Entrepreneurship, B.S.

Entrepreneurship focuses on preparing individuals for personal and financial success through the starting of their own firms or social ventures, taking their place in the management of the family firm or assuming a position of leadership as a corporate entrepreneur introducing new products/services or opening new markets.

Saint Louis University's entrepreneurship major offers hands-on opportunities, experienced instructors and the development of creativity, market focus and business planning — all essential to successful ventures.

The program draws on world-class resources including the nationally recognized Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship, which hosts national competitions for new ideas, elevator pitches, innovative decision making and social ventures open to SLU students. The program is further enhanced through cross-campus initiatives such as the Coleman Fellows program, a network for entrepreneurship-oriented faculty around the campus, and the SLU Entrepreneurs Club, a university student club.

Students may choose to pursue the entrepreneurship minor in addition to their chosen major.

Curriculum Overview

Entrepreneurship is the engine of local, national and global economies and the program is designed to give students the tools necessary to succeed in entrepreneurial roles. Students interested in entrepreneurship learn and practice all aspects of the entrepreneurial process from developing an idea to pitching a business plan.

Students also have the option to learn about and pursue social entrepreneurial ventures. Entrepreneurship courses integrate the classroom with the real world through a dynamic mix of leading-edge technology, involvement with successful entrepreneurs and hands-on development of key skills like creativity, market focus and business planning, which are essential to successful ventures.  

In addition, students have the opportunity to participate in local and national competitions that not only hone their entrepreneurial skills but can also lead to external support for their business plans.

Internships/Student Organizations

St. Louis’ urban location provides many internship opportunities that allow students to gain career-related work experience while applying classroom experiences to practice. Most are paid and students may earn academic credit. Supervised by both a representative from the organization and a faculty mentor, students have interned with a large variety of entrepreneurial firms in the St. Louis area.

The management department supports the SLU Entrepreneurs Club, which provides students with the opportunity to learn about the different career paths in entrepreneurship as well as the opportunity to network with entrepreneurs from the area.

Students can get involved with the Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship's programming which includes innovation challenges, networking events like Billicon Valley and pitch competitions like Pure Idea, Real Elevator Pitch and Pitch and Catch.

Careers

Graduates join a global network of nearly 20,000 alumni from the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business with careers in fields such as:

• Business founder
• Venture capitalist
• Strategic consultant
• Business process re-engineering consultant
• Project engineer

Admission Requirements

Freshman

All applications are thoroughly and carefully reviewed. Solid academic performance in college preparatory course work is a primary criterion in reviewing a freshman applicant’s file. College admission test scores (ACT or SAT) are used as an additional indicator of the student’s ability to meet the University’s academic requirements and to qualify the student for certain University scholarship programs. To be considered for admission to any Saint Louis University undergraduate program, the applicant must be approaching graduation from an accredited high school or have an acceptable score on the General Education Development (GED) test.

Transfer

Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited high school or have an acceptable score on the GED. An official high school transcript and official test scores are required only of those students who have attempted fewer than 24 transferable semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit. Those having completed 24 credits or more of college credit need only submit a transcript from previously attended college(s). Transfer students must have a cumulative 2.70 GPA to be admitted to the accounting program and a 2.50 GPA for all other majors. In reviewing a transfer applicant’s file, the office of admission holistically examines the student’s academic performance in college-level coursework as an indicator of the student’s ability to meet the academic rigors of Saint Louis University.

International Applicants

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
• Proof of financial support must include:
  • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the time at Saint Louis University
  • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of study at the University
• Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:

• Scholarships: awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need.
• Financial Aid: provided in the form of grants and loans, some of which require repayment.

For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, applicants should apply for admission by Dec. 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1.

For information on other scholarships and financial aid, visit the student financial services office online at http://finaid.slu.edu.

Accreditation

The Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business is accredited by AACSB, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the world’s largest business education alliance and accrediting body of business schools, ensuring continuous quality improvement in terms of curriculum, instructional resources, student selection, career placement and intellectual contributions and qualifications of the faculty.  Less than 10% of business schools worldwide have achieved AACSB accreditation. 

1. Graduates will be able to understand essential business concepts and how the various functional areas of business are related.
2. Graduates will be able to demonstrate knowledge of ethical concepts and corporate social responsibility, and be able to evaluate business problems from multiple ethical perspectives.
3. Graduates will be able to identify and structure business problems and propose actionable solutions to business problems, and, when applicable, utilize appropriate technology.
4. Graduates will be able to demonstrate effective written communication.
5. Graduates will be able to understand how cultures, politics, laws, ethics and economies influence and impacts business, and use tools and concepts to analyze and formulate an international business strategy.
6. Graduates will be able to demonstrate the ability to work effectively in teams.
7. Graduates will be able to develop creative/innovative solutions to for business opportunities.

18 credits in addition to MGT 2000 Legal Environment of Business I (3 cr), MGT 3000 Management Theory and Practice (3 cr) and MGT 4000 Strategic Management and Policy (3 cr), which are taken as business common body of knowledge requirements.

Continuation Standards

Entrepreneurship students must maintain a 2.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) in all courses used to fulfill the major.  

​Students will be on program probation if the GPA in major courses used to fulfill major requirements falls below a 2.00.  Students will have one semester to increase their major or minor cumulative GPA to a 2.00; if not, students will not be allowed to register for 3000 or 4000 level major courses.

Students whose cumulative grade point average falls below 2.00 are required to apply for probationary status, which allows for no more than two consecutive semesters to improve scholastically and to demonstrate the ability to make progress toward a degree.

During the probationary period, advisors help students achieve academic success by closely monitoring their academic performance. Students on probation may not register for more than 15 credits of coursework as defined by the terms of the probation.

The conditions under which a student is dismissed from the school include:

1. inability to eliminate probationary status within the two semesters subsequent to the assignment of probation or
2. a total grade point deficit of more than 15 points.

For more information, see section under University Academic Policies and Procedures.

Business Common Body of Knowledge (CBK) 

Arts and Sciences Core Requirements 

Graduation Requirements

To be certified for graduation, a student must complete all course requirements and meet all of the following conditions:

• apply to graduate;
• earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in all SLU coursework; Accounting students must earn a minimum 2.70 cumulative grade point average (GPA) in all SLU coursework and earn grades of “C” or higher in all courses that fulfill the major requirements; for all other majors, students must earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in all major courses that fulfill the major requirements;
• earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in all business coursework taken at Saint Louis University;
• complete the Arts and Sciences core as specified in the business school curriculum;
• complete 30 of the final 36 credits at the St. Louis campus or an approved Study Abroad program;*
• complete at least 50% of business coursework in residence at the St. Louis campus;*
• complete major course requirements in residence at the St. Louis campus;*
• Students transferring from the Madrid campus must complete a minimum of 40 credits of coursework, including a minimum of 30 credits of business coursework in residence at the St. Louis campus.*

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester.  Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.