Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies, B.S.
The Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies, B.S. major is available in a traditional as well as an online format.
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
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Requirements | ||
| General Education Requirements - Minerva's Academic Curriculum (MAC) | ||
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Course | 3 | |
| Professional Development: Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Industries | ||
| Related Area Courses | 12-13 | |
| Introduction to Communication Studies | ||
| Foundations for Analytics using Spreadsheets | ||
| Algebra for Precalculus * | ||
or MAT 118 | Algebra with Business Applications | |
or MAT 120 | Calculus with Business Applications | |
or MAT 150 | Precalculus I | |
or MAT 151 | Precalculus II | |
or MAT 190 | Precalculus | |
or MAT 191 | Calculus I | |
or MAT 292 | Calculus II | |
| General Psychology | ||
or SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology | |
- *
A grade of C in MAT 115 or higher is required.
Concentration
Select one of the concentrations as detailed following the major requirements.
- Apparel Design
- Retailing and Consumer Studies
- Retail Management
Electives
Electives as detailed in the concentration requirements.
Apparel Design Concentration Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required | 45 | |
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
or CRS 262 | Social Media Marketing and the Retail Consumer | |
| Technical Apparel Analysis | ||
| Global Sourcing of Apparel and Related Consumer Products | ||
| Capstone in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies | ||
| Internship | 6 | |
| Internship: Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Industries * | ||
- *
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.
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
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required | 33 | |
| 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 | ||
or CRS 262 | Social Media Marketing and the Retail Consumer | |
| Technical Apparel Analysis | ||
| Global Sourcing of Apparel and Related Consumer Products | ||
| Capstone in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies | ||
| Retail Management | ||
| Fundamentals of Retail Buying and Merchandising | ||
| Advanced Retail Buying and Merchandising | ||
| Internship | 6 | |
| Internship: Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Industries * | ||
| Career Profile Courses | 9 | |
Select 3 courses from the following: | ||
| Trend Forecasting, AI, and Consumer Analytics | ||
| Visual Merchandising and Product Presentation | ||
| Retail Data Analytics | ||
| Global Retail Strategy and Management | ||
| Advanced Retail Analysis | ||
| Concentration Electives | 12 | |
Select 12 credits of electives from APD, CRS, or RCS courses. | ||
- *
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.
Electives
- Electives should be sufficient to complete the 120 credit hours required for the degree.
Retail Management Concentration Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required | 30 | |
| Social Media Marketing and the Retail Consumer | ||
| Retail Data Analytics | ||
| Retail Management Capstone | ||
| Retail Management | ||
| Trend Forecasting, AI, and Consumer Analytics | ||
| Fundamentals of Retail Buying and Merchandising | ||
| Advanced Retail Buying and Merchandising | ||
| Global Retail Strategy and Management | ||
| Advanced Retail Analysis | ||
| Concentration Electives | 15 | |
Select 15 credits from BUS, ENT, MGT, or MKT courses | ||
Electives
- 9 credits of electives required from 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.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required | 3 | |
| Senior Honors Project | ||
| 6 credits of Honors course work in the major | 6 | |
| 3 credits of Honors course work in the major or another area | 3 | |
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.
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 be nominated to participate in the Accelerated Master's Program (AMP) by the Graduate Program Director. Students must have completed a minimum of 60 credit hours with at least 30 credits and a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.5 at UNC Greensboro.
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:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CRS 605 | Retail Data Analytics | 3 |
| CRS 620 | Analysis of Apparel and Related Industries | 3 |
| CRS 682 | Graduate Seminar in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies | 3 |
| RCS 560 | Advanced Retail Buying and Merchandising | 3 |
| RCS 584 | Advanced Retail Analysis | 3 |
| RCS 662 | Consumer Behavior and AI in the Retail Environment | 3 |
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.