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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.

FACULTY IN THE PRESS

Whole Foods to add healthy competition … That could mean good things for consumers...
--Post and Courier

Sales tax holiday in 3 weeks --The State

Whole Foods' arrival a boon --The State

Congratulations to Marianne Bickle, Chair of RETL, who has been asked to blog on Forbes. Her blog can be found by clicking here. Bickle will post a blog every week.

Discounts rev up early
Shoppers are putting sales at the top of their must-have lists this holiday season — and retailers are responding. "Instead of waiting for Black Friday, retailers are starting to say, 'OK, we're starting earlier,'" said Marianne Bickle, director of USC's Center for Retailing. More...
—The State

Shop for groceries in your pjs
Online grocery shopping is the wave of the future, said Marianne Bickle, director of USC’s Center for Retailing. More...
—The State

Cotton prices could threaten consumers
"I believe if you have a cotton product you want to buy, then buy it, especially in the holiday season," said Bickle. "Those prices are not guaranteed, like gas prices. Gas prices go up and down. So do retail prices. But consumers often don't think that's fair." More...
—ABC News

Fashion Board at USC has just completed its fall membership drive. Over 150 students across many majors on campus have elected to join the board, making it one of the largest student organizations on campus.

In September, Fashion Board hosted its annual Style Workshop in conjunction with Parents Weekend, with over 60 in attendance. In October, the board partnered with Lee Jeans to promote Lee National Denim Day and raise funds for breast cancer awareness and research. Over $700.00 was collected, in addition to over 100 pair of jeans, which will be donated to a local clothing closet.

Later in October, Fashion Board partnered with Lancome at the Russell House Patio for Lancome's fall event, "All Dolled Up." Watch out for Fashion Board's big celebration of style in April: Fashion Week 2012. A style symposium and fashion show will be featured, along with other exciting events, April 9-13.

For additional information, contact Dr. Sallie Boggs, advisor, at 777-3653 or sboggs@hrsm.sc.edu. Spring semester membership drive will begin in mid-January 2012. Fashion Board at USC is open to all majors and is sponsored by The Department of Retailing and the College of Hospitality, Retailing, and Sport Management.

NEWS

Marianne Bickle, RETL, publishes new book, The Changing American Consumer

Fashion Board at USC students attend Teen Vogue Fashion University event in NYC

A podcast interview with Retail Merchandising major and USC Fashion Board member Danielle Minter

HRSM sat down recently with Danielle Minter, a junior at USC, to learn more about USC Fashion Board, a student-run organization on campus housed at HRSM’s Department of Retailing. More...

Retail Class puts on Fashion Show to support student-launched nonprofit
Guest student post
By Mikelle Street @MikelleStreet

There were more than 275 department heads, students, and Columbia citizens at the “Birds of a Feather Flock Together” fashion show put on by Donna Watts’ RETL 388 class on November 13. While some were there just to see the latest wares from local boutiques like Pink Sorbet, Vanjean, LaRoque and Just The Thing, others were there in support of Amy Woodell’s charity, Clothed in Hope.
More...