Program Objective

The objective of the Bachelor of Science in Retail and E-Business Entrepreneurship is to prepare students to create, launch, operate or manage a retail or ecommerce business. In order to accomplish this objective, the program’s training combines theory with courses that place an emphasis on how to turn knowledge into attainable business results utilizing hands-on projects/plans that can be applied directly to business related activities.

Learners will gain knowledge related to retail buying and branding, merchandising, in-store and external marketing, logistics, supply chain management, global sourcing, e-tail, sales, quality assurance and more. Additionally, they will learn to apply critical thinking and soft skills to business analysis and decision making, evaluate and leverage business opportunities, and communicate business concepts effectively both orally and in writing.

Program Description

The Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Retail and E-Business Entrepreneurship is 120 semester hours in duration. The program is made up of three components. The first consists of 36 semester credit hours of general education. All courses are required.

The coursework in general education is designed to be broad based and consists of coursework in areas such as the social sciences, mathematics, communications, and humanities. The second component is made up of 54 semester credit hours and provides an entrepreneurship core to all students enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program related to entrepreneurship. This component provides a strong emphasis on business development, management, business law, marketing, product development and accounting, among other entrepreneurial areas of study. There are no electives available in this component of the program.

The third component is related to the more narrowly defined area of Retail and E-Business Entrepreneurship. This component consists of 30 semester credit hours and includes, among other areas of focus, coursework in financing and raising funds, retail merchandising principles, retail branding and buying, global sourcing, leadership, marketing, ecommerce, and organizational behavior. It also includes a capstone and final business concept pitch course (Retail Business Concept Development II) bringing together many of the essential entrepreneurship course elements for the student and resulting in the development of a final retail business concept pitch/plan. All courses are required.

Successful completion of the program prepares graduates for self-employment as entrepreneurs or small business owners (particularly with a retail or e-business focus), and employment in positions such as general and operations managers, project managers, production managers, marketing managers, innovation officers, purchasing managers, retail/e-tail managers, supply chain managers, management analysts, business managers, logistics analysts, distribution managers, purchasing agents, market research analysts, and retail sales representatives/directors.

General Education (36 Hours)

A study of the national literature of the United States since the early 19th century. Students will become familiar with a variety of literary works including novels, essays, and poetry as well as the authors behind these efforts.

The impact of computers on society and business. Emphasis is placed on the evolution of the computer, evolving technology, software and hardware, programming languages, and decision making in a computerized environment.

This course offers an overview of the basic concepts of communication and the skills necessary to communicate in a variety of contexts. Topics covered include thought leadership, interpersonal, written and oral communication, pitching, digital meetings, presentations, public speaking, company/group interactions and trending topics.

A study of the economic system and the development of free competition in the capitalism; Included in the course are discussions about the evolution of money, the banking system, the law of supply and demand, and price determination.

A detailed study of the market system, economic analysis, and theories of production and distribution.

A course which investigates the process of composition of prose; Subject matter will include the differences between explaining and persuading, research tools and the organization of subject matter. Students will write a minimum of 6,000 words during the course.

A continuation of ENG 101, which is prerequisite; Emphasis is placed on the resources available to a writer, both documented and imaginative and the use of these resources in the development of prose; Compositions will include narrative, descriptive, and creative content; Students will be assigned a research project; Students will be required to write 9,000 words during the course (Prerequisite: ENG 101).

A course which introduces mathematical concepts at the college level and use of mathematics in actual settings; Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, sets, logic, functions graphing, number theory, real number system; introduction to logarithmic functions, theory of equations, statistic and algebraic theory.

A continuation of MAT 101, which is prerequisite; Emphasis is placed on more advanced topics including linear equations, statistics and probability, differential equations, and theory of proofs (Prerequisite: MAT 101).

A survey of political attitudes and movements including political ideologies and cultures; Emphasis is placed on contemporary political science.

A basic study of human behavior including an emphasis on learning theory, human development, and psychological research.

An introduction to social relations and the scientific study of human society, culture, social interactions and organization of societies. Emphasis is placed on the structural and cultural aspects of society and the complex manner in which various environments influence human development and behavior.

* Humanities elective courses; Students must complete either AML 100 or HIS 201

Entrepreneurship Core Component (54 Hours)

A study of accounting from two perspectives; how financial statements are prepared, and how decision makers use financial statements. Transaction recording, ethical decision making, and computer applications are included.

A course which describes the techniques and concepts used to produce decision-making information. Manufacturing, nonprofit, retail, wholesale, and administrative environments are emphasized (Prerequisite: ACC 210).

Contents include legal environment of business, contracts, domestic and international sales and lease contracts, negotiable instruments, creditor's rights and bankruptcy, business organizations, labor and employment relations, and government regulations.

An introduction to the functions and operations of business in a free enterprise system; Topics include how and why a business operates, the development of a business plan, business ownership, organization, and marketing.

A study of the application of ethical theories applied to business. Students discuss the making of decisions and their impact on society.

A study of the fundamentals of motivating, communicating, and cooperating with management, co-workers, and the public for business professionals.

A study of the activities that are necessary for the successful management of a small business. Topics include marketing, inventory control, planning, and the creation of a business plan (Prerequisite: BUS 101).

A study of the pros and cons of economic theories, government policies, business strategies, and organizational structures as they apply to international business (Prerequisites: BUS 101 and MGT 230 or BUS 102).

This course introduces students to the tools necessary in building a personal financial plan. Topics covered include protection planning, retirement planning, estate planning, and investment planning.

A survey course which focuses on marketing theories, building and managing profitable customer relationships, building and managing strong brands to create brand equity, and marketing in a socially responsible way around the globe. Topics include the marketing 47 environment, managing information, consumer and business buyer behavior, branding strategies, distribution channels, advertising and sales promotion, and direct marketing.

A survey of advertising foundations, environment, background, planning, and strategy, advertising media, creating advertising and marketing communication elements.

This course will explore the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, its importance to society, and opportunities and methods to launch a startup company. Learners will also delve into business concept development and market analysis in relation to a new business.

Students will learn how to create and execute a successful marketing strategy for their business including campaign development, customer identification and acquisition, digital advertising, content marketing, conversions, SEO, and more (Prerequisite: MKG 101).

Understanding the basics of business law is critical for an entrepreneur. This course explores topics such as the legal structures of a business, intellectual property, employment law, contracts, and government regulation (Prerequisite: BUL 201).

In this course, learners will uncover methods to foster an entrepreneurial mindset and develop a strong leadership style in order to achieve entrepreneurial success (Prerequisite: ENT 200).

Students will learn about product/market research, identifying customer preferences and environmental analysis. Skills acquired in this course enable entrepreneurs to pinpoint a competitive advantage for their business in terms of brand, product, customer service, marketing and sales (Prerequisite: ENT 200).

Students will explore the methods, tools, processes, and techniques used during the different stages of new product development from idea generation to market testing (Prerequisite: ENT 305).

Students in this course will formulate their initial business concept, creating the plans and foundation for a global business. The course will also delve into competitive advantage and pitching to clients and investors (Prerequisites: ENT 305 and ENT 306).

Major Component for BS in Retail and E-Business Entrepreneurship (30 Hours)

This course will explore the key financing concepts that entrepreneurs need to understand in order to secure funding for their company. Topics covered include financing options, valuation, term sheets, capitalization tables, the stages of financing, pitching, and negotiation (Prerequisite: ACC 220).

This course enables learners to apply sales and marketing principles to various types of retail environments. Topics covered include product presentation/display, analyzing consumer preferences and behaviors, retail selling, market opportunity maximization and more.

This course will allow aspiring entrepreneurs to explore principles related to the development of a brand for a retail business or business to consumer space. Topics covered include channel optimization, brand positioning, customer segmentation and acquisition, and brand experience.

This course enables entrepreneurs to effectively plan, select and purchase products sold in retail environments. Topics covered include product analysis, selection, sourcing, planning, and buying to create a competitive advantage for a retail venture.

Aspiring entrepreneurs will master skills in the fields of materials management and transportation. This course will delve into distribution, operations, warehousing, materials, supply chain management, inventory, and logistics to increase efficiency and provide value for customers in order to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage.

This course examines the process that entrepreneurs take to identify, analyze and negotiate the procurement of goods and services from global sources of supply. Additionally, students will assess the cultural, political, legal, ethical and financial considerations encountered when sourcing in a world economy.

Aspiring entrepreneurs and leaders will acquire the skills necessary to make data-driven decisions related to running their company, tackling business challenges, pivoting when necessary, and maximizing their firm’s profitability.

In this course, aspiring entrepreneurs will discover how to create, maintain and optimize a successful e-commerce business or e-tail site.

This course outlines the ins and outs of selling products in a highly competitive marketplace and gaining traction as your business scales. Students will learn how to sell and manage go-to-market and growth functions within entrepreneurial settings.

Students in this capstone course will bring together everything they have learned throughout the program to build upon their initial business concept and create a final business plan for a retail business. They will use this plan to pitch their concept for the chance to acquire seed money, and to actually launch their startup if so desired. (Prerequisites: This course must be taken as the final course in the program.)

Total Hours Required for Graduation - 120 hours

Tuition, Fees & Other Costs

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Note: Financial aid is available for those who qualify.