Master's Degree - Merchandising
Core Courses
This course offers an evaluation of psychological, sociological, and cultural theories of consumer behavior through the examination of factors influencing consumers' decision-making process.
This course is an advanced study of financial trends in the merchandising industries. This includes implications related to sole proprietors, partnerships, franchises, S corporations, and C corporations. The course focuses on financial implications of recent advances in the field of merchandising of importance to graduate students as they embark on careers in academia and/or merchandising industries.
Introduction to the theory, principles, and practices of sustainability. Examination of
environmental, social, and economic sustainability at both the global and apparel and textile
industry levels. Exploration of innovative practices and social change strategies for the
furtherance of sustainability.
In this course students gain comprehensive understanding of theory, practices, and trends on international merchandise management. Students analyze global retail systems and the methods of distribution to consumers in various countries.
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.
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.
Students in this course examine integrated marketing communications to understand promotional strategies and techniques and pursue cultural and global awareness, social responsibility, and ethical decision-making.
In this course, students learn the research process and use various methods to conduct a consumer research study. Students also analyze the practical and theoretical issues involved in the designing, conducting, and evaluating of research used in the industry. Prerequisites: Graduate level course in statistics and completion of MERCH 500-level courses.
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.
This course is an examination of the executive planning process used to develop successful corporate strategies with emphasis on the importance of a market orientation for building customer value and sustaining a competitive advantage. Prerequisite: Instructor's permission.
This course uses quantitative data from the merchandising industry to support managerial decision making including how to format and analyze typical consumer data. This course will strengthen your decision making and analytical skills while providing you with new perspectives and approaches to apply quantitative techniques and methods to solve real-world business problems.
Practicum/Creative Component/Thesis
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.
Ashley SchultzMelissa Selders-Ortez
Karla Sisco
Aimee Maher
Melisia Bieber
Great Plains IDEA has contributed immensely to my academic success. Earning my bachelor’s degree spanned seven years due to medical setbacks, but my journey in graduate school stands in stark contrast. I maintained a 4.0 GPA because I was given the opportunity to succeed despite my health conditions. The online courses allowed me to learn in a more comfortable environment without the need for special accommodations in the classroom or navigation of a campus.