Skip Navigation
2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Bachelor of Arts in Retail Management

The Bachelor of Arts in Retail Management emphasizes both theoretical knowledge and the practical skills needed to effectively manage a variety of retail operations. This online bachelor’s degree will focus on interpersonal, managerial, human resource, leadership, communication, and the critical thinking skills necessary for success in the retail industry. Completion of this online program can help to develop new skills necessary in the professional retail store manager fields.

This program has been designed in consultation with industry business leaders and is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP®).

ACBSP® is a registered trademark of the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

Degree Program Objectives

In addition to the institutional and degree level learning objectives, graduates of this program are expected to achieve these learning outcomes:

  • Apply the principles and theories of planning, organizing, staffing, directing, leading, and controlling in retail management used by successful retailers in today’s global economy.
  • Assess the importance of retail strategy formulation and strategic perspectives of retail management on the impact of retailing in the global economy.
  • Deconstruct the impact of innovation within the retail industry to include its challenges and solution-driven strategies to remain current with today’s ever-changing technologies.
  • Evaluate retail operations to include successful implementation strategies and operational processes that maximize store profits.
  • Summarize and assess retail merchandising operations in the competitive marketplace in relation to corporate profitability.

Degree at a Glance

Degree Program Requirements

General Education (30 semester hours)

Major Required (39 semester hours)

Students must choose a concentration for this degree program and may select from a Concentration in Business Analytics, Concentration in Digital Retailing, Concentration in Marketing, or Concentration in Reverse Logistics Management.

Concentration in Business Analytics (9 semester hours)

This concentration provides an introduction to big data analytics for retail management professionals. Students will analyze, evaluate, and organize data to facilitate problem solving and decision making in areas such as customer relations, merchandising, and many other areas of retailing where data is collected and utilized.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:

  • Research and appraise historic, current, and developing methodologies in business and big data analytics and apply them appropriately to manage the operations of a wide variety of retail businesses fields.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the data analytics framework adopted by and for retail management (including merchandizing, customer service, etc.) professionals and/or organizations, and analysis principals.
  • Analyze, evaluate, and organize retail management data, to facilitate problem solving, and decision making in all areas of retail management where data is collected and utilized.
Concentration Requirements (9 semester hours)

Concentration in Digital Retailing (9 semester hours)

This concentration introduces the world of digital retailing for retail management professionals. Digital retailing encompasses multiple facets of technology from smart stores with product experts, instant data access, to expanded use of artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, expanded mobile/cashier-less capabilities, consumer protection, and seamless customer experiences with e-commerce, m-commerce, and brick and mortar locations. In addition, students have the opportunity to study digital marketing and cybersecurity.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:

  • Explore the evolution of retail markets from pre-industrial to modern day digital retailing.
  • Differentiate the various forms of online and digital retailing.
  • Evaluate risks inherent to digital retailing including cybersecurity, fraud, and safety protection.
Concentration Requirements (9 semester hours)

Concentration in Marketing (9 semester hours)

This concentration integrates marketing functions with principles of management, finance, strategic planning, and information systems. Topics include marketing plan development; marketplace analysis; psychology and sociology concepts of consumer behavior; and research techniques.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:

  • Integrate the marketing function with fundamental business enterprise concepts and principles of management, finance, strategic planning, and information systems.
  • Develop a strategic marketing plan.
  • Apply concepts in psychology and sociology relevant to consumer behavior.
  • Analyze business markets, customer markets, and buyer markets using concepts and techniques of research for marketing decisions including problem definition, research objectives, execution and research management, and presentation of findings.
Concentration Requirements (9 semester hours)

Concentration in Reverse Logistics Management (9 semester hours)

This concentration provides students with practical skills and theoretical knowledge needed to effectively apply reverse logistics management to a retail environment. The concentration will assist the student in understanding and applying retail strategy, innovation and operations to reverse logistics.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:

  • Determine the needs of today’s retail operations and how to effectively apply reverse logistics.
  • Evaluate and apply retail management strategies to better deploy reverse logistics in the retail environment.
  • Demonstrate the importance of reverse logistics in a retail operation to reduce waste, encourage reuse for smoother and more efficient retails operations.
Concentration Requirements (9 semester hours)

Final Program Requirement (3 semester hours)

Elective Requirements (39 semester hours)

  1. All literature courses require successful completion of ENGL101-Proficiency in Writing or ENGL110-Making Writing Relevant.

  2. All literature courses require successful completion of ENGL101-Proficiency in Writing or ENGL110-Making Writing Relevant.

  3. Prerequisite: Senior Standing and completion of all major courses prior to enrollment. Must be taken as the last course before graduation.

If you're ready to move forward, we're ready to take you there.

APPLY TO AMU APPLY TO APU