Retail & Consumer Sciences Course Descriptions

210 Introduction to Retail Management (3)

Development and overview of retailing, related businesses and industries, and the activities involved in the delivery of goods and services to the consumer.

310 Retail Buying and Planning (4)

Analysis of the merchandise buying function within different types of retail organizations and structures. Application of principles associated with retail buying, planning, and allocation. Computer simulations with emphasis on Excel. 3 hours and 1 discussion/lab. Prereq: 210 and Math 125, and Accounting 200.

311 Human Resources Management in Hospitality and Retailing (3)

The core concepts of managing an organization's culturally-diverse workshop in include: recruitment and selection, training and development, and employee relations. Prereq: 210 or 211. (Same as Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism 311.)

320 Apparel Product Development (3)

Concepts of apparel product development from the retailer's perspective. Understanding of basic textile and design principles, specification writing, line building, and brand management to develop apparel products for target markets.

341 Consumers in the Marketplace (3)

Understanding of behavior of individual and family, demographics, family life cycle, family dynamics and roles, cultural and ethnic influences, and individual and family decision making.

346 Retail Operations Management (3)

Analysis of retail operations in terms of organizational structure, logistics and distribution, growth opportunities and productivity. Prereq: 210, Accounting 200.

360 Issues and Trends in Customer Service (3)

Building competencies in providing outstanding customer service in retail organizations. This course will create a unified approach to customer service, recognizing the importance of store environment planning, organizational policies and internal marketing that will lead to increased business by attracting and retaining desired customers. Prereq: 210. (Same as Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism 360.)

376 Strategies for Growth (3)

Issues concerning achievement of business growth with focus upon the consumer, operational, and financial dimensions of the service industry. Prereq: 341; Statistics 201; Marketing 300. Coreq: 310.

390 Professional Development (3)

Development of skills important to career success; focus on business communications, time and stress management, motivational and negotiating skills. Prereq. English 101-102, Co/Preq: 311, 326 or RCS 310 and progression into the program. (Same as Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism 390.)

410 Strategic Retail Planning (3)

Retail Management from a strategic planning perspective; development and implementation of retail strategy from financial, operational, and customer orientation. Prereq: 376. 422.

411 Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management (3)

Concepts of entrepreneurship within single ownership and other business organizations; development of a business plan; management of a small business; current issues and problems. Prereq: 210, 341, Marketing 300, Accounting 200.

412 e-Retailing (3)

Issues concerning the use of the Internet and related technologies to improve and/or transform retail businesses. Emphasizes analysis of consumers and product/service types in online retailing and the effective management of online catalogs. Also direct retailing methods that involve technology such as interactive TV and m-commerce (mobile). Prereq: 210, 341, Marketing 300.

415 Retail Promotion (3)

In-store promotional activities, development of retail promotion strategies; evaluation of retail promotions; supplementary focus on advertising and other methods to communicate in-store promotions. Prereq: 210, 341, Marketing 300.

421 International Retailing (3)

The study and analysis of retailing in an international and global setting. Retail processes, practices and issues within international environments - cultural, economic, social, political, legal and business. Prereq: 210, 341, Marketing 300.

422 Professional Experience in Retail and Consumer Sciences (6)

Supervised educational experiences in selected retail and consumer sciences service operations. Prereq: Progression into the program and 310, 390.

480 Retail Market Planning and Execution (1-3)

Expose students to the process of planning and executing a marketing trip; involves off-campus experience at a major market center. Prereq: 310, consent of instructor. May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.

482 Professional Experience in Retailing II (6)

Supervised professional experience in selected retail operations that builds upon first professional experience. Prereq: 410, 422.

484 International Retail Industry Study Tour (3)

Group study abroad involving academic research and field investigation. Prereq: 210 and consent of instructor. May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.

493 Directed Study (1-3)

Individual problems for junior and senior students with special interests in retail and consumer sciences. Prereq: Junior or senior standing and consent of the instructor.

495 Special Topics (3)

Topics in retail and consumer sciences. Prereq: Junior or senior standing and consent of the instructor. May be repeated. Maximum 9 hours.

497-498 Honors: Retail and Consumer Sciences (1-3)

Individual problems for Junior and Senior students showing special ability and interest in retail and consumer sciences. Prereq: Recommendation of department head.

500 Thesis (1-15)

501 Professional Project (3-6)

Application-oriented, capstone project to show competence in major academic area. Enrollment limited to retail and consumer science students in non-thesis program. Prereq: Consent of instructor. May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.

502 Registration for Use of Facilities (1-15)

Required for the student not otherwise registered during any semester when student uses University facilities and/or faculty time before degree is completed. May not be used toward degree requirements. May be repeated.

510 Retail Strategy and Decision Making (3)

Strategy, strategic management and strategic process in retail sector. Analytical decision-making skills in retailing. Retail industry structure. International differences in retail systems. Prereq: Retail Management or equivalent.

511 International Trade and Retail Analysis (3)

International trade and marketing concepts with implications for retail, services, and consumer. Theoretical and applied analysis. International retailing. Current issues.

538 Consumer Product and Service Development (3)

Critical analysis of consumer product and service development process in services industry. Strategies for developing consumer products, services, programs, and service processes from conception to implementation and evaluation.

541 Consumer Analysis in Service Management (3)

Analysis of consumer behavior in consumer products and services industry. Development of knowledge to postively impact services marketing organizations through marketing, environmental and product/services strategies based upon consumer behavior knowledge. Investigations of qualitative and quantitative methodologies to conduct elementary consumer research.

562 Research Methods (3)

Fundamentals of science method, advancement of science, methodology and method of research. Issues and concepts of basic and applied research. Prereq: Statistics 531 or equivalent.

590 Research Seminar (1)

Research topics in retail and consumer sciences. May be repeated.

593 Directed Study (1-3)

Individual problems in retailing and consumer sciences. Prereq: 9 hours retail and consumer sciences graduate coursework. May be repeated. Maximum 9 hours.

595 Special Topics in Retail and Consumer Sciences (1-3)

Lecture, group discussion on specialized topics: retail industry structure, international trade, international retailing, consumer affairs, entrepreneurship, small business management, issues in retail management, issues in retail strategy, quality perception by consumers, product and service value, retailing to children, retailing and special populations, special research methods. Preq: 9 hours graduate coursework. May be repeated. Maximum 9 hours.

600 Dissertation (3-15)

(may be repeated)

614 Theory in Retail Environment (3)

Analysis and evaluation of theory in retail environment and its application to research in retailing. Prereq: 562 or equivalent.

615 Retail and Consumer Sciences Literature and Thought (3)

Evaluation of retail and consumer sciences literature with emphasis upon research literature, development of scholarly thought, and identification of potential areas of further study. Prereq: 562 or equivalent.

616 Research Methods, Models and Measurement in Retail and Consumer Sciences (3)

Quantitative and qualitative methods and analytical concepts in research process. Formulation of models and measurement of consumer sciences constructs. Prereq: 562, Statistics 538 or equivalent.

625 Strategic Managerial Retailing (3)

Decision-making orientation that integrates strategic framework components with preparation and analysis of specific retail case situations. Prereq: 510 or equivalent.

641 Retail Consumer Behavior (3)

Theories and concepts from social science in relation to ultimate consumer's behavior. Prereq: 541 or equivalent.

695 Advanced Topics in Retail and Consumer Sciences (3)

Lecture, group discussion, individual research on advanced topics and research areas of current significance to retail and consumer sciences. Prereq: 9 graduate hours in consumer sciences. May be repeated. Maximum 9 hours.

Contact the Department of Retail, Hospitality,
and Tourism Management

1215 W. Cumberland Ave.
110 Jessie Harris Building
Knoxville, TN 37996-1911

Email: rhtm@utk.edu
Fax: 865-974-5236

Hotel, Restaurant, & Tourism
Phone: 865-974-2141

Retail & Consumer Sciences
Phone: 865-974-2141