The Business Foundations Certificate at Saint Louis University's Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business is an 18-credit certificate program available for graduates of any undergraduate program who are interested in gaining business knowledge and skills. Upon successful completion of the certificate, interested students may apply for admission to Saint Louis University's full MBA program and if accepted, the completed 18 credits may be applied toward the MBA program of study.

Curriculum Overview

The certificate requirements consist of 12 credits of graduate foundation courses and six credits of breadth courses (chosen by the student in association with their advisor) for a total of 18 credits.

Admission Requirements

Applicants are reviewed holistically for undergraduate performance and internship or professional experience. 

No GMAT or GRE required.

Application Requirements

• Completed online application

• Transcript(s)

• Two letters of recommendation

• Résumé

• Professional goal statement

Requirements for International Students

Applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents will also need to submit:

• English Language Proficiency Scores: For non-native speakers of English, an official TOEFL or IELTS score report is also required and must be sent directly from ETS or the British Council (The school code is 6629 for ETS). TOEFL and IELTS scores should be no more than two years old. This program requires a TOEFL score of 88 and an IELTS broadband of at least a 6.5. The Pearson Test of English and Duolingo scores can be accepted as well. If you are interested in submitting Pearson scores, please contact gradbiz@slu.edu.

• Official Academic Transcripts: An official transcript articulating both GPA and grades for all previous coursework is required and will be evaluated at the time of admission. 

• Documentation of Financial Support: After an admission decision has been made and scholarship consideration has been assessed, students will need to complete an addendum form outlining certification of financial support for one year of study (if a student visa is required) submitted with the necessary documentation. Documentation will include:

  • A letter (declaration) of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency providing funds for your tuition and living expenses for the duration of your study at Saint Louis University.

  • A letter (certification) from the sponsor’s bank verifying that such funds currently are available and will be so for each subsequent year of your study at this University.  The financial evidence must cover at least the amount of expenses needed for the first year of your study.

• Pathway Programs: INTO SLU offers a pathway program for international students who are interested in this program but do not meet the direct entry requirements. Visit https://www.intostudy.com/en/universities/saint-louis-university/programs for more information.

Review Process

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis once all application materials are received. Application files are reviewed holistically (undergraduate performance, internship or professional experience and professional goal statement). The average time for admissions decisions is one to two weeks.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

For more information about student loans, please visit the student financial services office online at http://finaid.slu.edu.  

Accreditation 

The Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), 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. Fewer than 5 percent of business schools worldwide have achieved AACSB accreditation. 

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

Request Information 

For additional admission questions, please contact: Graduate Business Admissions Team 314-977-3800 gradbiz@slu.edu