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Retail and Consumer Sciences

The major in retail and consumer sciences provides you with a thorough knowledge of the retailing industry, complemented by business principles and theories related to providing goods and services to consumers.

Through a combination of classroom instruction and field-based experience, students prepare for entry-level positions in diverse occupations and for advanced education. You could begin your career as a retail manager, assistant buyer, planner, allocator, product development manager, or sales representative for a manufacturer or service company. Your options are plentiful with good starting salaries and rapid advancement.

The Retail and Consumer Science program is one of the largest of its type in the Southeast. Retailing is one of the fastest-growing segments of our economy, and opportunities for employment will continue to be excellent through the twenty-first century.

210 Introduction to Retail Management
150 Retail Software Applications
310 Retail Buying and Merchandising
311 Human Resources Management in Hospitality & Retailing
341 Consumers in the Global Marketplace
346 Retail Operations Management
376 Customer Relationship Management and Retail Analytics
391 Leadership in Retailing
410 Strategic Retail Planning
412 Digital Retailing
421 Global Retailing and Sourcing
422 Professional Experience in Retail and Consumer Sciences

RCS Elective—Choose Four for RCS major

225 Fashion and Culture
320 Product Development
411 Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
425 Retail Category Management
435 Retail Planning and Allocation
441 Branding
480 Fashion Retail Market Planning and Execution
484 International Retail Industry Study Tour

The minor consists of 15 hours.

Complete:

RCS 210 – Introduction to Retail Management
RCS 341 – Consumers in the Global Marketplace

Select 9 hours:

RCS 225 – Fashion and Culture
RCS 310 – Retail Buying and Merchandising
RCS 311 – Human Resources Management in Hospitality and Retailing
RCS 320 – Product Development
RCS 346 – Retail Operations Management
RCS 376 – Customer Relationship Management and Retail Analytics
RCS 411 – Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
RCS 412 – Digital Retailing
RCS 421 – Global Retailing and Sourcing
RCS 425 – Retail Category Management
RCS 435 – Retail Planning and Allocation
RCS 441 – Branding
RCS 495 – Special Topics

https://catalog.utk.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=29&poid=12615

To update your Minor on Banner, you must fill out this form ·

CEHHS Minor Add/Drop Form

Please note, you must log in with your UTK credentials (netid@vols.utk.edu) to access the form. If you have any questions, please email Meagan Spillers, mspillers@utk.edu.


The minor consists of 16 credits hours.

Complete:

  • RCS 210 Introduction to Retail Management
  • RCS 310 Retail Buying and Merchandising
  • RCS 376 Customer Relationship Management and Retail Analytics
  • RCS 425 Retail Category Management
  • RCS 435 Retail Planning and Allocation

In addition to the required coursework, the retail and consumer sciences major focuses on learning through industry-related work experience and a required internship. A student must complete 300 hours of postsecondary-work experience in retailing before their junior year. In the summer between the junior and senior year, a required internship is completed along with a 6-hour-credit online course. The purpose of which is to gain valuable skills to help the graduate be more marketable to employers. Some students are offered permanent positions with their internship companies.

The department offers international and domestic study tours that combine industry and cultural visits. A New York fashion market trip is scheduled each spring and a biannual trip overseas is taken during mini-term.

Another opportunity for study abroad is an exchange program with Stenden University in Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. Students can fulfill degree requirements during a spring semester through the Study Abroad Office for a tuition cost equivalent to attending UT.

If you have questions about the RCS minor, please email Lucy Simpson, lsimpso7@utk.edu

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