Graduate Certificate - Merchandising
Core Courses
Consumer Behavior
This course offers an evaluation of psychological, sociological, and cultural theories of consumer behavior through the examination of factors influencing consumers' decision-making process.Professional Advancement
In this course, students analyze leadership and how it affects organizational culture and change through a prism of past and current experiences. Students examine various leadership styles and develop a personal leadership philosophy for professional advancement in merchandising.Retail Theory & Current Practices
In this course, students learn to evaluate effectiveness and/or appropriateness of retail theories and current practices. Students learn to assess internal and external environmental forces impacting strategic decisions by retail firms and to synthesize past and present trends in order to forecast probable future patterns. Prerequisite: Retail Management course.Elective Courses
Product Design, Development and Evaluation
This course is an advanced study of issues and management strategies necessary to design and produce a competitively priced product while offering visibility over material procurement and apparel production practices including the treatment of workers. Students examine the role of globalization, sustainability, and rapidly changing technology in the development of a successful product.Promotional Strategies in Merchandising
Students in this course will develop strategic integrated marketing campaigns to effectively communicate corporate social responsibility while balancing the triple bottom line for maximizing outcomes for people, profit, and the planet.Program Summary
Cost per credit hour:
2020-2021: $590
2021-2022: $590
Average time to complete:
Master's degree: 28 months
Graduate certificate: 12 months
36 Hours
12 Hours
University Contact
These campus coordinators can help you navigate Great Plains IDEA. Click on the university name to learn more about how Great Plains IDEA works at that campus.
Rachel OhmesMelissa Selders-Ortez
Karla Sisco
Aimee Maher
Melisia Bieber