John M. and Mary Jo Boler College of Business

A Department of Business Administration was created in 1934 in the College of Arts and Sciences to provide professional training for students aspiring to positions of responsibility in the business world. In 1945, this department grew into the School of Business. In 1996, the school was named in honor of John M. and Mary Jo Boler. In 2018, in recognition of the Boler family’s outstanding continuing support, the school was rededicated as the John M. and May Jo Boler College of Business.

Degrees and Majors

Majors are offered in nine professional fields leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A.), Bachelor of Science in Economics (B.S.E.), or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). The Boler College of Business also offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), the Master of Science in Innovation and Entrepreneurship (M.S.), and the Master of Arts in Nonprofit Administration (M.A.). These programs are fully described in the Programs section of this Bulletin.

Undergraduate degree programs of the Boler College of Business consist of the business core and the major, which together total approximately 50% of the hours required for graduation. The business core courses provide a study of the environment of business, its major functional areas, and the commonly used techniques of analysis. The major consists of a minimum of seven courses. An outline of the business core is available under the Undergraduate General Degree Requirements.

Candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A.) select accountancy, finance, financial planning and wealth management, international business with language and culture, management and organizational leadership, marketing, or supply chain management, while candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Economics (B.S.E.) choose economics. The College also offers a Bachelor of Arts major in leadership and social innovation.

Optional minors are available through the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Health, and the Boler College of Business (see the Programs section of this Bulletin).

Mission and Core Values

Our mission: The Boler College of Business graduates students who live inspired lives. They lead with an ethical foundation, excel in service with and for others, and exemplify professional excellence, a strong work ethic, and superior decision-making.

The Boler College of Business carries out this mission by:

  • Striving to foster the ongoing development of the highest standards of personal integrity among all members of its community.

  • Promoting the achievement of educational excellence through a challenging course of studies.

  • Emphasizing development and implementation of innovative techniques that keep it at the forefront of the dynamic business education environment.

  • Nurturing the intellectual, personal, and moral development of each student and inspiring each to become a person for others.

  • Committing to incorporate an international dimension into its teaching, research, and service programs.

  • Encouraging all of its constituents to develop a sense of belonging and responsibility within the community, to respect and care for one another, and to take actions that they believe promote the common good.

  • Treating faculty scholarship as an essential part of the process that couples lifelong learning with teaching excellence.

More information about the Boler College’s core values is available from the dean’s office or on the Boler College’s website at www.jcu.edu/boler.

Applying for Admission

All potential students seeking undergraduate admission to the University apply through the Office of Admission. Interested students may request admission directly to the Boler College of Business by so designating on the Common Application, or by denoting an intention to be admitted to Boler when registering for summer new student orientation.

Students enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences or College of Health who wish to apply to transfer to the Boler College must have an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher.

Interested students should complete the Declaration of Major through their Student Profile. After reviewing credentials, the Boler College Dean’s Office will advise students whether they are (a) accepted, (b) conditionally accepted, or (c) rejected. Applications for transfer to Boler must be received by December 10 for consideration for spring enrollment, and by May 10 for consideration for fall enrollment. Please note that students not formally declared in Boler may not take more than 30 credit hours of Boler courses. Students should allow a minimum of six semesters (which could include a summer semester) to complete the requirements of the Boler core and major.

Dismissal from Boler

Undergraduate students whose Boler GPA falls below 2.0 for two consecutive semesters, or who are not successfully completing Boler Professional Development requirements, may be dismissed from the Boler College of Business. Such students may transfer to the College of Arts and Sciences or College of Health if in good academic standing otherwise.