Graduate Certificate In Retail Merchandising

Description: The Graduate Certificate in Retail Merchandising provides graduate level competency in retail store management and buying for academically talented students who are completing an undergraduate degree in merchandising. The certificate program is designed to be completed concurrently with the bachelor’s degree and allows students to double-count graduate courses for both the B.S. degree and the Graduate Certificate.

Prerequisites: Students must have completed at least 90 hours of credit in their undergraduate program and earned a minimum 3.3 FSU Cumulative GPA. Interested students should contact the Department of Retail Merchandising & Product Development office for specific details.

Required Courses: At least twelve semester hours of graduate level course work are required for this graduate certificate program. These credits will be double counted for both the bachelor’s program and the certificate program.

Required Core Courses: The core comprises 9 credit hours:
CTE 5816 Merchandising Organization (3 credits)
CTE 5884 Advanced Merchandising Practicum (6 credits)

Electives: The remaining 3 credits are elective hours that must be taken from the following list of approved electives.
CTE 5912 Supervised Research (1 - 3 credits)
CTE 5828 Merchandising Buying (3 credits)

Application Process for Enrollment: Qualified students currently enrolled in the Merchandising major should apply through the RMPD Department by submitting the RMPD Graduate Certificate Program Application Form (a one page statement of educational and career goals), a resume, and an endorsement form signed by one of the merchandising faculty.

Students should apply for the program during their junior year and may take courses no sooner than the first semester of the senior year.

Standardized Test Requirements: There are no standardized test requirements for this certificate, however, students are encouraged to take the GRE during the senior year to assist in possible future graduate school applications.

Registration Process: Once admitted to the Certificate Program, students will work with a staff member in the departmental office to be enrolled in graduate courses.

Fee Per Course/Credit Hour: Fees parallel that of standard graduate-level courses. If not exhausted, Bright Futures and the Florida Prepaid College Program may be used to pay the undergraduate portion of tuition for graduate courses taken as an undergraduate. The student will pay the remaining difference.

For More Information Contact: Dr. Jeanne Heitmeyer, jheitmeyer@fsu.edu, 644-5578 or the RMPD Office at 332 SAN, 644-2498.