OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2024-25
Retail and Fashion Merchandising Major (B.S.) |
Major code BS6385*
Patton College of Education
Recreation, Sport Pedagogy and Consumer Sciences
Patton Hall
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.4400
education@ohio.edu
www.ohio.edu/education/recreation-sport-pedagogy-consumer-sciences/retail-merchandising
Lisa Williams, contact person
willial6@ohio.edu
Program Overview
The Retail and Fashion Merchandising curriculum offers coursework in both creative (Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator, Product Development, and Promotion) and analytical (buying and planning, Excel and statistical reasoning) areas of merchandising, with a focus on fashion products. Through this program, students learn how to navigate a career path in a fast-paced, dynamic industry. Supervision, leadership, and management activities, in the context of fashion and retail careers, are emphasized.
Curriculum
Courses
Students in the program take a variety of retail specific and related courses to create a well-rounded, business focused major. The plan of study includes professional development, knowledge of industry-specific business and sales applications, and hands-on retailing experiences. For detailed information about courses and requirements, view the Retail and Fashion Merchandising undergraduate course program listing below.
Internships
Our program requires students to complete a work experience and an internship for the major. The first, one credit hour, work experience ( RFM 2910 ) equips students with the entry level competencies necessary to obtain and succeed in a comprehensive internship program. The internship course ( RFM 4910 ) is variable credits and is placed in either the junior or senior year once course prerequisites are met. RFM 4910 is a rigorous semester-long, full-time internship for academic credit and allows students to apply competencies obtained from major courses to result in a meaningful and productive experience for both the employee and the employer. Students must be completing their work hours during the semester or summer in which they are enrolled in these classes.
Capstone Course
The capstone course ( RFM 4800 ) serves as an intensive personal and professional assessment tool for prospective leaders in the retail and fashion industry.
*This program was previously BS6384 which awarded the Bachelor of Science in Human and Consumer Sciences. Pending Board of Trustees approval (anticipated June 2024), the new program code will be BS6385 and will award the Bachelor of Science effective the 2024-25 catalog year.
Admissions Information
For Freshman/First-Year Admission
Students interested in the Retail and Fashion Merchandising program will enter Ohio University with the major code BS6385. There are no additional requirements beyond what is required for admission to Ohio University.
Change of Program Policy
There are no additional requirements beyond Ohio University admission requirements. For more information on how to change your major, please contact the Office of Student Affairs located in 103 Patton Hall, or by phone at 740.593.4400.
External Transfer Admission
Students interested in the Retail and Fashion Merchandising program will enter Ohio University with the major code BS6385. There are no additional requirements beyond what is required for admission to Ohio University.
Opportunities Upon Graduation
Career opportunities include retail management, merchandising, buying, assortment planning, product development, visual presentation, wholesale sales, entrepreneurship and more.
Our graduates have gone on to exciting careers with companies such as:
- DSW
- Maurices
- Kohl’s
- Abercrombie & Fitch
- Big Lots
- L Brands
- Nordstrom
- Express
- Bath & Body Works
- NES Group Jewelry Wholesalers
- ESP Trendlab
Requirements
University-wide Graduation Requirements
Ohio University requires the completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours for the conferral of a bachelor’s degree. This program can be completed within that 120-hour requirement. For more information on the minimum hours requirement and other university-wide requirements, please review the Graduation Requirements – University-wide page.
Department Level Requirements for the Department of Recreation, Sport Pedagogy and Consumer Sciences
The Department of Recreation, Sport Pedagogy and Consumer Sciences has no particular entry or graduation requirements beyond those of the College and the University. However, requirements differ considerably from program to program. Consult with your advisor to ensure proper fulfillment of those requirements.
Major Requirements
Complete the following courses:
- RFM 1010 - Introduction to Retailing Credit Hours: 3
- RFM 1100 - Fashion and Culture Credit Hours: 3
- RFM 2040 - Digital Means of Fashion Communication Credit Hours: 3
- RFM 2100 - Evolution of Clothing and Fashion Trends Credit Hours: 3
- RFM 2150 - Elementary Textiles Credit Hours: 3
- RFM 2600 - Foundations of Aesthetics in Retail and Fashion Merchandizing Credit Hours: 3
- RFM 2890 - Professional Career Search Strategies Credit Hours: 3
- RFM 2910 - Work Experience in Retail and Fashion Merchandising Credit Hours: 1
- RFM 3230 - Retail Merchandising- Promotional Strategy Credit Hours: 3
- RFM 3300 - Fashion Buying and Assortment Planning Credit Hours: 3
- RFM 3830 - Product Development, Evaluation, and Distribution Credit Hours: 3
- RFM 4070 - Global Issues in Textile, Apparel, and Retail Industries Credit Hours: 3
- RFM 4800 - Strategic Retail Policy Credit Hours: 3
- RFM 4910 - Internship: Retail and Fashion Merchandising Credit Hours: 3 - 12
Required Related Courses
Complete the following courses:
- COMS 1030 - Fundamentals of Public Speaking Credit Hours: 3
- CONS 2500 - Families as Consumers in Global Communities Credit Hours: 3
- CONS 3100 - Human Resources for Customer Service Leadership Professionals Credit Hours: 3
- ECON 1000 - Survey of Economics Credit Hours: 3
- JOUR 2500 - Introduction to Advertising and Public Relations Credit Hours: 3
- MGT 2000 - Introduction to Management Credit Hours: 3
- MKT 2020 - Marketing Principles Credit Hours: 3
- QBA 1721 - Introduction to Information Analysis and Descriptive Analytics for Nonmajors Credit Hours: 3
Complete one of the following:
- ACCT 1005 - Accounting for Business Activities Credit Hours: 3
- ACCT 1010 - Foundations of Accounting Credit Hours: 3
Complete one of the following:
- PSY 1110 - Elementary Statistical Reasoning Credit Hours: 3
- PSY 2110 - Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences Credit Hours: 4
Complete One of the following
- PSY 1010 - General Psychology Credit Hours: 3
- SOC 1000 - Introduction to Sociology Credit Hours: 3
Interdisciplinary Course Options
Complete 6 hours from the following courses:
- All course prerequisites and/or acceptance in certificate programs requiring application and selection must be met to enroll in any of these courses.
- Not From: CONS 2500 , CONS 3100 , CONS 3890 , JOUR 2500 , MGT 2000 , MKT 2020 , PSY 2110
- Note: *** below includes any course at that numerical level from the noted prefix
- Select from:
- AH 2***, AH 3***, AH 4***
- ANTH 2***, ANTH 3***, ANTH 4***
- BA 2***, BA 3***, BA 4***
- BUSL 2000 - Law and Society Credit Hours: 3 or
- BUSL 2550 - The Legal Environment of Business Credit Hours: 3
- BUSL 3570 - Law of Commercial Transactions Credit Hours: 3
- BUSL 3850 - International Business Law Credit Hours: 3
- BUSL 4650 - Law of Sports Credit Hours: 3
- COMS 2***, COMS 3***, COMS 4***
- CONS 2***, CONS 3***, CONS 4***
- ECON 2***, ECON 3***, ECON 4***
- FIN 2***, FIN 3***, FIN 4***
- IART 1170 - Introduction to the Arts: Arts in Contexts Credit Hours: 3
- IART 1180 - Introduction to the Arts: Object and Events Credit Hours: 3
- JOUR 2210 - Graphics of Communication Credit Hours: 3
- JOUR 3400 - Advertising and Public Relations Research and Theory Credit Hours: 3
- JOUR 3750 - Advertising Media Planning and Buying Credit Hours: 3
- JOUR 4450 - Creative Concepts Credit Hours: 3
- JOUR 4530 - Strategic Social Media Credit Hours: 3
- JOUR 4710 - Public Relations Planning Credit Hours: 3
- JOUR 4820 - Strategic Communication Management for Advertising and PR Professionals Credit Hours: 3
- MDIA 2113 - Social Media Introduction Credit Hours: 3
- MDIA 3122 - Content Curation Credit Hours: 3
- MDIA 3175 - Gossip, Espionage, Hackers, and Outlaw Memes Credit Hours: 3
- MDIA 4011 - Media and the Digital Divide Credit Hours: 3
- MDIA 4120 - Advanced Social Media Credit Hours: 3
- MGT 2***, MGT 3***, MGT 4***
- MIS 2***, MIS 3***, MIS 4***
- MKT 2***, MKT 3***, MKT 4***
- PSY 2***, PSY 3***, PSY 4***
- QBA 2***, QBA 3***, QBA 4***
- RFM 3400 - Retail Study Tour Credit Hours: 1 - 3
- SOC 2100 - Introduction to Social Psychology Credit Hours: 3
- SOC 2300 - Social Inequalities and Social Change Credit Hours: 3
- SOC 3000 - Development of Sociological Theory Credit Hours: 3
- SOC 3500 - Elementary Research Techniques Credit Hours: 3
- THAR 1391 - Fundamentals of Scenery, Props, Costumes and Costume Crafts Credit Hours: 3
- THAR 2360 - Stagecraft: Costume Construction Credit Hours: 3
- VICO 1000 - Introduction to Studies in Visual Communication Credit Hours: 3
- VICO 2514 - Introduction to Basic Publication Design Credit Hours: 3