Merchandising B.S.

B.S. in Merchandising curriculum

Students must complete the CASE Requirements.

  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

See the College Undergraduate Bulletin for a full list of requirements for your major. Choose your requirement term or Bulletin year in the upper right-hand corner of the page.

View a full list of courses and descriptions in the College Bulletin

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.