Design & Merchandising BS / Retail & Merchandising MS
Major: Design & Merchandising and Retail & Merchandising
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS) and Master of Science (MS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 226.0
Co-op Options: One Co-op (Five years)
BS Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 50.0499
BS Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 13-1022
MS Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 52.0212
MS Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 41-1011
About the Program
Only available to Design & Merchandising majors, this accelerated dual degree program combines study in the areas of design & merchandising, buying, and product development with the MS in Retail & Merchandising degree. The program is designed to allow students to complete both the bachelor's degree and the MS in Retail & Merchandising degree in five years.
Students will develop advanced skills to think critically, consider theoretical perspectives, research and solve problems, and implement innovative solutions in a dynamic global marketplace inclusive of lifestyle areas such as home, beauty and personal care, health and wellness, prepared foods, and pet products.
The program is structured with a year of core curriculum which can be started during a students senior year of their BS program, followed by a year of in-depth research, data collection, and completion of a project or thesis. Program content will challenge and engross students in the areas of analytical and critical-thinking, retail data analysis, visual and retail communication, technological movements, social media, and merchandising and retail “future” strategies through academic and applied learning online and in the field.
Graduates with a dual degree will pursue leadership roles and career growth in the areas of retail, merchandising, supply-chain, and brand industries.
Additional Information
Students should visit the Westphal College of Media Arts and Design for more information.
Admission Requirements
GPA of at least 3.0
If you don't meet this requirement you're still encouraged to apply and your file will be reviewed on an individual basis by the Program Director
Degree Requirements
General Education Requirements | ||
ENGL 101 | Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research | 3.0 |
or ENGL 111 | English Composition I | |
ENGL 102 | Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing | 3.0 |
or ENGL 112 | English Composition II | |
ENGL 103 | Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres | 3.0 |
or ENGL 113 | English Composition III | |
ENVS 160 | Environment in the News | 2.0 |
ENVS 260 | Environmental Science and Society | 3.0 |
GEO 111 | Natural Disasters | 3.0 |
MATH 119 | Mathematical Foundations for Design | 4.0 |
COOP 101 | Career Management and Professional Development | 1.0 |
UNIV A101 | The Drexel Experience | 1.0 |
CIVC 101 | Introduction to Civic Engagement | 1.0 |
Required Arts and Humanities | ||
COM 220 | Qualitative Research Methods | 3.0 |
COM 230 | Techniques of Speaking | 3.0 |
Required Social Science | ||
Arts & Humanities elective* | 3.0 | |
Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
Politics of Hip Hop | ||
Introduction to Social Psychology | ||
Retail Intersections: Social & Cultural Issues | ||
Social Science electives** | 6.0 | |
Art History & Visual Studies Requirements | ||
ARTH 103 | History of Art III | 3.0 |
Select two of the following: | 6.0 | |
Asian Art and Culture | ||
Art of India | ||
Art of China | ||
Art of Japan | ||
Contemporary Art | ||
History of African-American Art | ||
African Art | ||
Global Material Culture | ||
Special Topics in Art History | ||
Special Topics in Art History | ||
PHTO 110 | Photography | 3.0 |
VSST 101 | Design I | 4.0 |
VSST 102 | Design II | 4.0 |
VSST 103 | Design III | 4.0 |
VSST 110 | Introductory Drawing | 3.0 |
Professional Requirements | ||
ACCT 110 | Accounting for Professionals | 4.0 |
ARTH 335 [WI] | History of Costume I: Preclassical to 1800 | 3.0 |
COM 181 | Public Relations Principles and Theory | 3.0 |
DSMR 100 | Computer Imaging I | 3.0 |
DSMR 103 | Introduction to the Fashion Industry | 3.0 |
DSMR 201 | Analysis of Product | 3.0 |
DSMR 210 | Presentation Techniques Design and Merchandising | 3.0 |
DSMR 211 | Digital Design for Design and Merchandising | 3.0 |
DSMR 215 | Digital Commerce & Promotion | 3.0 |
DSMR 230 | Textiles for Design and Merchandising | 3.0 |
DSMR 231 | Retail Operations | 3.0 |
DSMR 232 | Merchandise Planning and Buying | 4.0 |
DSMR 300 | Design and Merchandising Trends and Impact | 3.0 |
DSMR 310 | Merchandising Operations & Management | 3.0 |
DSMR 311 | Visual Merchandising | 3.0 |
DSMR 333 | Fashion Product Development and Sourcing | 3.0 |
DSMR 464 | Merchandising Analytics | 3.0 |
DSMR 477 [WI] | Design and Merchandising Seminar | 3.0 |
DSMR 496 [WI] | Senior Problem in Design and Merchandising | 3.0 |
ECON 201 | Principles of Microeconomics | 4.0 |
ENTP 105 | Entrepreneurial Thinking | 3.0 |
MKTG 201 | Introduction to Marketing Management | 4.0 |
Select one of the following: | 4.0 | |
Selling and Sales Management | ||
Marketing Insights | ||
Professional Personal Selling | ||
Consumer Behavior | ||
Brand and Reputation Management | ||
PHIL 301 | Business Ethics | 3.0 |
PROD 215 | Design Thinking in Product Design | 4.0 |
Career Pathway Electives*** | 31.0 | |
RMER-MS REQUIREMENTS | ||
RMER 500 | Retail Merchandising | 3.0 |
RMER 510 | Research Methods in Retail & Merchandising | 4.0 |
RMER 520 | Retail: Social and Cultural Issues | 3.0 |
RMER 530 | Omni-Channel Product Promotion & Retail Analytics | 3.0 |
RMER 535 | Retail Lifestyle Product Forecasting | 3.0 |
RMER 540 | Brand Management & Intellectual Property | 3.0 |
RMER 550 | Merchandising Technologies | 3.0 |
RMER 560 | Selling Techniques & Strategies | 3.0 |
RMER 570 | Retail Supply Chain Analysis | 3.0 |
RMER 580 | Retail & Merchandising Seminar in Leadership | 3.0 |
RMER 585 | The Inclusive Retail Leader | 4.0 |
RMER 600 | Retail Futures | 3.0 |
RMER 697 | Research & Data Collection | 3.0 |
RMER 698 | Project/Research Thesis | 4.0 |
Total Credits | 226.0 |
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Select 9.0 credits from 100-499 level courses, including T380-480 in AFAS, ARTH, ARCH, COM, DANC, ENGL, FMST, GST, HIST, INTR, IST, JWST, LANG, LING, MENA, MUSC, PHIL, PHTO, PPE, PBHL, RELS, SCRP, THTR, TVST, VSCM, WGST, and WRIT.
Suggested Arts and Humanities electives: ENGL 303, ENGL 335, HIST 163.
- **
Select 9.0 credits from 100-499 level courses, including T380-T480, in AFAS, ANTH, CJS, CS, ECON, ENSS, ENVS, PSI, PSY, PBHL, SOC, and WGST.
Suggested Social Science electives: SOC 210, SOC 215, SOC 240, SOC 340, SOC I499.
- ***
Career Pathway electives enable students to pursue specific areas of study which compliment the Design & Merchandising major and the student's desired career pathway.
Writing-Intensive Course Requirements
In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.
A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.
Sample Plan of Study
Fall/Winter Co-op (Cycle A)
First Year | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
DSMR 103 | 3.0 | DSMR 100 | 3.0 | CIVC 101 | 1.0 | VACATION | |
ENGL 101 or 111 | 3.0 | DSMR 230 | 3.0 | DSMR 201 | 3.0 | ||
ENVS 260 | 3.0 | ENGL 102 or 112 | 3.0 | ENGL 103 or 113 | 3.0 | ||
UNIV A101 | 1.0 | GEO 111 | 3.0 | ENVS 160 | 2.0 | ||
VSST 110 | 3.0 | VSST 102 | 4.0 | MATH 119 | 4.0 | ||
VSST 101 | 4.0 | VSST 103 | 4.0 | ||||
17 | 16 | 17 | 0 | ||||
Second Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
ACCT 110 | 4.0 | ARTH 103 | 3.0 | DSMR 210 or 215 | 3.0 | COM 230, 181, or 220 | 3.0 |
COM 181, 220, or 230 | 3.0 | COM 220, 181, or 230 | 3.0 | DSMR 232 (or Career Pathway Elective) (UG) | 4.0 | DSMR 215 (or Career Pathway Elective) (UG) | 3.0 |
DSMR 211 | 3.0 | COOP 101* | 1.0 | ECON 201 | 4.0 | ENTP 105 | 3.0 |
DSMR 231 (or Art History Elective) (UG) | 3.0 | DSMR 210 or 211 | 3.0 | MKTG 201 | 4.0 | PHTO 110 | 3.0 |
Select one from the following: | 3.0 | DSMR 215 or PHTO 110 | 3.0 | Career Pathway Elective (UG) | 3.0 | ||
DSMR 231 or 232 (or Art History Elective) (UG) | 3.0 | ||||||
16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | ||||
Third Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | DSMR 300 or 477 | 3.0 | DSMR 311 (or Art History Elective) (UG) | 3.0 | ||
DSMR 310 | 3.0 | DSMR 477 or 300 | 3.0 | ||||
DSMR 311 (or Art History Elective) (UG) | 3.0 | PROD 215 (or Marketing Choice) (UG) | 4.0 | ||||
DSMR 333 | 3.0 | Social Science (UG) | 3.0 | ||||
Career Pathway Elective (UG) | 4.0 | ||||||
0 | 0 | 16 | 13 | ||||
Fourth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
ARTH 335 or DSMR 464 | 3.0 | DSMR 464 or ARTH 335 | 3.0 | PHIL 301 | 3.0 | STUDENT CONVERTS TO GR STATUS | |
DSMR 496 (or Career Pathway Elective) (UG) | 3.0 | DSMR 496 (or Career Pathway Elective) (UG) | 3.0 | Arts and Humanities (choice) (UG) | 3.0 | RMER 560 | 3.0 |
PROD 215 (or Marketing Choice) (UG) | 4.0 | Career Pathway Elective (UG) | 8.0 | Career Pathway Elective (UG) | 3.0 | RMER 585 | 4.0 |
Career Pathway Elective (UG) | 4.0 | RMER 530 | 3.0 | Social Science Elective (UG) | 3.0 | ||
RMER 500 | 3.0 | RMER 540 | 3.0 | ||||
RMER 550 | 3.0 | ||||||
17 | 17 | 18 | 7 | ||||
Fifth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
RMER 520 | 3.0 | RMER 510 | 4.0 | RMER 697 | 3.0 | ||
RMER 570 | 3.0 | RMER 535 | 3.0 | RMER 698 | 4.0 | ||
RMER 580 | 3.0 | RMER 600 | 3.0 | ||||
9 | 10 | 7 | |||||
Total Credits 226 |
- *
Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.
COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.
Fall/Winter Co-op (Cycle A - London Option)
First Year | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
DSMR 103 | 3.0 | DSMR 100 | 3.0 | CIVC 101 | 1.0 | VACATION | |
ENGL 101 or 111 | 3.0 | DSMR 230 | 3.0 | DSMR 201 | 3.0 | ||
ENVS 260 | 3.0 | ENGL 102 or 112 | 3.0 | ENGL 103 or 113 | 3.0 | ||
UNIV A101 | 1.0 | GEO 111 | 3.0 | ENVS 160 | 2.0 | ||
VSST 101 | 4.0 | VSST 102 | 4.0 | MATH 119 | 4.0 | ||
VSST 110 | 3.0 | VSST 103 | 4.0 | ||||
17 | 16 | 17 | 0 | ||||
Second Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
ACCT 110 | 4.0 | ARTH 103 | 3.0 | DSMR 210 or 215 | 3.0 | COM 230, 220, or 181 | 3.0 |
COM 181, 220, or 230 | 3.0 | COM 220, 181, or 230 | 3.0 | DSMR 232 or 231 (or Career Pathway Elective) (UG) | 4.0 | DSMR 477 | 3.0 |
DSMR 211 | 3.0 | COOP 101* | 1.0 | ECON 201 | 4.0 | ENTP 105 | 3.0 |
DSMR 231 (or Art History Elective) (UG) | 3.0 | DSMR 210 or 211 | 3.0 | MKTG 201 | 4.0 | PHTO 110 or DSMR 215 | 3.0 |
Select one of the following: | 3.0 | DSMR 215 or PHTO 110 | 3.0 | Career Pathway Elective (UG) | 3.0 | ||
DSMR 231 or 232 (or Art History Elective) (UG) | 3.0 | ||||||
16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | ||||
Third Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | DSMR 300 or 477 | 3.0 | London Classes | |||
DSMR 310 | 3.0 | Art History Elective (UG) | 3.0 | ||||
DSMR 311 | 3.0 | Career Pathway Electives (UG) | 9.0 | ||||
DSMR 333 | 3.0 | Social Science (choice) (UG) | 3.0 | ||||
PROD 215 (or Career Pathway Elective) (UG) | 4.0 | ||||||
0 | 0 | 16 | 15 | ||||
Fourth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
ARTH 335 or DSMR 464 | 3.0 | DSMR 464 or ARTH 335 | 3.0 | DSMR 300 (or Career Pathway Elective) (UG) | 3.0 | STUDENT CONVERTS TO GR STATUS | |
DSMR 496 (or Career Pathway Elective) (UG) | 3.0 | DSMR 496 (or Career Pathway Elective) (UG) | 3.0 | PHIL 301 | 3.0 | RMER 560 | 3.0 |
PROD 215 (or Marketing Choice) (UG) | 4.0 | PROD 215 (or Marketing Choice) (UG) | 4.0 | Arts and Humanities (choice) (UG) | 3.0 | RMER 580 | 3.0 |
Social Science Elective (UG) | 3.0 | Career Pathway Elective (UG) | 3.0 | Career Pathway Elective (UG) | 3.0 | ||
RMER 500 | 3.0 | RMER 530 | 3.0 | RMER 540 | 3.0 | ||
RMER 550 | 3.0 | ||||||
16 | 16 | 18 | 6 | ||||
Fifth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
RMER 520 | 3.0 | RMER 510 | 4.0 | RMER 697 | 3.0 | ||
RMER 570 | 3.0 | RMER 535 | 3.0 | RMER 698 | 4.0 | ||
RMER 585 | 4.0 | RMER 600 | 3.0 | ||||
10 | 10 | 7 | |||||
Total Credits 226 |
- *
Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.
COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.
Spring/Summer Co-op (Cycle B)
First Year | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
DSMR 103 | 3.0 | DSMR 100 | 3.0 | CIVC 101 | 1.0 | VACATION | |
ENGL 101 or 111 | 3.0 | DSMR 230 | 3.0 | DSMR 201 | 3.0 | ||
ENVS 260 | 3.0 | ENGL 102 or 112 | 3.0 | ENGL 103 or 113 | 3.0 | ||
UNIV A101 | 1.0 | GEO 111 | 3.0 | ENVS 160 | 2.0 | ||
VSST 101 | 4.0 | VSST 102 | 4.0 | MATH 119 | 4.0 | ||
VSST 110 | 3.0 | VSST 103 | 4.0 | ||||
17 | 16 | 17 | 0 | ||||
Second Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
ACCT 110 | 4.0 | ARTH 103 | 3.0 | DSMR 210 or 215 | 3.0 | COM 230, 220, or 181 | 3.0 |
COM 181, 220, or 230 | 3.0 | COM 220, 230, or 181 | 3.0 | DSMR 232 or 231 (or Career Pathway Elective) (UG) | 4.0 | COOP 101* | 1.0 |
DSMR 211 | 3.0 | DSMR 210 or 211 | 3.0 | ECON 201 | 4.0 | ENTP 105 | 3.0 |
DSMR 231 (or Art History Elective) (UG) | 3.0 | DSMR 215 or PHTO 110 | 3.0 | MKTG 201 | 4.0 | PHTO 110 or DSMR 215 | 3.0 |
Select one of the following: | 3.0 | DSMR 231 or 232 (or Art History Elective) (UG) | 3.0 | Career Pathway Electives (UG) | 6.0 | ||
16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | ||||
Third Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
DSMR 300 or 477 | 3.0 | DSMR 311 (or Art History Elective) (UG) | 3.0 | COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ||
DSMR 310 | 3.0 | DSMR 477 or 300 | 3.0 | ||||
DSMR 311 (or Career Pathway Elective) (UG) | 3.0 | PROD 215 (or Marketing Choice) (UG) | 4.0 | ||||
DSMR 333 | 3.0 | Social Science (choice) (UG) | 3.0 | ||||
Career Pathway Elective (UG) | 4.0 | ||||||
16 | 13 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Fourth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
ARTH 335 or DSMR 464 | 3.0 | DSMR 300 or PHIL 301 | 3.0 | PHIL 301 or DSMR 300 | 3.0 | STUDENT CONVERTS TO GR STATUS | |
DSMR 496 (Or Career Pathway Elective (UG)) | 3.0 | DSMR 464 or ARTH 335 | 3.0 | Arts and Humanities (choice) (UG) | 3.0 | RMER 560 | 3.0 |
PROD 215 (or Marketing choice) (UG) | 4.0 | DSMR 496 (Or Career Pathway Elective) (UG) | 3.0 | Career Pathway Elective (UG) | 4.0 | RMER 580 | 3.0 |
Career Pathway Elective (UG) | 4.0 | Career Pathway Elective (UG) | 4.0 | Social Science Elective (UG) | 3.0 | ||
RMER 500 | 3.0 | RMER 530 | 3.0 | RMER 540 | 3.0 | ||
RMER 550 | 3.0 | ||||||
17 | 16 | 19 | 6 | ||||
Fifth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
RMER 520 | 3.0 | RMER 510 | 4.0 | RMER 697 | 3.0 | ||
RMER 570 | 3.0 | RMER 535 | 3.0 | RMER 698 | 4.0 | ||
RMER 585 | 4.0 | RMER 600 | 3.0 | ||||
10 | 10 | 7 | |||||
Total Credits 226 |
- *
Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.
COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.