Merchandising B.S.

B.S. in Merchandising curriculum

Along with the CASE Requirements, students must complete the following:

  1. Foundations
    1. CASE English Composition
    2. Mathematical Modeling
  2. CASE Foreign Language. Choose from:
    1. CASE Foreign Language: proficiency in a single foreign language through the second semester of the second year of college-level coursework.
    2. Proficiency in a single foreign language through the second semester of the first year of college-level coursework in addition to the completion of the CASE Culture Studies requirements (both CASE Diversity in the United States and CASE Global Civilizations and Cultures).
  3. CASE Intensive Writing
  4. CASE Breadth of Inquiry
    1. Arts and Humanities: 4 courses
    2. Social and Historical Studies: 4 courses
    3. Natural and Mathematical Sciences: 3 courses
  5. CASE Critical Approaches
  6. CASE Public Oral Communication

Students must complete at least 30 credit hours of coursework from the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design, including:

  • SOAD-A 100 Pathways: Introduction to Art, Design and Merchandising
  • SOAD-M 209 Apparel Industries

  • SOAD-F 203 Materials for Fashion Design
  • One of the following:
    • SOAD-M 204 Apparel Manufacturing and Quality Analysis
    • SOAD-F 207 Fashion Studio
  • SOAD-M 315 Principles of Retail Merchandising
  • SOAD-M 404 International Textiles and Apparel Trade
  • SOAD-M 413 Planning and Analysis

Complete nine (9) credit hours selected from the following:

  • SOAD-C 380 Topical Issues in Comprehensive Design
  • SOAD-C 381 Topical Issues in Collaborative Design
  • SOAD-C 480 Special Problems in Comprehensive Design
  • SOAD-C 481 Intensive Seminar in Comprehensive Design
  • SOAD-F 202 Introductory Textile Science: Laboratory
  • SOAD-M 308 Brand Management and Advertising
  • SOAD-M 309 Strategies in Retail Promotion
  • SOAD-M 316 Retail Product Management
  • SOAD-M 327 Product Development
  • SOAD-M 328 Digital Product Development
  • SOAD-M 350 Omnichannel Apparel Merchandising: Connecting to Consumers
  • SOAD-M 405 International Fashion Consumers and Retailers
  • SOAD-M 409 Retail Industry Field Seminar
  • SOAD-M 410 Apparel Entrepreneurship
  • SOAD-M 412 Global Sourcing
  • SOAD-M 416 Sustainability in Product: Fashion Design, Merchandising, and Retailing
  • SOAD-M 450 Profiling the Apparel Customer
  • SOAD-M 485 Advanced Special Topics in Apparel Merchandising
  • SOAD-X 373 Internship in Professional Practice
  • SOAD-X 376 Practicum in the Retail Industry
  • SOAD-X 492 Independent Study in Retail

One of the following:

  • SOAD-M 319 Professional Techniques in the Retail Industry
  • ASCS-Q 299 College to Career III: Market Yourself for the Job, Internship, and Graduate School Search

  • BUS-K 201 The Computer in Business
  • ECON-E 201 Introduction to Microeconomics or ECON-E 202 Introduction to Macroeconomics
  • PSY-P 101 Introductory Psychology
  • SOC-S 100 Introduction to Sociology

Complete one (1) of the Kelley School of Business minors or another related minor approved by the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture and Design’s Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Is it for you?

The Merchandising major attracts students from a variety of backgrounds and interests. They typically possess some of these qualities:

  • Passion for retailing and fashion trends
  • Analytical skills that are used in retail merchandising
  • Aptitude for principles, planning, and analysis
  • Ability to use spreadsheets and other tools to track trends
  • Creative skills that can be used in product development
  • Interests in visual merchandising, commercial display, digital product development, and social media marketing
  • Ability to adapt to fast-changing circumstances
  • Desire to learn about logistics and supply-chain management
  • Interest in store operations and management
  • Curiosity about future trends, including sustainability and fair trade

Learn the business of merchandising

You will develop a working knowledge of business practices within art and design markets, including merchandising through various channels, product development, sourcing, branding, and consumer engagement.

You will also gain a deep appreciation for the physical, cognitive, cultural, and social factors that influence consumer behaviors, habits, and purchasing decisions.

A professor giving a lecture.
A group of students given a tour in a museum.

Work productively in teams of artists + designers

Creative collaboration is a skill that takes years to master. You will have the ability to respect, understand, and critically evaluate work across the disciplines of art, design, and merchandising. And you will gain a thorough understanding of the skills needed to solve problems unique to the industry.

Many students begin exploring internship opportunities as early as after their sophomore year. Qualified students may earn academic credit for summer internships.