Consumer Sciences and Retailing
Matthews Hall
812 W. State Street
West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2060

Phone: (765) 494-8292
Fax: (765) 494-0869
E-mail: csr@purdue.edu

E-mail Web site administrator

The Department of Consumer Sciences and Retailing (CSR) is one of four academic departments in the College of Consumer and Family Sciences. CSR was founded in July 1976 from three former departments: 1) Clothing and Textiles, 2) Home Management and Family Economics, and 3) Housing, Equipment, and Environmental Design.

Programs
The next 10 years were spent developing new programs and making improvements to the facilities. In 1986, for the first time, all faculty and staff were located in the same building. Previously, the environmental design faculty and a few others were located in an auxiliary building on Russell Street. Two undergraduate programs, consumer affairs and financial counseling and planning were added. The undergraduate program in clothing and textiles evolved into apparel technology (now called apparel design and technology) and a non-product specific major in retail management. The environmental design program merged with the interior design program in the Department of Creative Arts (now known as the Department of Visual and Performing Arts) resulting in a jointly sponsored interior design program. In July 1992, the interior design program was wholly transferred to the Department of Visual and Performing Arts.

In fall 1994, two more undergraduate programs were added: sales and sales management and small business. The sales and sales management program was renamed selling and sales management in 1999 and continues to be one of the fastest growing programs at the University. The consumer affairs program has since been incorporated into several of the other programs within the department and, as of fall 1999, was no longer offered as an option. Small business also has been incorporated into other programs within the department and is no longer offered as a major. In fall 2003, the family business minor was added to the curriculum.  

Department Heads

Centers
The Purdue Retail Institute became operational on August 1, 1980. Sponsored by the department, the institute was established to provide developmental programs to increase effectiveness of personnel in the retail industry, to conduct research, and to improve management of technical and economic resources. The institute is responsible for the Midwest Retail Management Career Conference, first held in 1981. The conference gives industry an opportunity to meet students interested in retailing careers; interview students for internships and permanent placement; discuss current issues in retailing with faculty, peers, and students; exchange ideas and experiences with peers and students; expand networking opportunities; and support student career objectives. Starting in 2005, the conference was renamed Midwest Career Conference and companies interested in all CSR majors were included.