Service Leadership

Service Leadership Co-Curricular Program 

Saint Louis University strives to develop leaders who demonstrate competence, conscience, compassion and commitment to community by integrating the strong traditions of Jesuit education with the fundamentals of leadership. 

The leaders within the [service leadership] program provide an easy way to get involved in service and ethical business practices. Not only have I learned a lot but I have been a part of events and projects which I would have never heard about elsewhere." -Lance Hussey, class of 2022

The Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business serves the St. Louis community by educating business students who graduate ready to assume leadership roles in a variety of occupations. The co-curricular Service Leadership program is a key vehicle for accomplishing this. The program provides students in the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business the opportunity to develop and hone their leadership skills while serving the St. Louis community. 

A minor in service leadership is earned upon completion of the requirements of the service leadership program. 

A minor in service leadership is earned upon completion of the requirements of the Chaifetz School's service leadership program. 

• 200 hours of community service (with at least 100 hours at the same site) 
• 12 leadership workshops
• 15 credits of coursework, including three one-credit leadership courses:

  Course List

  Code	Title	Credits
  BIZ 1200	Leadership, Service, and Self	1
  BIZ 2200	Leadership, Service and Groups	1
  BIZ 3200	Leadership, Service & Society	1

There are numerous exciting opportunities for service leaders to complete their 200 hours of community service. Serving at least 100 of those hours at the same not-for-profit allows the service leader's growth in their knowledge of the operations and needs of the organization to advance concurrently with their progress in the business curriculum.  Service leaders are able to apply the business theory they are learning in the classroom for the benefit of their service organization thereby furthering the mission of the not-for-profit.  The available service sites are diverse, and each one provides opportunities to gain meaningful leadership experience and make personal connections while serving the economically poor and marginalized of society.

Each year, several leadership workshops are offered through the service leadership program with topics ranging from humor to ethical decision making and from personal reflection to professionalism. While service leaders are not expected to attend all of these workshops, they are expected to complete a total of 12 by the time they finish the program. Students are encouraged to select workshops that will be most helpful in promoting their individual growth as a leader.

The required 15 credits of coursework can be fulfilled through normal business degree requirements. In addition to the three required courses (BIZ 1200 Leadership, Service, and Self (1 cr), BIZ 2200 Leadership, Service and Groups (1 cr), BIZ 3200 Leadership, Service & Society (1 cr)), courses may be selected from an array of disciplines including African American studies, communication, history, philosophy, psychology, public policy, social work, sociology, and theology.

Through the BIZ 1200 Leadership, Service, and Self (1 cr), BIZ 2200 Leadership, Service and Groups (1 cr), and BIZ 3200 Leadership, Service & Society (1 cr) courses, students learn the theory behind leadership and practice integrating their service experiences into their lives and professional careers.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a minimum 2.00 grade point average (GPA) in all courses used to fulfill minor requirements. If the minor GPA falls below a 2.00, students will have one semester to increase their minor GPA to a 2.00 or they will not be allowed to enroll in 3000 and 4000 level minor courses.