Business Administration, M.B.A. (Professional)
The Professional MBA program at Saint Louis University's Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business is tailored to accommodate the schedules of working professionals. Students can take classes through the hybrid program online or on campus weekday evenings (Monday through Thursday), generally from 6 to 9:15 p.m. To increase flexibility, students may begin the program in January, May or August.
The Chaifetz School’s broad-based Professional MBA program, ranked in the top 40 nationally by U.S. News & World Report, prepares students to succeed in management roles through the development of strategic skills and knowledge in a range of functional business areas. In addition to the managerial core, students can focus elective coursework in one of 10 concentration areas including the Chaifetz School’s nationally ranked specialty areas of accounting (#40), entrepreneurship (#10), international business (#11) and supply chain management (#13).
While most AACSB-accredited schools only allow students to transfer up to six credits if needed, SLU's agreement with the Jesuit MBA network allows students to transfer all credits to partner Jesuit schools if needs arise for relocation.
Scholarship support is available from the Chaifetz School of Business and all applications are assessed for scholarship consideration at the time of admission.
Learn More About Professional MBA Scholarships
Curriculum Overview
SLU's Professional MBA courses are offered Monday through Thursday from 6-9:15 p.m., allowing students to complete the program and maintain full-time employment. On average, evening MBA students complete the program in two-and-a-half years but are allotted up to five years, if necessary, allowing students to maintain a balance between their personal and professional life.
The Professional MBA program requirements range from 36-48 credits, depending on prior academic background. The program consists of 12 credits of foundation coursework (economics, accounting, applied business statistics and operations management), 21 credits of advanced managerial core requirements and nine credits of advanced electives. Partial to complete waivers may be offered for the four foundations courses for students demonstrating competency through coursework completed in the last five years. These waivers are determined at the time of admission. Questions about course waivers can be directed to gradbiz@slu.edu.
The advanced managerial core includes coursework in finance, information technology, global business, business analytics, management, marketing, legal/ethical environment of business and professional effectiveness. Lastly, students complete a strategy and practice course during which students participate in live team-based consulting projects with local for-profit and nonprofit organizations. The course is aimed at developing teamwork and integrated strategy skills. Electives may be taken in any business discipline or, with academic approval, several non-business disciplines.
Students have the option to concentrate the electives of their coursework in one of the following areas of emphasis:
- Accounting (Additional pre-requisites may be required)
- Economics
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- Information technology management
- International business
- Management
- Marketing
- Project management
- Supply chain management
Careers
The Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business has a dedicated Career Resources Center and Graduate Career Advisor to help MBA students define professional goals, build essential career skills, create a robust professional network and develop a job search strategy. The center’s support, resources and advisement are available to students after graduation.
Eighty percent of graduates reported a change in employment status with about one-third accepting offers with a new employer, about one-third receiving promotions and about one-third changing functional roles within their organizations. Ninety-six percent of graduates who indicated a change in employment reported a salary increase at an average of 33 percent.
Admission Requirements
Applicants are reviewed holistically for undergraduate performance and internship or professional experience.
No GMAT or GRE required.
Application Requirements
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Transcript(s)
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Two letters of recommendation
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Résumé
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Professional goal statement
Requirements for International Students
Applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents will also need to submit:
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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.
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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.
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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:
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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.
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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.
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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
The Chaifetz School offers generous scholarships to make a graduate degree from our nationally ranked institution accessible. All applicants to the Professional MBA program are automatically considered for scholarship awards at the time of admission. Learn more about Professional MBA scholarships.
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.
- Graduates will develop a strategic level understanding of the key functions of business—accounting, economics, finance, international business, management, marketing, operations, and statistics.
- Graduates will practice problem analysis and decision-making and present results, both individually and as part of teams and groups, using vehicles such as problem and case analysis, integrated modules, and live consulting opportunities.
- Graduates will be aware of globalization and its impacts on people, businesses, and the economy.
- Graduates will participate in at least one service learning experience during the course of their studies and/or participate and assume leadership roles in student and community organizations.
- Graduates will be exposed to values issues and application of values to business professions in case analysis and in classroom interaction.
Code | Title | Credits |
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Foundation Courses | ||
Foundation course waivers are sometimes granted based on previous academic coursework in these areas. | ||
ACCT 5010 | Accounting for Managers | 3 |
ECON 5010 | Economics for Managers | 3 |
OPM 5020 | Applied Business Statistics | 3 |
OPM 5050 | Introduction to Analytics-Based Operations Management | 3 |
Breadth Courses | ||
FIN 6000 | Finance for Managers | 3 |
IB 6000 | Global Business Environment | 3 |
ITM 6000 | Managing Information Technology | 3 |
MGT 6000 | Management | 3 |
MKT 6000 | Marketing Management | 3 |
Required Courses | ||
ITM 6400 | Applied Business Analytics | 3 |
MGT 6003 | Legal, Ethical and Professional Environment of Business (Generally taken in a student's first semester) | 3 |
MGT 6006 | Strategy and Practice (Generally taken in a student's last semester) | 3 |
Professional Effectiveness Modules | 3 | |
(Modules are offered in various topics and range from 1-3 credits) | ||
Electives | ||
Students may choose three graduate business courses from the following concentrations: | 9 | |
Total Credits | 48 |
Accounting Concentration
Any nine credits of graduate accounting coursework (ACCT 5010 Accounting for Managers (3 cr) is not eligible)
Economics Concentration
Any nine credits of graduate economics coursework (ECON 5010 Economics for Managers (3 cr) is not eligible)
Entrepreneurship Concentration
Code | Title | Credits |
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Required Course | ||
MGT 6209 | Managing Resources in Startups | 3 |
MGT 6210 | Advanced Business Plan - New Ventures | 3 |
Choose one of the following: | ||
MGT 6200 | New Venture Initiation | 3 |
or MGT 6201 | Corporate Entrepreneurship | |
Total Credits | 9 |
Finance Concentration
Students must take FIN 6150 Finance Theory and Application (3 cr) as required breadth course (in lieu of FIN 6000 Finance for Managers (3 cr))
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
FIN 6160 | Equity Securities and Markets | 3 |
FIN 6210 | Fixed Income Securities and Markets | 3 |
Elective Course | ||
One graduate finance course 1 | 3 | |
Total Credits | 9 |
1 | FIN 6090 Real Estate Finance (3 cr) does not meet concentration requirements. |
International Business Concentration
Any nine credits of graduate international business focused courses (IB 6000 Global Business Environment (3 cr) is not eligible)
Information Technology Management Concentration
Any nine credits of graduate information technology courses (ITM 6000 Managing Information Technology (3 cr) is not eligible)
Management Concentration
Any nine credits of graduate management courses (MGT 6000 Management (3 cr), MGT 6003 Legal, Ethical and Professional Environment of Business (3 cr) and MGT 6006 Strategy and Practice (3 cr) are not eligible)
Marketing Concentration
Any nine credits of graduate marketing courses (MKT 6000 Marketing Management (3 cr) is not eligible) or IB 6220 International E-Business (3 cr)
Project Management Concentration
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
ITM 6050 | Project Management | 3 |
Supply Chain or Information Technology Course | ||
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
OPM 6050 | Business Process and Operations Management | |
OPM 6430 | Quality Improvement/Lean Sigma | |
OPM 6440 | Supply Chain Sourcing & Strategy | |
Management Course | ||
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
MGT 6200 | New Venture Initiation | |
MGT 6201 | Corporate Entrepreneurship | |
Total Credits | 9 |
Supply Chain Management Concentration
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
OPM 6440 | Supply Chain Sourcing & Strategy | 3 |
OPM 6460 | Logistics & Warehousing | 3 |
Elective Course | ||
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
OPM 6000 | Forecasting and Demand Management | |
OPM 6050 | Business Process and Operations Management | |
OPM 6600 | Supply Chain Analytics | |
ITM 6000 | Managing Information Technology | |
ITM 6400 | Applied Business Analytics | |
ITM 6450 | Business Strategy and Enterprise Systems | |
Total Credits | 9 |
Continuation Standards
Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.
For additional admission questions, please contact: Graduate Business Admissions Team 314-977-3800 gradbiz@slu.edu