Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies, B.S.

Overall Requirements

  • 120 credit hours, to include at least 36 credits at or above the 300 course level.
  • Only grades of C (2.0) or higher in CRS, APD, and RCS courses will count toward completion of the CARS major and concentrations.
  • A grade of C (2.0) or higher is required in MAT 115 or higher.

Degree Program Requirements

University Requirements
General Education Requirements - Minerva's Academic Curriculum (MAC)

Major Requirements

Core Courses27
Textile Science: From Fiber to Finish
Global Perspectives on Culture, the Body, and Dress
Introduction to the Fashion Industry: From Concept to Consumer
Foundations of Design in the Digital Environment
Consumer Behavior in Fashion
Fashion and Social Media Marketing
Technical Apparel Analysis
Professional Development: Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Industries
Global Sourcing of Apparel and Related Consumer Products
Capstone in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies
Internship6
Internship: Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Industries *
Related Area Courses12-13
Introduction to Communication Studies
Foundations for Analytics using Spreadsheets
College Algebra **
Algebra with Business Applications
Calculus with Business Applications
Precalculus I
Precalculus II
Precalculus
Calculus I
Calculus II
General Psychology
Introduction to Sociology
*

May replace CRS 332 with 6 credits of approved electives earned while studying abroad with permission of CARS Department Head. These courses may not be used to satisfy any other degree requirements.

**

 A grade of C in MAT 115 or higher is required. 

Concentration

Select one of the concentrations as detailed following the major requirements.

  • Apparel Product Design
  • Retailing and Consumer Studies

Electives

Electives as detailed in the concentration requirements. 

Apparel Design Concentration Requirements

Required21
Foundations in Apparel Product Design
Visual Communication for the Fashion Industry
Studio I: Garment Construction
Studio II: Patternmaking and Draping
Portfolio Development for Apparel Design
Studio III: Advanced Patternmaking and Draping
Studio IV: Creative and Technical Design

Electives

  • 12 credits of electives required from APD, CRS, or RCS courses, with at least 3 credits from RCS.
  • Electives should be sufficient to complete the 120 credit hours required for the degree.

 Retailing and Consumer Studies Concentration Requirements

Area of Emphasis15–18
Select one of the three Professional Emphasis Areas (detailed requirements below).

Professional Emphasis Areas

Merchandising Management Professional Emphasis Area (Default Option)15
Fashion Retail Management
Fundamentals of Retail Buying and Merchandising
Visual Merchandising and Product Presentation
Advanced Retail Buying and Merchandising
Advanced Retail Analysis
Global Retail Management Professional Emphasis Area18
Fashion Retail Management
Fundamentals of Retail Buying and Merchandising
Global Retail Strategy and Management
Advanced Retail Analysis
Plus satisfactory completion of 6 credit hours of foreign language at the 300 level or above.
Retail and Consumer Data Management Professional Emphasis Area15
Retail Data Analytics
Fashion Retail Management
Fundamentals of Retail Buying and Merchandising
Trend Forecasting and Consumer Analytics
Advanced Retail Analysis

Electives

  • 12 credits of electives required from APD, CRS, or RCS courses.
  • Electives should be sufficient to complete the 120 credit hours required for the degree.

Disciplinary Honors in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies  

Requirements

  • A minimum of 12 credit hours as defined below.
  • UNC Greensboro cumulative GPA of 3.30 or better or, for transfer students, cumulative GPA of 3.30 or better from all prior institutions.
Required3
Senior Honors Project
6 credits of Honors course work in the major6
3 credits of Honors course work in the major or another area3

Recognition

Receive a Certificate of Disciplinary Honors in Consumer Apparel and Retail Studies; have that accomplishment, along with the title of the Senior Honors Project, noted on the official transcript; and be recognized at a banquet held at the end of the spring semester.

Honors Advisor

Contact Kittichai Watchravesringkan at k_watchr@uncg.edu for further information and guidance about Honors in Consumer Apparel and Retail Studies. To apply: https://honorscollege.uncg.edu/disciplinary-honors/disciplinary-honors-admissions

Accelerated B.S. to M.S.

Application and Admission

Qualified UNC Greensboro undergraduate students who are pursuing the B.S. in Consumer, Apparel and Retail Studies may apply for admission to the Accelerated Master's Program (AMP). A cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.5 based on at least 30 credits earned at UNC Greensboro is required.  Applicants must have completed at least 60 credits and may not apply for admission to the AMP before the first semester of the junior year. Applicants are not required to take the GRE. All applicants must complete the Accelerated Master's Program information when applying for admission to the graduate degree program.

Courses

Admitted students may apply up to, but not more than, 12 credit of graduate-level course work towards completion of both the undergraduate and the graduate degrees, provided that they earn a grade of B (3.0) or better in the course and fulfill graduate-level requirements.

The following courses may be counted towards both the B.S. and the M.S. degrees:

CRS 605Retail Data Analytics3
CRS 620Analysis of Apparel and Related Industries 3
CRS 682Graduate Seminar in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies 3
RCS 560Advanced Retail Buying and Merchandising3
RCS 584Advanced Retail Analysis3
RCS 662Behavior-Soft Lines Consumers3

Please consult with an advisor to determine how courses taken at the graduate level will meet requirements in the bachelor's degree program. All degree requirements for the M.S. in Retail Studies remain the same.