Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business
Leadership
Jackson Nickerson, Ph.D.
Edward Jones Dean
Chris Thomas, Ph.D.
Associate dean for graduate education
Fallon Potter, M.S. Ed.
Assistant dean for undergraduate education
Brett Boyle, Ph.D.
Assistant dean, marketing and communications
Description
Founded in 1910 as one of the first business schools in the American West to offer university-level business education, the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business at Saint Louis University has a long-standing tradition of academic rigor and innovation. Today, the Chaifetz School is nationally recognized and is advancing a distinctive model of business education that prepares graduates to lead in an AI-enabled, team-driven economy with sound judgment, technological fluency and the capacity to lead others to high performance.
At the Chaifetz School of Business, SLU students do more than acquire technical knowledge. They develop sound judgment, human-centered leadership capabilities and the confidence to lead in complex, real-world environments. This approach — known as The Chaifetz Way — integrates advanced technology, leadership formation and immersive professional experience to prepare students for meaningful and sustained contributions in their professions and communities.
This educational model is grounded in three signature initiatives. The first is an intentional approach to artificial intelligence that emphasizes its use as an amplifier of human thinking. Students learn to apply AI in ways that enhance critical thinking, accelerate learning and strengthen decision-making rather than substituting for it. Next, rooted in the Jesuit tradition, the Chaifetz School's emphasis on care of the whole person aligns with a focus on humanistic leadership and students' developing the capacity to lead across differences, foster high-performing teams and navigate complexity with accountability and respect for others. Finally, the Chaifetz School of Business's novel approach to cooperative education, Co-op3, provides a single, immersive six-month compensated professional experience that integrates academic learning with real-world application, enabling students to graduate with substantial career experience.
The Chaifetz School of Business offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A.) with nine majors, along with a range of concentrations and minors across business disciplines. At the graduate level, the school offers nationally ranked programs, including both part-time and full-time MBA formats, five specialized master’s degrees, five dual-degree programs and a portfolio of post-baccalaureate certificates, as well as a doctoral program in marketing and international business.
Accreditation
Selecting a business school is one of the most important decisions a student makes; therefore, high standards should be set. The premier business school accrediting body, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International, governs the standards by which select business schools are evaluated.
Achieving AACSB accreditation in the field of business education ensures continuous quality improvement in the learning environment through enhancements to the curriculum, instructional resources, student selection, career planning and placement, and the intellectual contributions and qualifications of the faculty. Students who choose to attend an AACSB-accredited business school join an environment where learning matters and where highly qualified faculty guide students’ study through a curriculum relevant to contemporary business needs and practices.
The faculty and staff of the Chaifetz School of Business are proud of our accreditation status as it places us in a category of distinction among our peers. Approximately 5% of business schools worldwide have achieved AACSB accreditation. In addition, our accounting program has received supplemental AACSB accreditation, putting the Chaifetz School of Business among less than 200 business schools worldwide to achieve this recognition.
Undergraduate Degree-enhancing Opportunities
Co-op3 and Internship Programs
In today's competitive business environment, gaining career-related experience before graduation is imperative. Recognizing this necessity, the Chaifetz School of Business launched a novel approach to cooperative education called Co-op3, enabling students to work full time for six months while simultaneously earning course credit and income to pay for college. The Chaifetz School also facilitates internship opportunities, offering students a wide range of experiences with employers in the St. Louis region and throughout the United States. SLU’s metropolitan setting is an ideal location to pursue a business degree. In addition to traditional summer internships, students can participate in internships while attending classes during the traditional fall and spring semesters. Whether or not a student chooses to earn course credit, the Chaifetz School of Business encourages all students to participate in at least one co-op or internship (or more!) to enhance their academic studies, understand the business world, develop business relationships and build work experience.
Dignity-Based Leadership Academy
Chaifetz School of Business students have a unique opportunity to grow as leaders and earn credit by joining the Dignity-Based Leadership Academy — a dynamic fall retreat focused on dignity, conflict resolution, problem formulation, and leading change. Students who complete the retreat and a follow-up project earn a digital badge and make an immediate impact in the Saint Louis University community!
Career Development
The Chaifetz School of Business believes the future and success of its students are highly important; so important that the curriculum includes a one-credit BIZ 3000 Career Foundations (1 cr) course as part of the Business Common Body of Knowledge requirements. This course, designed and conducted by a dedicated career education team, helps students proactively identify a potential career path and learn and practice skills that help secure internships and qualify for Co-op3 opportunities while an undergraduate student and full-time employment upon graduation. In addition, students participate in workshops, career fairs and networking events with employers, alumni and executives. Contact the business school’s Valerie A. Davisson Career Resources Center (Davis-Shaughnessy Hall, Room 150) for more information.
Service Leadership Program and Minor
Through the school’s nationally recognized Service Leadership Program (The Templeton Guide: Colleges that Encourage Character Development), students have the opportunity to bridge Ignatian philosophy with academic learning, personal experiences and reflection while making a positive, real-time difference in the St. Louis community. This unique and transformative four-year experiential learning opportunity is an academic minor that is only available to Chaifetz School students.
Study Abroad/Short-term Immersion Opportunities
With the increasing globalization of business, graduates must embrace the importance of the impact of cultural, social, economic and political differences which can be gained through a study abroad experience. While the curriculum can provide exposure to these concepts, an overseas immersion experience offers real-life learning opportunities. Options range from a large selection of full-semester destinations to shorter summer programs, one-week to two-week courses, or even a service trip learning about sustainable agriculture in Belize during spring break.
The Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business offers several exchange programs with business schools in locations such as Austria, Australia, Chile, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Business students may also participate in shorter programs over the summer, during one week in January in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, or on spring break in Budapest, Hungary. Through the Office of International Services, business students can access many study abroad destinations worldwide — including the Saint Louis University-Madrid, which offers students an economics, international business or marketing major that can be completed in Spain.
Due to the requirement that the last 30 of 36 business education credits be completed in residence at the St. Louis location, undergraduate students should begin planning their immersion experience early in their academic careers, even as soon as their freshman year. Most travel in their sophomore year or early in their junior year. (Students choosing to pursue an economics, international business or marketing major in Madrid will receive an exception to this residency requirement.)
The first step is to investigate the many study abroad opportunities available. Next, have your academic advisor evaluate your specific planned course selections to determine SLU equivalency. Then, you will complete an application for that study abroad experience. Your advisor can assist you with the application process, with the University's Office of International Services providing the final review and confirmation of all details for a study abroad experience.
All grades earned from approved study abroad locations will be included in a student’s grade point average (GPA). If a student studies abroad at a nonapproved study abroad location, the coursework will be treated as transfer coursework; therefore, a minimum grade of a “C” is required to transfer course credits, but grades will not be included in the student’s grade point average.
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute University-Affiliated Program
The Department of Finance is a CFA University-affiliated program, reflecting alignment with professional standards and preparation for the CFA examinations. This initiative is a relationship between the CFA Institute and select colleges and universities worldwide. Less than 300 U.S. schools are CFA University Affiliated Programs. Detailed information can be found on the undergraduate Finance, B.S.B.A. page.
SAP University Alliance
The Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business is a member of the SAP University Alliance, allowing us to provide students in specific courses with hands-on experience using SAP software and enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools. Students who demonstrate proficiency may earn SAP-recognized certification.
Business Scholars – Three-year Degree Program
The Business Scholars Program at Saint Louis University’s Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business is an exciting opportunity that allows incoming freshmen from all majors in business to complete any undergraduate business degree in just three calendar years, including summer courses. Benefits of the program include guaranteed enrollment in business courses, specialized academic advising and mentoring and access to exclusive networking events. Scholars receive a $2,000 scholarship if they remain on track to graduate in a three-year period.
Students apply for consideration for the Business Scholars Program after completing their application for admission to the University.
Minimum Requirements for Business Scholars:
- Cumulative 3.7 GPA on a 4.0 scale, weighted or unweighted
- Emphasis placed on the student having earned A's and B's in math coursework; transcripts will be accepted through the student's seventh semester.
- To remain in the program, a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA at the end of each semester
Accounting Scholars Program
The Accounting Scholars program at Saint Louis University's Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business is an exclusive opportunity available only to entering first-year students whose high school scholastic achievements demonstrate superior academic potential. Accounting Scholars have access to exclusive events, receive priority consideration for accounting-only scholarships and participate in mentoring with members of SLU's Young Accounting Professionals Board.
Students apply for consideration for the Accounting Scholars Program after completing their application for admission to the University. The program is available to accounting majors; other applied majors (including business-still deciding) may apply to the program, but admission will be dependent on switching to the accounting major.
Admission Requirements
- Cumulative 3.6 GPA on a 4.0 scale, weighted or unweighted.
- High school math GPA of 3.6 after completing at least three years of coursework; transcripts will be accepted through the student's seventh semester.
- Completion of a brief essay.
- Admission to the Scholars Program reflects a holistic review that values not only academic achievement, but also meaningful engagement in extracurricular activities, leadership, and service.
Program Requirements
- Maintain a minimum 3.40 SLU cumulative grade point average (GPA) at the end of each semester
- Complete select coursework and other activities as determined by the accounting department
- Accounting, B.S.B.A.
- Accounting, B.S.B.A. to Accounting, M.Acc. Accelerated Program
- Accounting, Minor
- Business Administration, Minor
- Business Analytics, Minor
- Business Bachelor's to Law, J.D. Accelerated Program
- Business Technology Management (Analytics and Enterprise Systems), B.S.B.A., to Supply Chain Management, M.S. Accelerated Program
- Business Technology Management, B.S.B.A.
- Business Technology Management, Minor
- Economics, B.S.B.A.
- Economics, B.S.B.A. to Applied Economics, M.S. Accelerated Program
- Economics, Minor
- Entrepreneurship, B.S.B.A.
- Entrepreneurship, Minor
- Finance, B.S.B.A.
- Finance, Minor
- Human Resource Management, Minor
- International Business, B.S.B.A.
- International Business, Minor
- Leadership and Human Resource Management, B.S.B.A.
- Marketing, B.S.B.A.
- Marketing, Minor
- Service Leadership, Minor
- Sports Business, B.S.B.A.
- Sports Business, Minor
- Supply Chain Management, Minor
Other Special Programs
Degrees
Dual Degrees
- Business Administration, M.B.A. and Educational Leadership, M.A., Dual Degree
- Business Administration, M.B.A. and Medicine, M.D., Dual Degree
- Health Administration, M.H.A. and Business Administration, MBA Dual Degree
- Law, J.D. and Accounting, M.Acc. Dual Degree
- Law, J.D. and Business Administration, M.B.A. Dual Degree
Certificates
- Applied Economic Forecasting, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
- Business Analytics, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
- Business Essentials, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
- Digital Marketing, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
- Entrepreneurship, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
- Financial Planning and Modeling, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
- Global Management & Decision Making, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
- International Business, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
- Product and Brand Management, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
- Real Estate Finance, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
- Supply Chain Management, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
Undergraduate business students complete the University Undergraduate Core, program requirements, the Business Common Body of Knowledge, and major-specific requirements.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CMM 1200 | Public Speaking (satisfies CORE 1200) | 3 |
| or CMM 1250 | Communicating in Groups and Teams | |
| ENGL 4000 | Professional Writing (Satisfies UUC Writing Intensive) | 3 |
| MATH 1320 | Survey of Calculus (satisfies CORE 3200) | 3 |
| or MATH 1510 | Calculus I | |
| PHIL 2050 | Ethics (Satisfies UUC Dignity, Ethics & a Just Society) | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Business Common Body of Knowledge (CBK)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 2200 | Financial Accounting | 3 |
| ACCT 2220 | Accounting for Decision Making | 3 |
| BIZ 1000/1001 | Business Foundations (included in University Undergraduate CORE as it satisfies CORE 1500) | 1 |
| BIZ 1002 | Business Foundations Excel Lab | 0 |
| BIZ 1100 | Business in Action | 1 |
| BIZ 3000 | Career Foundations (included in University Undergraduate CORE as it satisfies CORE 3500) | 1 |
| BTM 2000 | Introduction to Business Technology Management | 3 |
| BTM 2500 | Data Modeling, Analysis and Visualization | 3 |
| ECON 1900 | Principles of Economics | 3 |
| ECON 3120 | Intermediate Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 3140 | Intermediate Microeconomics | 3 |
| FIN 3010 | Principles of Finance | 3 |
| IB 2000 | Introduction to International Business (Satisfies CORE Global Interdependence Attribute) | 3 |
| MGT 2000 | Legal Environment of Business I | 3 |
| MGT 3000 | Management Theory and Practice | 3 |
| MGT 4000 | Strategic Management and Policy 1 | 3 |
| MKT 3000 | Introduction to Marketing Management | 3 |
| OPM 2070 | Introduction to Business Statistics | 3 |
| OPM 3050 | Introduction to Management Science and Operations Management | 3 |
| Total Credits | 48 | |
- 1
All other business CBK courses must be completed prior to taking MGT 4000 Strategic Management and Policy (3 cr).