Where Theory Meets Practice
The CEL offers seven challenging programs geared toward building your resume and your leadership skills. Each program earns class credit and is designed to help you develop business management consulting competencies, including project management, critical thinking, problem formulation, and leadership and communication skills.
Program Overview
The CELect St. Louis program is a consultative experiential course that provides students with the opportunity to work directly with start-up businesses in the St. Louis region. This course will match students from across WashU with an early-stage company. Students will work directly with the client over 7 weeks. The required kickoff sessions begin prior to the start of the regular semester on campus.
- Focus: Startup Strategic Consulting
- Eligibility: All WashU Grads & Undergrads
- Timing: Fall 2024 (Mini A) with required sessions August 21-23
- Credits: 3
- Application Based
The CELect London program is a consultative experiential course that provides students with the opportunity to work directly with London-based startups. Prior to the start of the fall semester, you’ll have the opportunity to visit the client’s location in London. Upon returning to campus, you’ll work on the project with your team and present your insights to the startup founder via Zoom on the Friday prior to fall break.
- Focus: Startup Strategic Consulting
- Eligibility: All WashU Grads & Undergrads
- Timing: Fall 2024 (Mini A) with class kickoff and client meetings in London August 17-21. Final presentations will be before the completion of Mini A.
- Credits: 3
- Application Based
The CFAR Finance Consulting program provides the opportunity for you to collaborate as a team with financial organizations and use a variety of analytic tools to solve complex and dynamic challenges organizations are facing.
- Focus: Finance & Accounting Consulting
- Eligibility: All Olin Grads (MBA & SMP)
- Timing: Fall & Spring Semester (14 Weeks)
- Credits: 3
- Application Based: No
Apply your analytical skills to solve the challenges of St. Louis-based startups in these two half-semester, team-based consulting projects.
- Focus: Marketing Driven Consulting
- Eligibility: All Olin Grads & Olin Undergrads (3rd & 4th yrs)
- Timing: Fall & Spring Semester (8 Weeks)
- Credits: 1.5
- Application Based: No
This unparalleled leadership experience provides Olin MBA, Professional MBA and dual degree students (law or social work) the opportunity to serve on the board of a local charitable organization for a calendar year. Vested with full voting rights as an official board member, you gain real-life practice in governance, nonprofit management, and community diplomacy and representation.
- Focus: Nonprofit Board Engagement
- Eligibility: FTMBA, PMBA, EMBA, Law Students, Brown Graduate Students
- Timing: Calendar Year (January – December)
- Credits: 1.5 (Spring), 1.5 (Fall), both required
- Application Based: Yes
The CEL Practicum is a consultative experiential course that provides students with the opportunity to work directly with established for-profit organizations at a regional, national, or international level. In this course, teams consisting of 4-6 students collaborate on strategic consulting projects aimed at providing actionable recommendations. Teams receive additional support from faculty advisors and CEL Scholars. This course is best suited for students who are ready for a growth opportunity to apply insights from coursework to real-world business problems. Team Leads receive a Bauer Leadership opportunity, Leadership in the Trenches, which provides the additional value of executive coaching throughout their team lead experience.
- Focus: Strategic Consulting
- Eligibility: WashU Grads, WashU Undergrads (3rd & 4th yrs)
- Timing: Fall & Spring Semester (14 weeks). Class meets together 5-6 times. Additional meetings with your team and client will be required throughout the semester.
- Credits: 3
- Application Based: Yes
Collaborate with St. Louis small businesses on semester-long consulting projects. Participants work in teams to address the company’s obstacles and make actionable recommendations that can immediately impact their bottom line.
- Focus: St. Louis Small Business Consulting
- Eligibility: All WashU Undergrads
- Timing: Fall & Spring Semester (14 weeks)
- Credits: 3
- Application Based: No
Work directly with a St. Louis-based nonprofit organization to create positive change for our local community. This team-based program has partnered with various institutions including the Boys & Girls Club of Greater St. Louis, the International Institute of St. Louis and the American Red Cross.
- Focus: St. Louis Nonprofit Consulting
- Eligibility: All WashU Grads & Undergrads
- Timing: Fall & Spring Semester (14 weeks)
- Credits: 3
- Application Based: No
Eligibility
| Undergraduate | Graduate | |
| CELect Application Based | Y | Y |
| CFAR | N | Y* Olin Grads |
| Marketing Metrics | Y* Olin Undergrads, 3rd, 4th Yrs | Y* Olin Grads |
| Olin/United Way Board Fellows Application Based | N | Y* MBA, PMBA, Law, Brown |
| Practicum Application Based | Y* 3rd, 4th Yrs | Y |
| Small Business Initiative | Y | N |
| Summer Practicum | N | Y* Olin SMP |
| Taylor Community Consulting Program | Y | Y |
Which CEL Program is right for me?
Unsure which CEL program best fits your interests and eligibility? Click the link below to answer a few questions and find out!