/American Collegiate Retailing Association Retailing Conference, New Orleans, LA.

Food Lion makes a bid for Bi-Lo
. . . Marianne Bickle, department chair of retailing for the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management at the University of South Carolina, said while it’s uncertain if any Bi-Lo locations will be closed, a combination with Food Lion could benefit consumers. More...
-- The Greenville News

Shop Around: Shop Proud, Shop Columbia
. . . But a campaign like this is about more than just keeping tax dollars in the community, said Marianne Bickle, professor of retailing at the University of South Carolina. More...
-- The (Columbia) State

Fashion Board* Reaches
New Levels
The Fashion Board at USC has reached new levels of membership and activity this year. The board now boasts of over 100 members and has been busy during the year with a variety of activities. More...

*Fashion Board is open to members of any major on campus, and the fall membership drive will begin in August 2009. For additional information, contact Dr. Sallie Boggs, Fashion Board advisor, at 777-3653 or sboggs@mailbox.sc.edu.