Merchandising

Master's Degree Program

Opportunities for graduate studies

Merchandising is a global industry that demands highly skilled leaders who can solve complex problems, create new opportunities in competitive markets and understand the many components that support a successful consumer-driven business venture.

The School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management offers a master of science degree with a major in merchandising. The program integrates educational experiences and research as it relates to merchandising strategies. Recommended minors include education, journalism, management and marketing.

In addition to the M.S. degree (36 semester hours), a dual degree with a master of business administration and master of science in merchandising (54 semester hours) and a graduate academic certificate in merchandising (12 semester hours) are also available. Classes are offered on campus and online. The certificate and master's degree programs are available completely online.

Teaching and research focus on the concepts of products, service, resource management, information exchange technology and total experience management in consumer-driven global markets.

You can complete thesis research in fashion consumers' behavior, domestic and international merchandising, service quality, or cross-cultural studies. You may work with a faculty member on various funded research projects:

• lifestyle and ethnic influences on purchase motivations and product satisfaction
• apparel sizing
• industry recruitment and retention
• tourism and shopping
• multichannel retailing

Close proximity to an apparel and home furnishings complex, major retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers provides you excellence affiliations and employment opportunities. A board of governors offers input on industry trends and serves as a network for students and faculty. Board members represent national and international apparel, home furnishings and fashion-related retail companies, small specialty retailers, and service providers.

You are encouraged to complete an internship as part of your degree program. Opportunities exist with large retail companies, specialty retailers, media fashion departments, corporate offices, and apparel and home furnishings showrooms. Annual merchandising study tours are offered to destinations such as New York, China, Hong Kong and Malaysia.

The UNT merchandising program is one of the most comprehensive in the nation. The program has received the American Textile Manufacturers Institute Award for Excellence for innovative and exemplary programs and research. Graduates have worked as merchandisers for Fossil, J.C. Penney Company Inc., Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Target, Tuesday Morning and Zale Corporation.

Admission Requirements

You must meet the admission requirements of the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies, which can be found online at www.unt.edu/catalog, and the following program requirements:

• bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year university
• overall undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 for the last 60 semester hours of course work or a 2.8 GPA on all undergraduate work
• acceptable scores on the GRE or the GMAT (Contact the department or the graduate school for acceptable admission test scores.)
• demonstrated proficiency in oral and written English
• minimum of 24 semester hours of undergraduate work in merchandising or the equivalent; 12 of the 24 hours must be junior- or senior- level (If you do not meet this requirement, you must complete specified prerequisite courses in merchandising before beginning the graduate program. No single prerequisite course may have a grade lower than B.)

Degree Requirements

The master of science degree requires a minimum of 36 semester hours:

• 24 hours of merchandising courses
• 3 hour research course - SMHM 5300, Research Methods in Merchandising and Hospitality Management
• 3 hour statistics course - SMHM 5400, Research Applications in Merchandising and Hospitality Management
• 6 hours in a single area for a minor
• 6 hours of SMHM 5950, Master's Thesis (part of the 24 hours), if you select the thesis option
• a comprehensive examination, if you select the non-thesis option

Financial Assistance Available

Scholarships within the School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management are available to graduate students in merchandising. Applications for teaching assistants and teaching fellows are available from the dean's office in the School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management.

New graduate students who have participated in Ronald E. McNair postbaccalaureate programs are eligible for McNair fellowships. Contact the graduate school for information about McNair fellowships and other financial aid opportunities. Find out more at www.tsgs.unt.edu.