A Message from the Dean

Today more than ever the business world is in need of ethical leaders who are able to adapt to and succeed in a global AI-driven environment. At the Dolan School of Business, we echo this need in our Jesuit mission and vision of educating women and men for others. Competitive forces both domestically and abroad produce markets that are in constant flux. As a result of rapid change of technology, such as AI, entrepreneurial insight, and dynamic innovation, organizations are seeking leaders who can anticipate such forces and act accordingly. An education from Fairfield’s Dolan School of Business makes this possible by providing:

Faculty who are both national scholars and highly engaged and informed teachers in the classroom. As thought-leaders in their disciplines, Dolan School award-winning faculty (e.g., recipient of the best journal paper award on AI, the Outstanding Educator of the Year in Accounting) conduct cutting-edge research to inform their teaching. As a result, students benefit from lectures and course activities that bring real world issues into the classroom.

Curricula that challenge and inspire students while also providing them with the necessary tools to become true leaders in organizations. At the undergraduate level, business education is purposively infused with a broad and rich arts and sciences university core curriculum. This results in forming engaged students who are critical thinkers and problem solvers. Regarding graduate study, Dolan's Executive DBA, MBA and various specialized MS programs (e.g., AI and Analytics, FinTech) afford students opportunities to study advanced business topics and master quantitative skills. Thus, Dolan students are sought after for positions in public accounting, analytics, finance and investing, human resources, and marketing.

Personal and professional development opportunities tailored to complement one’s academic experiences. A rigorous academic curriculum is paramount for success; however, it is also important to develop one’s character for the business world. Workshops, seminars, lectures, and experiential activities ranging from field trips to mock interviews to co-op opportunities are some of the many resources available to further enhance students’ personal and professional capabilities.

Businesses are looking for informed, dynamic individuals who have the skills and confidence to be not only decision-makers but also “game changers!” If you are forward-thinking, highly motivated and open to challenges, then an education from the Dolan School of Business is definitely for you. I look forward to welcoming you to our community.

Zhan Li, DBA
Dean, Dolan School of Business

School Overview

The Dolan School of Business was established in 1978, having been a Department of Business Administration within the College of Arts and Sciences. In 1981, in response to a stated need by the Fairfield County business community, the School began its master of science in financial management program. The certificate for advanced study in finance was initiated in 1984. In 1994, in response to unprecedented market demand, the School introduced the Master of Business Administration program that now has concentrations in accounting, AI, analytics, cybersecurity, economics, finance, financial technology, management, and marketing. Also offered are Master of Science degrees in accounting, AI and business analytics, finance, financial technology, management, and marketing analytics and strategy. Starting Fall 2023, the Dolan School introduced its first doctorate degree, the Executive Doctorate of Business Administration, a practice-focused program designed for experienced professionals.

The School received full accreditation of its graduate and undergraduate programs by AACSB International (the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) on March 6, 1997. In 2000, the School's advancement was recognized further by a generous $25 million gift from Charles F. Dolan, founder and chairman of Cablevision Systems Corp. and a long-time friend and trustee of the University, for whom the School is now named.

The School is housed in a state-of-the-art, 85,000 square foot building with 36 classrooms, 10 new innovative labs and centers, and technology-enabled learning spaces throughout. The building has a 300-person event hall and meeting areas for student activities and unrivaled offices for faculty and staff. The facility, which opened in 2019, makes the School's building and facilities among the best in the nation and reflects the continual development and unlimited potential of the Dolan School of Business.

Mission Statement

We are committed to the Jesuit tradition of educating the "whole" person to be a socially responsible professional who has career-ready competencies and is prepared to serve others. We provide an environment that facilitates outstanding faculty who balance their commitment to meaningful and relevant teaching, service, and intellectual contributions. We foster a learning community that engages diverse students through reflective dialog. We design innovative curricula and programs shaped by involvement with alumni, business leaders, and corporate partners, with a strong emphasis on experiential and applied learning. We emphasize the magis in all that we do: inspiring tomorrow's leaders through educational excellence.

In carrying out its mission, the School typically admits graduate students who have an average of one to two or more years of professional experience. Generally, the School admits graduate students with an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.00 accompanied by a GMAT score of at least 500¹ (GRE also accepted) or other evidence of academic readiness; GMAT or GRE requirements and waivers vary by program. Moreover, the School requires all students seeking admission to its graduate programs to demonstrate that they either have performed satisfactorily at the undergraduate level in prerequisite courses, or will take those courses at the University or elsewhere.²

In addition, the admission process requires complete, official transcripts of all undergraduate work, two recommendations, and a self-evaluation of work experience. A committee on graduate admissions reviews the applications and selects those who will be accepted to the program.

The School offers online, in-person, and hybrid programs to serve the needs of part-time and full-time graduate students from the regional business community as well as the national and global professional community. Class sizes are small, 20 to 25 students on average, with an emphasis on close interaction between the individual and the faculty member. The School is dedicated to the use of the latest classroom teaching technologies and it has a balanced emphasis between individual assignments and group work in a variety of different classroom formats, such as lectures, case work, experiential exercises, business projects, and research papers.

The School designs individual programs of study for students, enabling them to meet their educational goals and professional objectives. These program designs are completed upon matriculation, and each semester students may update or amend their plans in consultation with the respective Graduate Program Director.

The School's faculty members have extensive professional business experience to accompany their strong academic preparation, which includes earned doctorates and, in nearly every case, previous academic work in the liberal arts and sciences, scholarly contributions and ongoing research interests, and continuing professional involvement in their chosen areas of expertise. Faculty engage in applied research, industry collaboration, and innovative pedagogy, including the responsible use of emerging technologies. Their dedication to teaching excellence and their strong business and academic backgrounds give them a unique ability to bridge the gap between theory and practice.

¹

GMAT/GRE requirements and waivers vary by program. Please direct questions to the Senior Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs to learn more.  

²

Prerequisite requirements specific to each program are included in the Dolan School of Business' Admission section in this catalog. 

Vision Statement

Dolan develops innovative, principled, and globally-minded business leaders for a better world through transformative experiences of modern Jesuit Catholic education.