Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business

Leadership

Barnali Gupta, Ph.D.
    Edward Jones Dean and Professor
Palash Bera, Ph.D.
    Associate Dean of Graduate Programs and Associate Professor
Debbie Pike, MBA
     Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Assistant Professor

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 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 supports the development of its students through disciplines that cultivate critical and analytical thinking, leadership, and written and oral communication skills. Second, the school encourages the development of intellectual, moral and social habits, which distinguish its graduates as ethical leaders in their chosen fields of business and their communities. Third, it guides its students to discern their career paths and provides students and alumni with dedicated and comprehensive support in pursuing their professional objectives.  

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 also offers nationally ranked graduate business programs to support professionals in developing the skills necessary to accelerate their careers. Graduate students can choose from five 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. They believe that it places us in a category of distinction among peers. Fewer than 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 provides an internship program 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 urban setting is an ideal location to pursue a business degree, and students can participate in an internship while continuing to attend classes. Whether or not they receive course credit, the Chaifetz School of Business encourages all students to participate in an internship 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 is designed to help students proactively identify a potential career path and learn and practice skills that will help to secure internships 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) or speak with an academic advisor.

Service Leadership Program

Through the Chaifetz 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.

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 the opportunity for real-life learning. Options range from a large selection of full-semester destinations to shorter summer programs or even one-week to two-week courses.

The Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business offers several exchange programs with international business schools in locations such as Belgium, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Korea and Sweden. Business students may also participate in shorter programs over the summer, during one week in January in Panama City, Panama, 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 provides students with 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 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 selecting the option 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.

Note that 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 233 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 who possess a working knowledge of enterprise resource planning (ERP) using SAP software have the opportunity to 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 is available only to entering first-year students with at least a 30 ACT or 1360 SAT and a 3.75 GPA. Business Scholars complete the business degree in only three calendar years, including summer courses. The curriculum is the same as the traditional four-year degree program; this is only a time-shortened, not content-shortened, program. As a Business Scholar, students have guaranteed enrollment in business courses as long as the curriculum plan is followed. To remain in the program, students must maintain a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA. In the third year, scholars will receive a $2,000 scholarship.

Accounting Scholars Program

The Accounting Scholars program is available only to entering first-year students with at least a 30 ACT or 1360 SAT and a 3.6 GPA. Accounting Scholars who complete the program requirements are guaranteed a seat in the integrated accounting program and will be given priority consideration for graduate-level scholarships. 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 will need to 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

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

See the section under University Academic Policies and Procedures.

Academic Advising/Faculty Mentoring

In their first semester, business school students are assigned an academic advisor who will assist students in sequencing the courses needed to graduate. In addition, the academic advisors serve as the liaison between students and a number of student-centered 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 University Academic Policies and Procedures.

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.

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. The requirements for the minors are listed below. Students are responsible for completing any prerequisites as required. A minimum 2.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) is required in minor coursework.

A course may not be used to fulfill requirements in two majors/minors), i.e. IB 3100 Geopolitics of World Business (3 cr) may not be used to fulfill the international major and the globalization and technology minor; it may be used to fulfill the requirements in only one major/minor.

Pass/Fail Option

The School of Business does not allow the pass/fail option to any undergraduate student enrolled in business courses. In addition, business students may not take any course on a pass/fail 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 2.7.  If not, 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 courses used to fulfill major or minor requirements falls below a 2.0. Students will have one semester to increase their major or minor GPA to a 2.0; if not, students will not be allowed to register for 3000 or 4000 level major courses

Second Major

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 indicating both the majors and minor(s). If a business course overlaps between two business majors, it may be counted only once and credited to one functional major, i.e. sports marketing may be used to satisfy a marketing major requirement or a sports business major requirement, but not both.

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. Students are limited to nine credits of summer coursework; however, students with at least a 3.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) may petition to take up to 12 credits of summer work.

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 assistant dean is required.

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

Business School 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).