Bachelor of Arts in Retail Management
Program Description
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
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General Education Requirements
30
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Major Required
39
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Select one of the following concentrations:
9
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Final Program Requirement
3
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Elective Requirements
39
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Total Semester Hours
120
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Degree Program Requirements
General Education (30 semester hours)
| Arts & Humanities (6 semester hours) 1 |
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Select 2 courses from the following:
6 |
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Arabic I
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Arabic II
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Art Appreciation
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Survey of Photography
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Film and Literature
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Image Enhancement using Adobe Photoshop®
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French I
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French II
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German I
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German II
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Introduction to Japanese
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Literature of American Encounters, Revolution, and Rebellion
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From Abolition to #MeToo: Literature of the American Civil Rights Movement
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Pivotal Figures in Early British Literature
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British Literature from Wordsworth through the Wasteland
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Leadership in World Literature: Antiquity to the Early Modern Period
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Literature of the Newly Globalized World: The Individual’s Struggle to Adapt
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Music Appreciation
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Jazz and Rock
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World Music and Cultures
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Introduction to Philosophy
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Critical Thinking
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Introduction to Ethics
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Philosophy of Science
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Introduction to Brazilian Portuguese
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Introduction to the Study of Religion
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Introduction to World Religions
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Russian I
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Spanish I
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Spanish II
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Thinking and Acting Ethically
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| Civics, Political & Social Sciences (6 semester hours) 2 |
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Select 2 courses from the following:
6 |
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Introduction to Anthropology
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World Archaeology
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Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
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Human Sexuality
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Planning Your Future with Purpose in Business
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Social Media and Society
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Intercultural Communication
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Microeconomics
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Macroeconomics
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Microeconomics for Business
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Macroeconomics for Business
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Humane Education: A Global Interdisciplinary Perspective
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Introduction to Geography
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Practical Food Safety and Awareness
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International Relations I
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Introduction to Political Science
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American Government I
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Introduction to Psychology
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Death and Dying
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Race & Religion
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Hope and Resilience
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Introduction to Sociology
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Social Problems
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American Popular Culture
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Exploring Society and Cultures via Science Fiction
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| Communication: Writing, Oral, and Multimedia (9 semester hours) |
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Information and Digital Literacy
3 |
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Making Writing Relevant
3 |
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Select 1 course from the following:
3 |
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Emerging Technology for College Success
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Public Speaking
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Interpersonal Communications
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Proficiency in Writing
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Argumentation and Rhetoric
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Introduction to Literature
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Technical Writing
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Scientific Writing
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Effective Business Communication
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Human Relations Communication
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Information Literacy and Global Citizenship
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Introduction to Information Technology Writing
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Human Relations
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| History (3 semester hours) |
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Select 1 course from the following:
3 |
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American History to 1877
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American History since 1877
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World Civilization before 1650
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World Civilization since 1650
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Western Civilization before The Thirty Years War
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Western Civilization since The Thirty Years War
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African-American History before 1877
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African-American History since 1877
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History of the American Indian
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History of Science
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The History and Context of STEM
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| Mathematics and Applied Reasoning (3 semester hours) |
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Select 1 course from the following:
3 |
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Accounting I
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Accounting for Non Accounting Majors
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Beginning Programming
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College Algebra
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College Trigonometry
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Pre-Calculus
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Introduction to Statistics
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Math for Liberal Arts Majors
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Calculus
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| Natural Sciences (3 semester hours) |
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Select 1 course from the following:
3 |
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Introduction to Biology
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Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology
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Introduction to Chemistry
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Introduction to Meteorology
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Introduction to Geology
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Introduction to Environmental Science
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Introduction to Physics
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Introduction to Astronomy
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Introduction to STEM Disciplines
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| Total Semester Hours 30 |
Major Required (39 semester hours)
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Retail Strategy
3 |
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Retail Innovation
3 |
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Retail Operations
3 |
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Retail Merchandising Operations
3 |
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Human Resource Management
3 |
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Principles and Theory of Management
3 |
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Strategic Management
3 |
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Organizational Behavior
3 |
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Management Ethics
3 |
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Management Communications
3 |
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Consumer Behavior
3 |
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Introduction to Transportation Management
3 |
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Supply Chain Management
3 |
| Total Semester Hours 39 |
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)
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Analytics I
3 |
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Analytics II
3 |
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Advanced Analytics
3 |
| Total Semester Hours 9 |
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)
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Digital Retail
3 |
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Select 2 courses from the following:
6 |
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Principles of E Business
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Cybersecurity
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Digital Marketing
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Digital Retail Technologies
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Digital Retail Analytics
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Digital Retail Strategies
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Digital Merchandising
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Retail Cybersecurity
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| Total Semester Hours 9 |
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)
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Select 3 courses from the following:
9 |
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Principles of E Business
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Social Media Marketing
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Marketing Research
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Marketing Strategy
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| Total Semester Hours 9 |
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)
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Introduction to Reverse Logistics Management
3 |
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Select 2 courses from the following:
6 |
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Environmental Issues in Reverse Logistics
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Technology in Reverse Logistics
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Reverse Logistics Policies and Procedures
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Best Practices in Reverse Logistics
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| Total Semester Hours 9 |
Final Program Requirement (3 semester hours)
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Senior Seminar in Business Administration 3
3 |
| Total Semester Hours 3 |
Elective Requirements (39 semester hours)
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Select any courses that have not been used to fulfill requirements listed above. Credits applied toward a minor or certificate in an unrelated field may be used to fulfill elective credit for the major. 39 |
| Total Semester Hours 39 |
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All literature courses require successful completion of ENGL101-Proficiency in Writing or ENGL110-Making Writing Relevant.
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All literature courses require successful completion of ENGL101-Proficiency in Writing or ENGL110-Making Writing Relevant.
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Prerequisite: Senior Standing and completion of all major courses prior to enrollment. Must be taken as the last course before graduation.