Twenty-five years ago these major retail firms and formats were just a dream in an entrepreneur's head. Changes in the retail industry have brought about many new and varied career opportunities for college graduates interested in this highly competitive, exciting and profitable field. Back to fact sheet index Career Opportunities Retailers undertake a wide variety of activities. Thus, retail firms offer opportunities for people with a wide variety of skills and education. Graduates of the retail merchandising program hold positions such as buyers, store managers, visual merchandise directors, regional managers, store owners, interior merchandisers and fashion coordinators with such companies as Eddie Bauer, Herbergers, Vanity, Dayton's, Neiman Marcus, GAP, Laurie's, The Limited Express, Sears, and J.C. Penney, to name a few.
Many stores limit their management positions to employees who have completed a four-year degree.
The course of study includes classes on buying and merchandising, global retailing, retail market management, merchandise promotion, retail math, fashion economics, human behavior related to apparel selection decisions and the analysis of textile and apparel products using textile testing equipment. Students choose to focus on the area of textile product or interior merchandising. The interior merchandising focus includes courses such as history of interiors, design process and interior graphics. A minor in business administration provides a general business background which prepares students for in-depth work in the retail merchandising field of study. A very strong general education curriculum assists students in learning critical thinking skills.