Undergraduate - Retail Merchandising

Undergraduate | Retail Merchandising

About the Profession
Retailing and promotion of merchandise, including apparel, home furnishing, and accessories, present some of the most exciting and challenging career opportunities available. The constant development of new technologies for creating products and the demand for innovative personnel at all market levels -- producer, wholesaler, and retailer -- require educational preparation that is current with the industry. At Ohio University, the Retail Merchandising program keeps pace with these changes by combining educational expertise with up-to-date, on-the-job experience. Students are prepared for retail challenges in the global marketplace.

Career Opportunities Q&A

Q: What careers will I be prepared to pursue upon graduation?
A: Career options include retail management, buying, design and product development, merchandising, visual presentation, quality control and wholesale sales and entrepreneurship. Our market-driven Retail Merchandising program prepares you to land the job of your dreams!

Q: Where are graduates working?
A: Major corporations such as The Limited, Inc. (and its divisions), The Gap, Federated Department Stores, Mercantile Stores, WalMart, Kohl's, Target, Ann Taylor, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and J.C. Penney have employed OU Retail Merchandising graduates. Graduates have also secured employment with various design companies and manufacturers including Bugle Boy, Halston, Betsey, Johnson, and Cejon. Alumni have landed specialized jobs such as fashion stylists, artistic consultants, fashion show coordinators , costumers for TV and motion pictures, apparel and textile designers.

Q: Is there anyone to help me find a job?
A: The faculty in the Retail Merchandising program are available to work with each student. It is our goal that each student realize his or her goals! We encourage you to attend career fairs at Ohio University and at other universities. Ohio University's Career Services office regularly scheduled interviews with retail companies for both internships and entry-level positions. Additionally, companies seeking internship students often contact Ohio University for candidates. The faculty are here to guide you as you network with resource people including the Retail Merchandising advisory board, alumni contacts, and other industry professionals.

Q: What are the typical career paths in Retail Merchandising?
A: Most entry level positions are as trainees - in merchandising, management, product development, or buying. You may begin your career as a manager in training at a major department store or within a specialty store, as a buyer trainee, or as a merchandise coordinator for a major label. Secondary positions such as sales representative, buyer, divisional merchandise manager, fashion coordinator, stylist, and production coordinator are typically available to people with 3 to 6 years of experience in retailing. Retail Merchandising graduates may also find employment in departments of human resources of retail firms or with design and manufacturing companies.

About the Program
Students interested in the Retail Merchandising program will enter Ohio University with a pre-major code of ND6380 (Pre-Retail Merchandising). To be admitted into the major, you must complete an application form (downloadable PDF available on the right side of this page) and be accepted after successful completion of 7 courses and achieving an accumulative g.p.a. of 2.0 or higher.

The Retail Merchandising program and courses at Ohio University prepare students for dynamic careers in industry. The course of study includes professional development, knowledge of industry-specific business and sales applications, and hands-on retailing experiences. In addition, study tours to New York City and abroad enhance classroom instruction and provide valuable networking opportunities. The program works cooperatively with an advisory board composed of retailers, business people and educators in related fields. Faculty and students network with corporate representatives who provide internships and hire Retail Merchandising majors. Program resources provide insight into the ongoing development of our market-driven program. In addition, an historic costume collection is housed in our facilities and managed within our program. Your professional development will be enhanced through regular meetings with an academic advisor and through a sequence of professional development and retail content courses that will prepare you for the world of opportunities in retailing.

Internships
As an Ohio University Retail Merchandising student, you will complete work experiences during your sophomore, junior, and senior years. Retail industry exploration is the focus of HCRM 299, and mini work experiences are emphasized in HCRM 399 and 399A (Career Search Strategies). During your senior year you will complete a quarter long, full time internship (HCRM 499). Your internship may be in a buying office, at a merchandise mart, in a department store setting, or within the corporate headquarters of a major corporation. Your internship position is likely to be that of a buyer's assistant, a management trainee, a sales representative's assistant, an assistant to a merchandise coordinator or a designer, or as a trainee in a product development or quality assurance division. You are not limited geographically-- and Ohio University Retail Merchandising students have held internships world wide.

Some recent student internships have included positions as merchandising and management trainees, buyers trainees, merchandise coordinators, and customer service specialists within companies such as The Limited Inc., the Atlanta Apparel Mart, Disney, The Gap, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, WalMart, Petrie's, McAlpins, Sears, J.C.Penney, Target and more!

HCRM 399A – Field Work Experience: 2 Credit Hours

Prerequisite: “C” or better in HCRM 399

Enrollment Requirements:

Registration for HCRM 399A will be for the Quarter in which the student will be employed and completing the Field Work Experience.
HCRM 399A will be offered as a Winter Intersession course and therefore any student wishing to complete their Field Work Experience over winter break must register for HCRM 399A during Winter Intersession.
HCRM 399A may be completed while enrolled in classes HOWEVER it is recommended that the student takes no more that 16 credit hours (including the 2 credit hours for HCRM 399A) to allow time to work the necessary hours each week for completion of the 125-150 hours of work required as part of the course.
It is expected that the work hours for HCRM 399A will be completed in a 6-10 week time period.

Course Requirements:

125-150 Work hours must be completed.
Journal, Goals and Major Project as well as supplied Forms, as described on attached syllabus, must be submitted as part of the Final Project.
The Final Project must be turned in no later than the Friday of the 2nd week of the following quarter.
The exact date and instructions for Final Project drop-off will be emailed by instructor to all students enrolled at the beginning of the following quarter by the instructor.
A student may be granted permission for an extension due to extenuating circumstances in order to complete the necessary work hours required but the instructor must be notified in a timely manner and the situation explained thoroughly.

All requests to take HCRM 399A before HCRM 399 must be submitted in writing and turned in to the instructor of HCRM 399 along with a current copy of the student’s DARS.
In order for consideration requests must include:

Name
Year
Thorough explanation of situation for granting an exception to the rule.
Course plan of action indicating that granting an exception should be considered

Completion of the above does not guarantee that an exception will be granted; only that it will be considered. Students will be notified once a decision has been determined

Advisory Board
An advisory board of retailing professionals, business people, and educators works cooperatively with the faculty of Ohio University's Retail Merchandising program to ensure that the program remains current with industry standards, technologically up-to-date, and competitive in a dynamic market.

Student Organizations
Participating in professional associations enables students to network within their field. Our students can become members of the following organizations: