Merchandising

Master's Program

Opportunities for graduate studies

The School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management offers a master of science degree with a major in merchandising. The degree requires a minimum of 36 semester hours. You can take courses on campus or online. 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.

The program integrates educational experiences and research as it relates to merchandising strategies. 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.

Teaching and research focus on the concepts of products, service, resource management, information exchange technology, and total experience management in consumer-driven global markets. The merchandising program offers comprehensive classes taught by knowledgeable and helpful faculty members. Recommended minors include education, journalism, management and marketing.

You can complete thesis research with a focus on fashion consumers' behavior; domestic and international merchandising; service quality; and cross-cultural studies. You may work with a faculty member on a funded research project such as lifestyle and ethnic influences on purchase motivations and product satisfaction; apparel sizing; industry recruitment and retention; tourism and shopping; and multi-channel retailing.

The merchandising program is one of the most comprehensive in the region and 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.

Close proximity to an apparel and home furnishings complex, major retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers provide 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 internships as part of your degree program. Opportunities exist with large retail companies, specialty retailers, newspaper 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.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

To be admitted to the master's program in merchandising, you must meet the admission requirements of UNT's Toulouse School of Graduate Studies and a set of specific program requirements. For a list of graduate school requirements, access the graduate catalog online at www.unt.edu/catalog or the graduate school web site at http://gradschool.unt.edu.

The merchandising program requires you to have:

• a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year university
• an 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)
• a demonstrated proficiency in oral and written English
• a minimum of 24 semester hours of undergraduate work in merchandising or the equivalent; 12 of the 24 hours must be advanced (junior- or senior- level). You must complete specified deficiency courses in merchandising before beginning the graduate program if you do not meet the undergraduate merchandising course requirements. No prerequisite course may have a grade lower than B.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

The thesis or non-thesis options are provided. You must take:

• a minimum of 36 semester hours with 24 hours in your major area
• a statistics course (SMHM 5400, Research Applications in Merchandising and Hospitality Management; EPSY 5210, Educational Statistics; or DSCI 5180, Introduction to Decision Making)
• have a minor with a minimum of 6 hours in a single area
• The non-thesis option requires you to take a comprehensive examination, while you must take 6 hours of SMHM 5950, Master's Thesis, under the thesis option.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE

Scholarships are available to graduate students in merchandising. You also may apply for financial awards from a wide range of national, state, local, university and school sources. Graduate assistantships are available if you would like to work directly with faculty members on special projects. Applications for teaching and research assistantships 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 that pay $12,667 for the first year and one more semester of graduate study. Contact the graduate school for information about McNair fellowships.