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Retail Management
Undergraduate Certificate
The undergraduate certificate in Retail Management is a concentrated program that provides the basic skills needed to update or broaden your skills in the dynamic and fast-growing retail industry. This online program will focus on interpersonal, managerial, and critical thinking skills necessary for success in the retail industry. Completion of this 6-course certificate can help prepare you for advancement if you are currently working in the retail field.
This online certificate is intended for undergraduate students who want to expand their knowledge of retail management without committing to a degree program.
Program Courses
The curriculum for this program follows industry trends to help ensure relevancy to today's marketplace. View all courses.
Program Objectives
In addition to the institutional and degree level learning objectives, graduates of this program are expected to achieve these learning outcomes:
- Define the basics of retail management functions/principles & explore ideal characteristics of a good manager.
- Define the basics of customer relations functions/principles & explore ideal characteristics of good customer relations as applied to individuals in both small/large organizations.
- Describe the importance of retail inventory management knowledge when viewing fundamental organizational requirements.
- Recognize retail inventory skills required of managers, understand competitive dimensions, and describe how productivity is measured.
- Identify the goals of financial management and retail financial strategy.
- Decipher risk management planning and its use; how risk management tenets can be applied to the manager role; and how to implement a policy and evaluate compliance.
- Identify various challenges that face retail leaders in both the private and public sector; understand commercial safety issues; and identify how to create/maintain a safe work environment.
Degree at a Glance
- Number of Credits 18
- Max Transfer Credits 9
- Tuition Per Credit $270 | $250 with military grant
- Program Length 1 year full time
- Program Format Online | Monthly course starts
- Program Director Kevin Forehand
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Admission Requirements
- All APU undergraduate programs require a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent (i.e. GED).
- Please read all undergraduate admission requirements before applying to this program and be prepared to submit the required documentation.
- There is no fee to complete the APU admission application. View steps to apply.
Need help?
Selecting the right program to meet your educational goals is a key step in ensuring a successful outcome. If you are unsure of which program to choose, or need more information, please contact an APU admissions representative at 877-755-2787 or info@apus.edu.
Undergraduate Tuition Rates
Per credit hour: $270 | $250 with military grant*
*To help minimize out-of-pocket costs, APU offers a tuition grant for U.S. active-duty servicemembers, Guard, Reserve, military spouses and dependents, and veterans that caps undergraduate tuition at the military TA limit. See all military-affiliated student benefits.
Paying for School
Because our university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), (the same as the Ohio State University, Univ. of Chicago, and U.S. Air Force Academy, to name a few), we can accept the following forms of financial aid and payments:
Ways to Save
Undergraduate Book Grant
Books are provided online at no cost if you are enrolled in undergraduate courses for credit. The undergraduate book grant is estimated to save $600 per academic semester* if you are registered as a full-time student.
Transfer Credits
Accelerate your degree completion by taking full advantage of our transfer credit options, including credit for your previous college courses, military service schools, American Council on Education (ACE) and College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests, and prior learning experiences.
Employer Contributions
APU has educational partnerships with many employers and associations. Be sure to accurately enter your employer information when you complete our admissions application. Your employer might also offer a tuition reimbursement plan as one of your benefits.
*According to College Board Trends in College Pricing.
School of Business
This program resides in the American Public University School of Business, where 18 of our 26 degree programs have earned specialized accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). This distinction does not come easy! To earn ACBSP accreditation, programs need to demonstrate quality in the areas of teaching excellence, student learning outcomes, and a continuous improvement. On top of this, our accounting degree programs have also earned the prestigious ACBSP Specialized Accounting Accreditation.
APU School of Business courses are taught online by real-world practitioners who strive to bring expert knowledge and relevancy to our students. With input from industry advisory councils, the School of Business regularly examines and updates curriculum and introduces new programs such as our in-demand degrees in business analytics and our new Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam preparation certificate.
At APU, we understand your need for flexibility because most of our students are working adult learners attending school around work and other life commitments. This is why we offer 8-week or 16-week online courses that start monthly. Through an online virtual classroom, you’ll communicate with students and professors in forum communities as you work to complete your weekly written assignments on your own schedule from anywhere in the world. And with our mobile application, you can even work offline and upload your assignments when you reconnect.
The mission of the APU School of Business is to prepare students to be leaders in the global business community. We encourage you to browse the School of Business webpage to learn more about what’s happening in the school and to find a program that’s right for you.