Online Certificate in Retail Leadership

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Curriculum

The Certificate in Retail Leadership consists of 18 - 20 credits in the following areas: retail store management, retail operations and strategy, in-store visual merchandising, and retail store leadership.


Required Design & Merchandising Courses: 6 credits
DSMR 231Retail Principles3.00 credits
DSMR 232Retail Merchandise Planning4.00 credits
Electives (students will choose four of the following courses): 12 - 14 credits
CAT 302Cust Service Theory & Practice3.00 credits
CRTV 301Foundations in Creativity3.00 credits
MGMT 260Introduction to Entrepreneurship4.00 credits
MKTG 301Introduction to Marketing Management4.00 credits
PRST 212Creative Studies in the World Wide Web3.00 credits
PRST 330Career & Professional Development3.00 credits
RETL 315Power of Retail Brands3.00 credits
RETL 325Applied In-Store Visual Strategies3.00 credits
RETL 400Retail Leadership Capstone3.00 credits

Course Descriptions

DSMR 231 Retail Principles - 3.00 credits

Examines retail philosophies within a marketing context, including understanding of how consumer behavior, present and future, determines retailers' marketing strategies; knowledge of product mix and product assortment; and understanding of operating retail ventures in the global marketplace.

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DSMR 232 Retail Merchandise Planning - 4.00 credits

Provides a working knowledge of merchandise planning, flow, and distribution in the retail setting. Covers profitable merchandise and assortment planning and control in both conceptual and technical formats. Final project incorporates six-month financial, classification, and assortment planning.

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CAT 302 Cust Service Theory & Practice - 3.00 credits

Customer Service Theory and Practice. This course focuses on the theory of customer service and the practices that best in class companies apply to differentiate themselves from the competition. The course includes practical information and activities designed to teach students how to respond to customers, resolve problems, and provide quality customer service.

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CRTV 301 Foundations in Creativity - 3.00 credits

This course provides a foundation in creativity including leading creativity theorists and their ideas, and introduction to creativity in many fields. Students will explore basic creative characteristics including originality, fluency, flexibility, elaboration, resistance to premature closure, and tolerance of ambiguity. Sets the foundation for acquiring tools and applying creativity.

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MGMT 260 Introduction to Entrepreneurship - 4.00 credits

The course focuses on entrepreneurship as a generic activity, including start-ups and corporate entrepreneurship. It explores the opportunities and challenges faced by individuals starting up new ventures and the probable paths of career development for the students pursuing entrepreneurship.

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MKTG 301 Introduction to Marketing Management - 4.00 credits

Provides a conceptual and applications-oriented framework for marketing decision-making in a dynamic environment. Emphasizes satisfying target customers and achieving organizational objectives through skillful blending of strategies in product development, pricing, promotion, and distribution.

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PRST 212 Creative Studies in the World Wide Web - 3.00 credits

This course prepares professionals with an understanding of the process of developing creative, functional Web sites. Concentrating on the creative flow of the design process, the course uses Adobe Dreamweaver as the medium for development. Students should possess a basic level of computer proficiency before taking this course.

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PRST 330 Career & Professional Development - 3.00 credits

This course explores the literature of careers including preparation, organizational entry, orientation, nontraditional careers, and early, mid, and later career issues. The course provides students with opportunities for assessment of interests and capabilities, initiation and implementation of a personal development plan (PDP), and feedback on personal and career development.

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RETL 315 Power of Retail Brands - 3.00 credits

This course provides an in-depth analysis of theoretical and applied branding techniques. Retail marketing, merchandising, and in-store brand representatives will be analyzed to recognize the detailing necessary to create a successful retail brand. Students will read branding studies to comprehend why the phenomena of branding has encompassed our consumer society.

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RETL 325 Applied In-Store Visual Strategies - 3.00 credits

Provides students with an understanding of how retailers use visual display to gain retail market share. Students will examine various types of visual display and how this impacts the retail environment.

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RETL 400 Retail Leadership Capstone - 3.00 credits

This course will provide students practical experience leading all aspects of a retail establishment. Topics covered include customer service, human resources, planogram/floorset, visual merchandising/display, sales and completing the sale, merchandising the store, quality of merchandise/product, leadership responsibilities, and future goals.

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