John Cook School of Business

Saint Louis University-Main Campus, John Cook School of Business History

Saint Louis University, founded in 1818, is a private, coeducational institution affiliated with the Roman Catholic (Jesuit) Church. The 254-acre campus is located in an urban area in St. Louis. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is 12,034.

The John Cook School of Business was founded in 1910 and is located on the main campus, in its own building, John and Lucy Cook Hall. The basic educational approach is a mix of methods, including case, seminar/lecture, team project, and capstone consulting project.

Saint Louis University-Main Campus, John Cook School of Business Academics

The John Cook School of Business offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Accounting (MAcc), Executive Master in International Business (EMIB), and Master of Science in Finance (MSF) as well as a doctoral program in international business and marketing, and a joint degree in law (MBA/JD), health administration (MBA/MHA), and medicine (MBA/MD). Other programs include an integrated accounting program, an interdisciplinary program in international business, cooperative programs with other Jesuit universities, work-study, foreign exchange in numerous countries, and numerous internship opportunities in the corporate community. There is cross-registration with Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Missouri/St. Louis. The strongest areas of study are entrepreneurship, marketing, and finance. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus. The Boeing Institute sponsors a speaker series, and a program in small business management/entrepreneurship encourages sabbatical exchange. The capstone consulting course uses a team-taught approach, which utilizes distinguished lecturers.

Thirty-three to 50 total credits are required to complete the MBA (1 year, full time), including 12 elective credits. Required courses for the MBA (1 year, full time) include:

• Accounting and Financial Management
• Managerial Economics and Applied Statistics
• Leadership and Team Management
• Essentials of Marketing Strategy
• Legal and Ethical Enivornment of Business
• Operations Management
• Supply Chain Management
• Integrated Decision Making
• Information Technology in Organizations
• Data and Decisions
• Professional Effectiveness Series l – lll
• Global Business Integration l and ll
• Study Abroad
• The Organization: Governance, Compliance, and Strategy
• Integrated Consulting Module

Required courses for the MBA-Professional (part time) include:

• Accounting for Managers
• Quantitative Methods/Statistics
• Economics for Managers
• Operations Management
• Managing Information Technology
• Financial Management
• Global Business Environment
• Management
• Marketing Management
• Legal, Ethical and Professional Environment of Business
• Strategy and Practice

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements by waiving 12 hours of prerequisites.

Business students may take relevant nonbusiness courses in other departments. The minimum time permitted to complete the master’s degree program attending full time is 1 year; maximum, 1 year. For students attending part time, the minimum is 1 1/2 years; maximum, 5 years.

There are 60 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 96% hold a doctorate; there are 10 part-time faculty, of whom 40% hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated below average for Category I institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of courses faculty teach is 5; average business class size is 25.

Saint Louis University-Main Campus, John Cook School of Business Unique Programs

Library

The Pius XII Memorial Library houses a collection of more than 1,913,018 volumes, 2,632,739 microform items, and 11,427 audio/video tapes/CDs, and subscribes to 14,395 periodicals. Students have access to such databases and networks as ABI/INFORM, Business Source Premier, Compustat, Lexis/Nexis, Business Periodicals, and many others.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. The business school has its own computer facilities, consisting of 2 labs plus a dedicated computer classroom with 400 networked PCs connected to the university’s system; the labs are open 7 days a week during normal sessions. Wireless Internet is available.

Career and Job Placement

Majors most in demand by companies recruiting in 2006 were accounting and finance. Average starting salary of the graduating class was $64,500; range was $40,000 to $100,000. The percentage of graduates finding jobs were:

• national corporations 75%
• regional corporations 13%
• local large enterprises 13%

Placement services are extensive. Placement services for alumni include the same as for current students. Placement is available through the Career Resources Center and the university placement office. Ninety-two percent of the most recent graduating class found jobs within three months of receiving their degree.

International Students

International students must take the TOEFL. International students must score 550 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT) or 100 on the Internet-Based (iBT) version. They also must submit a translation of their transcripts, proof of health consisting of immunization information certified by a doctor, and proof of adequate funds to cover 1 year of study. Financial aid is available for these students and consists of partial scholarships and assistantships for 1-year, full-time MBA students. The application deadline for fall entry is February 15 for summer entry for 1-year, full-time MBA students.

Calendar

The school operates on a traditional semester basis. Semesters are 13 weeks long; summer sessions, 6 weeks. Graduate programs are offered during the day and evening.

Saint Louis University-Main Campus, John Cook School of Business Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required. Most important admissions factors are work experience, GMAT results, and a successful interview. A strong mathematics background is not required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 333; 188 were accepted; 151 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.36; average GMAT score was 570. Transfers are not accepted. Minority students are actively recruited through AACSB and GMAT forums, National Black MBA Association, and targeted advertising.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall, spring, and summer (the 1-year, full-time MBA begins in the summer only). To apply, students must submit an application form, a transcript, GMAT scores, a nonrefundable application fee of $90, 2 letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and a resume. An interview is required for the 1-year, full-time MBA. The application deadline is rolling. Students are notified of the admissions decision on a rolling basis.

Saint Louis University-Main Campus, John Cook School of Business Financial Aid

In a recent year, nearly all of 1-year, full-time MBA students received aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships. The FAFSA and the previous year’s tax return are required. The application deadline is open for fall entry.

Tuition for the 1-year, full-time MBA for all students is $46,800 per year. Books and supplies cost approximately $750; personal expenses, $10,000, for an estimated annual total of $57,550. Graduate student housing is limited on campus; near, affordable, off-campus housing is plentiful. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Saint Louis University-Main Campus, John Cook School of Business Students

Twenty-four percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 80% have had an average of 3 years of full-time work experience prior to entering graduate school, a factor preferred by the school. The greatest percentage of students are from the Midwest (88%). Thirty-eight percent are women, 10% are minorities, and 10% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 25; ages range from 22 to 55. Twenty percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 10% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 58%, business. In 2006, 113 graduate business degrees were awarded.