Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business

Leadership

Jackson Nickerson, Ph.D.
    Edward Jones Dean
Chris Thomas, Ph.D.
    Associate Dean for Graduate Education
Bidisha Chakrabarty, Ph.D.
    Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Affairs
Debbie Pike, MBA
    Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education 

Description

Founded as a distinct unit of Saint Louis University in 1910, the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business was one of the first schools in the American West to provide business education at the university level. Today, the nationally-ranked Chaifetz School of Business continues to pioneer business education through its unique experiential approach to instruction and mission to foster ethical leadership in graduates.

Instruction at the Chaifetz School of Business is rooted in three fundamental principles. First, the school promotes the curricular development of its students through disciplines that cultivate critical and analytical thinking, leadership, and written and oral communication skills. Second, students are encouraged to develop strong intellectual, moral and social habits, distinguishing them as ethical leaders in their chosen fields of business and their communities upon graduation. Third, students are guided and supported in discerning their career paths and provided dedicated and comprehensive support in pursuing their professional objectives throughout their lifetime.  

The Chaifetz School of Business offers a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) with nine majors and 13 minors available in multiple business disciplines. The school continues to educate in the unique Jesuit tradition to ensure graduates are well-rounded, knowledgeable, skilled and ethical business professionals prepared to excel in leadership roles. 

The Chaifetz School of Business also offers nationally ranked graduate business programs to support professionals in developing the skills necessary to accelerate their careers. Graduate students can choose from 13 post-baccalaureate certificates, part-time and full-time MBA programs, four specialized master’s programs, five dual-degree programs, and 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 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.

The Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business faculty and staff are proud of our accreditation status. We believe that it places us in a category of distinction among peers. Approximately 5% of business schools worldwide have achieved AACSB accreditation. Students who choose to attend an AACSB-accredited business school join an environment where learning matters and where a highly qualified faculty guides students’ study through a curriculum relevant to contemporary business needs and practices.

Our accounting program has received supplemental AACSB accreditation, making the Chaifetz School of Business among just 2% of business schools worldwide to hold accreditation and supplemental accounting accreditation from the AACSB. 

Principles for Responsible Management Education

As Wall Street was crumbling in December 2008, a group of universities from across the globe gathered a few blocks away at the United Nations to define actions they should take to support a new approach to business in society. The Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) are a call to transform curricula, research and teaching methodologies based on the universal values of sustainability, social responsibility and good corporate citizenship. The Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business was pleased to be a signatory because PRME reflects our values and traditions.

Undergraduate Degree-Enhancing Opportunities

Internship Program

Students must gain career-related experience before graduation in today’s competitive business environment. Recognizing this necessity, the Chaifetz School of Business facilitates internship opportunities offering students a wide range of experiences with employers in the St. Louis region and throughout the United States. An internship allows students to combine classroom learning with practical work experience and is a precious component of a college education. 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 continuing to attend classes during the traditional fall and spring semesters. Whether or not they receive course credit, the Chaifetz School of Business encourages all students to participate in at least one internship (or more!) to enhance their academic studies, understand the business world, develop business relationships and build work experience.

Career Resources Center

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 while an undergraduate student and full-time opportunities 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 is a unique and transformative four-year experiential learning opportunity that is only available to Chaifetz students.

Service Leadership Program

Study Abroad/Short-Term Immersion Opportunities

With the increasing globalization of business, graduates need the sensitivity to the impact of cultural, social, economic and political differences that 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 international business schools in locations such as Australia, Belgium, Chile, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, 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 have access to many study-abroad destinations worldwide — including the SLU-Madrid campus, which offers students an economics, international business or marketing major that can be completed in its entirety in Spain.

Due to the requirement that the last 30 of 36 business education credits be completed in residence at the St. Louis campus, undergraduate students should begin planning their immersion experience early in their academic careers. 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.)

For help identifying destinations, please contact the Department of International Business located in the Boeing Institute for International Business (Cook Hall, Room 332) or attend one of the study abroad information sessions for business students held at the beginning of each semester. Once a potential study abroad site has been selected, a business school academic advisor will evaluate the courses to determine Saint Louis University equivalents.

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 non-approved 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. Assistance with the application process is available through the Department of International Business and SLU’s Office of International Services.

Boeing Institute of International Business

CFA University Affiliated Program

The Department of Finance is a CFA University-affiliated program. This initiative is a relationship between the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute and select colleges and universities worldwide. Only 277 U.S. schools are CFA University Affiliated Programs. Detailed information can be found on the undergraduate Finance B.S. 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 with Systems Applications Products (SAP) software. This enables students to put classroom theory into practice. Students with a working knowledge of enterprise resource planning (ERP) using SAP software can obtain an SAP certificate awarded by SAP America, Inc. Contact the Department of Operations and Information Technology Management in the business school for more information. 

Business Scholars – Three-Year Degree Program

The Business Scholars Program at Saint Louis University’s Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business allows students to complete any undergraduate business degree in only three calendar years, including summer courses. The Business Scholars curriculum has the same content and credit-hour requirements as the traditional four-year degree program, with scholars generally taking six classes each fall and spring semester and one to two classes over the summer. As business scholars, students have guaranteed enrollment in business courses as long as the curriculum plan is followed. Along with specialized advising and mentoring throughout the program, scholars remaining on track to graduate in three years will receive a $2,000 scholarship. To remain in the program, students must maintain a minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA.

High school seniors applying for admission are reviewed on an individual basis. The best-qualified students are selected from the application pool with a required minimum high school GPA of 3.75 on a 4.00 scale and a high school math GPA of 3.60 after completing at least three years of coursework. Standardized test scores are optional but recommended; international applicants may be required to submit proof of English proficiency. Applicants should note that students accepted in previous years had an average composite 30-plus ACT or an average total 1330-plus SAT.

Accounting Scholars Program

The Accounting Scholars program is available only to entering first-year students whose high school scholastic achievement or admission test scores, if submitted, demonstrate superior academic potential. Accounting Scholars who complete the program requirements are guaranteed a seat in the Integrated Accounting Program, receive priority consideration for accounting-only scholarships and opportunities for one-on-one mentoring from SLU’s Young Accounting Professionals Board. Accounting Scholars will not be required to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) but must formally submit application material to the Integrated Accounting Program to complete their admission. To remain in the program, students must maintain a minimum 3.4 cumulative GPA at the end of each year and complete select coursework and other activities as determined by the accounting department.

Other Special Programs

• Business Scholars Program - Three-year Degree Program
• Business Bachelor's to Law, J.D. Accelerated Program

Degrees

Dual Degrees

Certificates

Admission Requirements

The minimum grade point average (GPA) requirement for admission to the School of Business is a 2.50 high school grade point average (GPA) for freshmen. Transfer students (having completed 24 credits or more from a previous institution) must have a 2.50 cumulative college GPA for all majors except accounting where a 2.70 GPA is required.  

Advanced Placement Coursework/Dual-Credit Coursework

Details available at Policies & Procedures - Academic Policies.

Academic Advising/Faculty Mentoring

During summer orientation conducted prior to the start of classes, students are assigned an academic advisor. These full-time professional advisors assist students in sequencing the courses needed to graduate and serve an important role as the liaison between students and a number of student-centered support services available on campus. Business school students may also work with faculty mentors who provide career advice, general guidance, and are available to discuss students’ personal and educational goals.

Academic Integrity

Students, faculty and staff members share the responsibility to maintain a learning environment of mutual trust and integrity. Academic dishonesty violates this trust and may result in grade reduction and/or probation, suspension or dismissal. Dishonest conduct includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism and soliciting, receiving or providing any unauthorized assistance, including the use of technological devices, in the completion of any work submitted toward academic credit. It is the responsibility of any student who observes such dishonest conduct to call it to the attention of a faculty member or administrator.

For more information, see section under Policies & Procedures - Academic Policies.

Honors, Pre-Law and Pre-Professional Health Studies Programs

The School of Business participates in the University’s honors, pre-law, and pre-professional health studies programs. Students in each of these programs have the opportunity to complete a major in business in addition to any required program courses. Information regarding these programs can be found elsewhere in the undergraduate catalog.

Minor Policies

In addition to a chosen major, students may complete one or more minors in business. Students are responsible for completing any prerequisites as required. A minimum 2.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) is required in minor coursework.

Outside of the Business Common Body of Knowledge (CBK), a maximum of one business course (3 credit hours) may be used to fulfill requirements in two business majors/minors.

Pass/No Pass Option

The School of Business does not allow the Pass/No Pass option to any undergraduate student enrolled in business courses. In addition, business students may not take any course on a Pass/No Pass basis if the course is used to fulfill degree requirements.

Probation

Accounting Program Probation

Accounting students will be on program probation if the cumulative SLU grade point average (GPA) falls below a 2.70.  Students will have one semester to increase their cumulative GPA to a 2.70.  If the GPA minimum is not subsequently met, students will not be allowed to register for 3000 or 4000 level accounting courses.

Major and Minor Program Probation

Students in a business major and/or business minor (except accounting – see above) will be on program probation if the grade point average (GPA) in major-specific courses used to fulfill major or minor requirements falls below a 2.0. Students will have one semester to increase their GPA in their major- or minor-specific GPA to a 2.0; if not, students will not be allowed to register for 3000 or 4000 level major-specific courses

Second Major

In addition to pursuing a second major in a program outside the business school, business students may supplement a chosen major with a second major and/or minor in a different business discipline. However, a second major within the business school is considered a single undergraduate degree and not considered two undergraduate degrees. Students completing more than one major within the business school will receive one diploma indicating majors while their academic transcript will indicate both the majors and minor(s). Outside of the Business Common Body of Knowledge (CBK), a maximum of one business course (3 credit hours) may be used to fulfill requirements in two business majors/minors.

Transfer Credit Guidelines/Concurrent Enrollment

Students interested in transferring credit from another institution should contact the Academic Programs and Student Services Office in the School of Business to determine the applicability of transfer coursework toward graduation requirements. Students must earn a grade of "C" or higher in any approved transfer courses. Continuing students must receive approval prior to enrolling in courses away from SLU. Full-time, business degree-seeking students may not take courses concurrently at other institutions during the fall or spring semesters unless offered through an inter-university agreement.

Undergraduate Students Taking Graduate Business Courses

Undergraduate students are generally not permitted to enroll in graduate business courses; however, seniors with a minimum 3.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) may petition to take up to six credits of graduate coursework in their senior year. Prior to completion of their bachelor's degree, students are limited to a 15-credit course load during any semester in which they are taking graduate-level coursework. Approval by the associate dean for Undergraduate Education is required.

Graduate Academic Standing 

Classified students are in good academic standing when they are making progress toward a degree within the time period approved by the School: 5 years. Students who are not in good standing will not be eligible to:

• advance to candidacy
• apply for graduation
• continue an assistantship 

Any of the following conditions result in a student falling out of good standing:

• They are on academic probation
• Their transcripts reflect more than two incomplete grades
• Their time to degree has expired
• They have been placed under temporary suspension for academic deficiencies or misconduct
• They have been formally dismissed from the University

If the cumulative grade point average of classified students falls below 3.00 (on the four-point scale, “B” = 3.00), students are automatically placed on academic probation (not to be confused with probationary admission). To continue degree pursuit, students must progress toward a 3.00 cumulative average and are expected to emerge from academic probation within nine credits or two successive academic terms during which coursework registrations are recorded. Students may not be advanced to candidacy status while on academic probation. 

Although a 3.00 is the minimum required GPA, graduate students are expected to complete academic work at the “B+” level. Credits in which the grade of “C” is earned are limited to 6 credit hours. Grades of “C-” or “D” will not be accepted towards a degree. The classified student’s cumulative grade point average in academic work presented to fulfill degree requirements must be at least 3.00.

Undergraduate business students complete the University Undergraduate Core, Program  Requirements, the Business Common Body of Knowledge, and Major-Specific Requirements.

Program Requirements

Business Common Body of Knowledge (CBK) 

¹

All other business CBK courses must be completed prior to taking MGT 4000 Strategic Management and Policy (3 cr).