The Certificate in Retail Leadership is offered in conjunction with Drexel’s Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design.

This professional and innovative program, featuring courses in retail management and store operation, was developed in response to opportunities in the industry and retail business needs.

Students will have several options for pursuing their retailing education.  They may:

• Enroll in a single course
• Earn a Certificate in Retail Leadership
• Apply credits towards a bachelor's degree

The Retail Leadership curriculum has been developed to:

• Educate beginners in the area of retail management.
• Offer students with experience in the retail industry the opportunity to gain the advanced knowledge and leadership skills necessary for future career advancement. 

Focus areas will include:

• Retail store leadership
• Retail operations
• Retail strategy
• In-store visual merchandising

The certificate program is composed of 19 credits. The two required courses are:

Introduction to Retail Leadership (DSMR 231): Introduction to an in-depth study of the retail industry.  Students learn to manage all areas of a retail business and gain the knowledge and tools necessary to thrive in this competitive industry.

Retail Buying and Merchandise Leadership (DSMR 232): This course is designed to provide a complete overview of the buying and merchandising functions in today’s competitive retail environment. The quantitative and analytical aspects of retail strategy will be presented.

Students choose four additional courses, which can include:

1. Retail Leadership Capstone (UGSD 380): Combines classroom theory with practical application at the student's worksite. This course requires students to demonstrate their ability to apply classroom learning to situations benefiting a corporation.
2. Power of Retail Brands (UGSD 380): Provides an in-depth analysis of retail branding techniques.  Retail branding strategy will be discussed, including all aspects of branding from retail store marketing posters to in-store brand representatives. Students will deconstruct branding methods in order to comprehend overall brand strategy.
3. Applied In-Store Visual Strategy (UGSD 380): Provides students with an understanding of how retailers use visual display to gain retail market share. Students will examine various types of visual display and how this impacts upon the retail business environment.
4. Customer Service Theory & Practice (CAT 302): Focuses on the theory of customer service and the practices that "best in class" companies apply to differentiate themselves from the competition. The course includes practical information and activities designed to teach students how to respond to customers, resolve problems, and provide quality customer service.
5. Introduction to Creativity (CRTV 301): Provides a foundation in creativity including leading creativity theorists and their ideas, and introduction to creativity in many fields. Students will explore basic creative characteristics including originality, fluency, flexibility, elaboration, resistance to premature closure, and tolerance of ambiguity. Sets the foundation for acquiring tools and applying creativity.
6. Introduction to Entrepreneurship (MKTG 260): Focuses on entrepreneurship as a generic activity, including start-ups and corporate entrepreneurship. It explores the opportunities and challenges faced by individuals starting up new ventures and the probable paths of career development for the students pursuing entrepreneurship.
7. Introduction to Marketing Management (MKTG 301): Provides a conceptual and applications-oriented framework for marketing decision-making in a dynamic environment. Emphasizes satisfying target customers and achieving organizational objectives through skillful blending of strategies in product development, pricing, promotion, and distribution. This is a writing intensive course.
8. Creative Studies in the WWW (PRST 212): Prepares professionals with an understanding of the process of developing creative, functional websites. Concentrating on the creative flow if the design process, the course uses Adobe Dreamweaver as the medium for development. Students should possess a basic level of computer proficiency before taking this course.
9. Career and Professional Development (PRST 330): Explores the literature of careers including preparation, organizational entry, orientation, nontraditional careers, and early, mid, and later career issues. The course provides students with opportunities for assessment of interests and capabilities, initiation and implementation of a personal development plan (PDP), and feedback on personal and career development.

For more information, please contact:

Ted Hartz

• Telephone: 215-895-5951
• Email: ted.hartz@drexel.edu
• Office: Goodwin College, Drexel University, One Drexel Plaza
  3001 Market Street, Suite 100
  Philadelphia, PA 19104