Retail Studies, M.S.
For information regarding deadlines and requirements for admission, please see https://grs.uncg.edu/programs/.
In addition to the application materials required by the Graduate School, applicants must submit a:
- Current resume.
- 1-2 page goals statement. Statements should clearly:
- Outline career goals, relevant work experience, and reasons for pursuing a graduate degree;
- Address why the Consumer, Apparel and Retail Studies program is of interest; and
- Include specific areas of research interest related to the department’s graduate program emphasis.
Of the three letters of reference, one should be written by a former instructor or academic contact.
Degree Program Requirements
Required: 30 credit hours
Thesis Option
The M.S. in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies, thesis option, requires a minimum of 30 credit hours and focuses on research issues in consumer, apparel, and retailing. It is designed to provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to pursue careers in academics and business.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses (9 credits) | ||
| CRS 620 | Analysis of Apparel and Related Industries | 3 |
| CRS 682 | Graduate Seminar in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies | 3 |
| RCS 662 | Behavior-Soft Lines Consumers | 3 |
| Required Research Techniques (9 credits) | ||
| CRS 605 | Retail Data Analytics | 3 |
| ERM 680 | Intermediate Statistical Methods in Education | 3 |
| ERM 681 | Design and Analysis of Educational Experiments | 3 |
| Electives (6 credits) | ||
| Select 6 credits from 600- and 700-level CRS courses * | 6 | |
| Thesis (Capstone Experience) (6 credits) | ||
| CRS 699 | Thesis | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
- *
As approved by the student's chair in consultation with the committee.
Thesis Advisory Committee
The student will select a graduate advisor and two other graduate faculty members to serve as a Thesis Advisory Committee. The graduate advisor must be from the Department of Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies. The committee must be chosen and a program of study approved no later than the second semester enrolled in graduate courses.
Global Apparel and Retail Management Concentration (Non-Thesis Option)
Required: 30-31 credit hours
The concentration in Global Apparel and Retail Management provides a non-thesis option for the M.S in Retail Studies. The concentration requires 30-31 credit hours of online course work and provides state-of-the-art skills for decision making in global apparel management with a consumer focus. Additionally, the concentration requires an applied industry practicum which serves as a capstone experience. In addition, students in this concentration have two tracks to choose from: Merchandising and Brand Management and Retail and Consumer Data Management.
Merchandising and Brand Management Track
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses (18 credits) | ||
| CRS 570 | Apparel Brand Management | 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 | Behavior-Soft Lines Consumers | 3 |
| Elective Courses (6 credits) | ||
| Select two courses (6 credits) from the following: | 6 | |
| Retail Data Analytics | ||
| Advanced Retail Data Analytics | ||
| Principles of Supply Chain Management | ||
| Analytics for Logistics and Distribution Management | ||
| Strategic Cost, Procurement, and Supply Chain Finance | ||
| Marketing Management | ||
| Leadership | ||
| Marketing Research | ||
| Capstone (6 credits) | ||
| CRS 632 | Supervised Industry Practicum in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies * | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
- *
Students must demonstrate a broad knowledge of the material covered in the curriculum by undertaking an approved industry practicum. A formal contract will be established between the CARS graduate program committee and each student to clearly define the scope and requirements for the project. The student will be permitted to enroll in CRS 632 once the Required Core Courses are complete.
Retail and Consumer Data Management Track
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses (12 credits) | ||
| 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 662 | Behavior-Soft Lines Consumers | 3 |
| Required Research Techniques (7 credits) | ||
| CRS 605 | Retail Data Analytics | 3 |
| CRS 651 | Advanced Retail Data Analytics | 3 |
| STA 640 | SAS System for Statistical Analysis | 1 |
| Elective Courses (6 credits) | ||
| Select two courses (6 credits) from the following: * | 6 | |
| Principles of Supply Chain Management | ||
| Analytics for Logistics and Distribution Management | ||
| Strategic Cost, Procurement, and Supply Chain Finance | ||
| Capstone (6 credits) | ||
| CRS 632 | Supervised Industry Practicum in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies ** | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours | 31 | |
- *
Or data analytics courses as approved.
- **
Students must demonstrate a broad knowledge of the material covered in the curriculum by undertaking an approved industry practicum. A formal contract will be established between the CARS graduate program committee and each student to clearly define the scope and requirements for the project. The student will be permitted to enroll in CRS 632 once the Required Core Courses are complete.
Accelerated B.S. to M.S. in Retail Studies
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:
| 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 | Behavior-Soft Lines Consumers | 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.