Retail Management

A degree in retail management will prepare you for a career in merchandising, management, and/or marketing in traditional retail settings and e-commerce environments. Job opportunities are excellent in marketing, consumer relations, advertising, market research, sales, publicity, and merchandising analysis.

Career Options

• Buyer
• Corporate Recruiter
• Human Resources Manager
• Marketing Director
• Merchandiser
• Product Development
• Sales Manager
• Sales Promotion Specialist
• Store Manager
• Stylist
• Supply Chain Manager
• Visual Merchandiser

Experiential Learning

• Gain real-world experience through supervised retail internship or field experiences.
• Join the Purdue student chapter of the National Retail Federation and participate in case study competitions to earn scholarships, professional development opportunities, mentorships and internships. 
• Take advantage of the annual Fashion Scholarship Fund case competition and become immersed in the fashion industry with scholarship, internship, and exclusive networking opportunities.    
• Complete an optional summer or semester study abroad program to enhance your cultural global competencies

• Elect to spend your junior year at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City and earn your associate’s degree. Students in the retail management program are qualified to apply if they've earned a 3.00 cumulative GPA at the time of application.

Coursework

• Buying of Merchandise
• Consumer Behavior
• Customer Relations Management
• E-Commerce & E-Retailing
• Fundamentals of Negotiations
• Leadership Strategies
• Marketing
• Principles of Industrial Selling
• Retail Management
• Textile Science
• Visual Merchandising

Degree Requirements & Academic Advising Worksheet 

How do I switch my major?

If you are interested in switching your major to Retail Management, please visit the Change to an HHS Major page to learn more about the process to enter the College of Health & Human Sciences.

How do I transfer to Purdue?

If you are interested in transferring to Retail Management from another college or university, please visit the Future Transfer Students page to learn more about the steps needed to finish your degree at Purdue University.