Accreditation
Data, Research, and Publications
General Questions about AACSB International
Membership
Professional Resources
Student Resources

Accreditation

Q: I thought all accreditations were similar. What is special about AACSB International accreditation?

A: While most institutions of higher learning are accredited by a national or governmental degree-granting authority or agency, not all business schools have earned accreditation from AACSB International. In the field of business, AACSB is the largest and the longest standing specialized accrediting agency for business and accounting programs in the world. Earning AACSB accreditation is a voluntary process requiring significant commitment, self assessment, peer review and dedication from a schools administration and, it doesn't end there. Every five years, schools must pass a rigorous peer review in order to maintain their accreditation.

Q: How does AACSB accreditation ensure the production of top-quality graduates?

A: AACSB-accredited schools must: maintain a sufficient level of doctorally qualified faculty; demonstrate that all faculty are qualified and current in their fields of teaching; maintain a curriculum that provides high-caliber teaching of current and relevant business content; measure learning outcomes; cultivate meaningful interactions between students and faculty; and continuously strive for improvement.

Graduates from an AACSB-accredited institution come from business programs where the content and quality have been rigorously evaluated by a team of reviewers from peer institutions. This process determines that programs at AACSB-accredited schools are current and provide relevant knowledge and practices—resulting in graduates who are prepared for today's global business environment. For a complete explanation of the AACSB accreditation standards please visit the Standards Section of the AACSB Web site.

Q: Who are some of the schools accredited by AACSB?

A: Some of the worlds best known business schools, including The London Business School, INSEAD, University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, Yale University, Columbia University, EDHEC Business School, Warwick Business School, and University of Toronto are among the more than 596 business schools in over 37 countries accredited by AACSB. Click here for a complete list of accredited institutions: Accredited Institutions.

Q: What is the most important aspect of AACSB accreditation?

A: Continuous improvement and dedication to excellence. Schools that have achieved AACSB accreditation are required to evaluate their own performance, measure their effectiveness, and find ways to make improvements. A commitment to continuous improvement and excellence is AACSB's accreditation hallmark.

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Data, Research, and Publications

Q: I need data on trends in management education, where do I go?

A: Stay on top of the most recent trends and statistics in business education, review best practices of the worlds top business schools, and so much more with AACSB. From fact sheets or salary statistics, to benchmarking data or survey results, AACSB International continually gathers and publishes its findings through Detailed Reports while managing DataDirect, the largest repository of business school data in the world.

Q: Do you offer periodicals for those in the field of management education?

A: As an international advocate of quality management education, AACSB International continually publishes a variety of media to connect and inform the world of business schools. Read about the latest news or trends from top educators and business leaders through BizEd, our award winning management education magazine, or get association news, surveys and data reports, columns from b-school deans, and conference and seminar information electronically delivered to you via eNEWSLINE or eNEWSLINE Asia.

Q: Do you provide bench marking reports or best practices for management educators?

A: AACSB International is well-known as a thought leader in business education. By publishing various Reports and maintaining comprehensive Resource Centers throughout the year, the organization stays informed on issues important to its members. Additionally, AACSB assembles task forces as needed to research and report on emerging topics.

Q: Do you provide data or statistics on business schools?

A: To search for general information on business schools, AACSB offers a School Profile Search through DataDirect—the most comprehensive business education database in the world. Through this database, students, members of the media, and administrators can search on criteria such as basic institution characteristics, degrees/programs, mission, etc. In addition, AACSB members can upgrade their level of access and reporting measures to DataDirect through an annual subscription. This upgraded subscription provides users with the advanced capability of building custom comparisons and ad hoc reports, evaluating schools from around the world on detailed search criteria.

Potential students who wish to search only among AACSB-accredited schools, can visit: BestBizSchools.com to locate a business school that is right for them.

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General Questions about AACSB International

Q: Has AACSB International ever changed its name?

A: Yes, through the years AACSB has made changes to its name they are as follows:

1916: Association of Collegiate Schools of Business

1925: American Association of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

1967: American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

1997: AACSB: The International Association for Management Education

2001: AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
*Acknowledging that both business and business schools had become global enterprises, the Board of Directors decided to add International to the AACSB acronym to promote the organizations commitment to advancing excellence in business schools worldwide.

Q: When did AACSB move its headquarters?

A: Previously, AACSB International was headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, USA (1966-2004). After much consideration, AACSB International relocated its organizational headquarters to Tampa, Florida, USA in late 2004. The move was viewed as a continuing step in achieving the organizational mission of advancing excellence in business schools worldwide.

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Membership

Q: How old is AACSB International and how many members does it have?

A: Organized in 1916, as the premier accrediting agency for bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs in business administration and accounting, AACSB's founding members include Columbia University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, New York University, Northwestern University, The Ohio State University, Tulane University, University of California at Berkeley, The University of Chicago, University of Illinois, University of Nebraska, University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, The University of Texas, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Yale University. Currently AACSB International is the worlds largest accreditation association for business schools. With almost 1,200 members, in more than 78 countries, AACSB truly advances management education worldwide.

Q: What are the benefits of being a member of AACSB International?

A: Whether pursuing accreditation, or looking for ways to enhance your organizations commitment to its educational goals, AACSB membership allows you to join a group of like-minded institutions and professionals on the journey to quality management education. Members receive complimentary subscriptions to the award-wining BizEd magazine, access to benchmarking and custom reports, opportunities to build relationships through affinity groups, resources to support accreditation, discounts at professional development conferences and seminars, and much more. Contact memberservices@aacsb.edu for more information on becoming a member.
Learn more about AACSB International membership benefits.

Q: Does an institution have to pursue AACSB accreditation to maintain its membership?

A: While membership is a prerequisite for entering the AACSB accreditation process, members are not required to pursue accreditation. Membership is open to educational institutions, business organizations, foundations, professional associations, and non-profit organizations with strategic interests in shaping management education. Eligible educational institutions are collegiate institutions offering baccalaureate or graduate degree programs in business administration, management, or accounting. Membership does not confer AACSB accreditation and should not be interpreted as such.

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Professional Resources

Q: Do you offer special sessions or events for the management education field?

A: If you are seeking an intensive learning experience or a deeper understanding of a particular topic or issue, be sure to explore the learning opportunities available through AACSB Seminars. These hands-on, sharply focused training sessions are based around skill building activities, practical tools, information, and resources.

Additionally, our Conferences provide the opportunity for attendees to link with like-minded educators and business leaders from all over the world and gain a deeper understanding of the unique issues that shape today's business schools. Focused on topics such as sustainability, assessment, and faculty development, and featuring notable speakers and session leaders, conferences strengthen networks and enrich academic programs.

Q: I currently work in management education and would like to make a change. Where can I go to look for a new position?

A: AACSB International's connection to business school professionals worldwide makes it a centralized source for business education careers. Our online career center, BizSchoolJobs, offers a comprehensive, up-to-date resource for those who are searching for a position or who are looking to hire a new employee.

Q: I have my Ph.D. in the social sciences, but would like to teach within a business school. What should I do?

A: In 2007, AACSB endorsed several Post-Doctoral Bridge to Business Programs that prepare experienced and new doctoral faculty from academic disciplines outside of business for faculty positions in business academia.

By design, completing a Post-Doctoral Bridge to Business Program will enable non-business scholars to be more competitive when applying for faculty positions at AACSB-accredited business schools. AACSB's endorsement of these programs means program graduates hired by an AACSB school will receive the same initial qualification status as graduates of a business doctoral program.

While eligibility requirements vary somewhat for each participating program, all applicants must have received doctoral degrees from an institution recognized for graduating successful scholars in that discipline. This education must have been received outside of a business school. Where applicable, the program from which the applicant graduated should normally be recognized by the appropriate specialized accreditation agency for that field. In all cases, applicants must show excellent preparation for conducting scholarly research and teaching in a field related to the business discipline for which they are applying.

Q: I have worked in the business field for many years at the executive level and have considered a career in academia. What could I do?

A: AACSB International has developed a program to prepare high-level senior executives for a professionally-qualified faculty position within an AACSB-accredited business school. Partnered with the University of California, Irvine's Paul Merage School of Business and the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business, the AACSB Bridge Program will enable the transfer of professional experience into teaching excellence.

Attendees of the AACSB Bridge Program are pre-screened to ensure graduates meet general AACSB accreditation standards for professionally qualified faculty and have completed an intensive program to prepare them for an entry-level academic position. Specific determination of professionally qualified status is made by individual business schools consistent with their mission and policies.

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Student Resources

I would like to study in the field of business. Where should I go to school?

A: AACSB has developed a web site exclusively for prospective business students at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral level. Site visitors will find a variety of information on business degree programs and will be able to search among only AACSB-accredited business schools. Visit BestBizSchools.com to learn more about choosing a school, a concentration, preparing to attend, and other information related to the business school selection process.

Q: What do you know about business school rankings?

A: Generally, media rankings are conducted by the editorial staff of various newspapers and magazines. These rankings usually involve a combination of data collected from student alumni surveys, recruiter surveys, dean and director surveys, and schools. This data is then weighted to determine a system for ranking universities and programs. The key to using media rankings effectively is to know if what they measure is what is important to you in a business program.

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