PROGRAM FEATURES
Research opportunities are available due to the high level of research productivity in the department. Graduate students are afforded the opportunity to become well-rounded researchers via coursework, special projects, and experience as research assistants.
Industry partnerships with many corporate headquarters of leading retailers located in the Knoxville metro area add to the graduate experience. The program offers the opportunity to work on industry-related projects through the Institute for Service Excellence and the UT Tourism Institute.
Professional development is encouraged by graduate student involvement in faculty research that results in scholarly presentations and publications.
Funding opportunities are available campus-wide for scholarly presentations at conferences and instructional enhancement.
Faculty members are diverse in their areas of expertise and provide the opportunity for graduate exposure to many facets of retail. The Retail and Merchandising Management graduate program has achieved international, national and regional leadership.
An optimal graduate experience aids in developing future professional linkages among program cohorts.
Michelle Childs PhD
• International Retail Environment
• Tourism Retail
• Tourist’s Shopping Behavior
• Cross Cultural Research
Sejin Ha PhD
• Retail and Service Marketing
• Consumer Adoption of Technology
• Customer Relationship Marketing
• Sustainability
Youn-Kyung Kim PhD
• Consumer experience
• Branding
• Sustainable Consumption
• Cultural and Ethnic Influences
Heejin Lim PhD
• Consumer Culture
• Post Modernism and Consumer Behavior
• Consumer Behavior in Technology-Involved Environment
Deana Wise PhD
• Financial Security of Working Poor Households
• Bankruptcy
• Higher Education Affordability and Student Financial Literacy