Retail Business Management - Associate of Applied Technology Degree
The AAT Retail Business Management degree prepares students for careers in marketing, sales, retailing, customer service, entrepreneurship, and general business applications. Students develop both the technical and human relations skills necessary to succeed in today’s competitive work environment. Current business procedures and computer applications, including online retail services, are covered.
The program combines business theory with practical applications that include the proper use of technology in today’s workplace, ensuring students are making appropriate decisions in business settings. Students are introduced to e-commerce concepts and applications and learn how to use social media to invite potential customers to interact with their company.
This program has a built-in certificate component approved by the Western Association of Food Chains. This certificate prepares individuals to manage a variety of retail sales or lines of merchandise operations. The program serves both entry-level job candidates and incumbent employees. This certificate, endorsed by the Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC), provides grocery employees in Washington access to a consistent curriculum and also meets the needs of other segments of the retail industry.
Program Length
This program is offered online and is approximately five-to-six quarters long, depending on the time students need to satisfactorily complete all graduation requirements.
Admission Dates
Summer, fall, winter, and spring quarters.
Program Outcomes
• Evaluate multiple types of communications as they pertain to business practices.
• Analyze the primary components of the retail mix as they relate to best practices in the retail industry.
• Devise approaches for ethically dealing with dilemmas that arise in a business context.
• Apply human resource management principles in the recruitment, selection, placement and training of employees.
• Evaluate forces within business that influence marketing decisions and trends.
• Demonstrate effective sales techniques and team selling strategies.
• Analyze real-world examples of successful and unsuccessful electronic commerce companies, their accomplishments, their struggles, and their business practices.
• Apply current and relevant customer service strategies to encourage customer satisfaction and trust.
• Create social media strategies that achieve desired marketing goals.
• Apply consumer behavior theory to marketing strategies and tools in a retail environment.
Completion Requirements
Prerequisite(s)
None.
Program Course
NOTE:
RBM 105 and RBM 109: Articulated courses with high schools for dual enrollment.