Program Overview
Consumer Marketplace Studies, BS
The Consumer Marketplace Studies program provides an opportunity for students to complete their degree at a distance. This option is ideal for returning students with some college credits who would like to complete their undergraduate degree in a flexible online format, with no on-campus attendance required. The program emphasis is on researching, understanding, and improving the global customer experience. Topics include retailing, consumer behavior, and consumer research and analysis. Graduates will be prepared to meet industry demand for employees with strong analytic and decision-making skills, who can redefine the way companies empathize and engage with their customers.
Admissions
Admissions to the Consumer Marketplace Studies BS have been suspended as of spring 2024 and will be discontinued as of summer 2032.
University General Education Requirements
All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. The requirements include:
- BreadthHumanities/Literature/Arts: 6 credits
- BreadthNatural Science: 4 to 6 credits
- BreadthSocial Studies: 3 credits
- Communication Part A & Part B
- Ethnic Studies
- Quantitative Reasoning Part A & Part B
School of Human Ecology Requirements
The School of Human Ecology requires the following courses:
- Math: College Algebra (3 credits) or higher
- Statistics: Introduction to Statistical Methods (3 credits)
- Arts and Humanities: 6 credits
- Social Science: Principles of Microeconomics (4 credits) and 6 credits of Social Science breadth
- Physical, Biological, and Natural Science: 9 credits
- Human Ecology Breadth: 3 credits
- Total Credits: 37
Bachelor of Science in Consumer Marketplace Studies Requirements
The core requirements for the major include:
- Consumer Insights (3 credits)
- Introduction to Retail (2 credits)
- Introduction to Personal Financial Planning (3 credits)
- Accounting Principles (3 credits) or Introductory Financial Accounting
- Retail Financial Analysis (3 credits)
- Consumer Behavior (3 credits)
- Consumer Design Strategies & Evaluation (3 credits)
- Excel Proficiency: 1-2 credits
- Consumer Behavior and Marketplace Studies Elective: 3 credits
- Consumer Science Electives: 6 credits
- Professional Development: 1-2 credits
- Electives: sufficient to bring degree credit total to 120
- Total Credits: 32-33
University Degree Requirements
To receive a bachelor's degree from UWMadison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UWMadison. Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing.
Learning Outcomes
The program learning outcomes include:
- Invoke interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches to understand the interactions between individuals and their social and environmental contexts.
- Demonstrate the ability to harness, analyze, and interpret relevant data for making real-world decisions.
- Acquire professional and life skills related to workplace communication, teamwork, active listening, and adapting to technology.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the global retail industry and how retailers can enhance consumer well-being.
Four-Year Plan
This program is designed for transfer students, most of whom will enroll on a part-time basis. As such, there is not a four-year plan for this program.
Advising and Careers
Each UW-Madison Online student is assigned an academic and career advisor. The advisor will support the academic and personal success of each student by partnering with Human Ecology advisors in the Student Academic Affairs & Career Development Office. Active engagement in the career development process is a vital component of a students personal growth in college and future success as a lifelong learner, professional, and global citizen.