Cox School of Business

Cox School of Business
Name	Cox School of Business
Established	1920
Type	Private business school
Parent	Southern Methodist University
Dean	Matthew B. Myers
City	University Park
State	Texas
Country	United States
Website	www.cox.smu.edu

Cox School of Business is the business school of Southern Methodist University in University Park, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. Founded in 1920, it offers a comprehensive range of programs including undergraduate, Master of Business Administration (MBA), Executive MBA, and specialized master's and doctoral degrees. The school is named for benefactor Edwin L. Cox and is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

History

The school's origins trace to the 1920 establishment of a Department of Commerce within Southern Methodist University. It evolved into the School of Business Administration in 1941, reflecting the growing importance of business education in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. A transformative gift from Dallas oil executive and philanthropist Edwin L. Cox in 1978 led to its renaming. Under the long tenure of Dean Al Niemi, the school significantly expanded its programs, faculty, and physical footprint, enhancing its integration with the dynamic business community of North Texas. Key milestones include the launch of its Executive MBA program and the establishment of several endowed academic centers focused on areas like entrepreneurship and real estate.

Academics

The school provides a portfolio of degree programs including a Bachelor of Business Administration, a full-time, professional, and executive Master of Business Administration, and specialized master's degrees in fields such as accounting, finance, and business analytics. It also offers a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program. The curriculum emphasizes leadership development, experiential learning, and global awareness, with students participating in consulting projects with firms like Texas Instruments and American Airlines. Faculty research contributes to disciplines including financial economics, organizational behavior, and marketing strategy. The school is home to several research centers, including the Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship and the Folsom Institute for Real Estate.

Campus and facilities

The school's primary facility is the **James M. Collins Executive Education Center**, a modern complex located on the main campus of Southern Methodist University. The building houses technologically advanced classrooms, the **Business Leadership Center**, team study rooms, and the **Martha and Max Belsterling Behavioral Lab**. The adjacent **Fincher Building** contains additional faculty offices and administrative spaces. The campus provides students with direct access to the resources of the Bridwell Library and the George W. Bush Presidential Center, which is located on university grounds.

Student life and organizations

Student life is characterized by a strong cohort model and over 30 professional and social organizations. These include chapters of national honor societies like Beta Gamma Sigma, functional clubs such as the **Finance Club** and **Marketing Club**, and the **Graduate Business Women's Association**. The **Business Leadership Center** offers extensive co-curricular programming, including workshops and speaker series featuring executives from corporations like Deloitte and ExxonMobil. Students also compete in national case competitions, such as the **National MBA Human Capital Case Competition**, and participate in global immersion trips to destinations like Shanghai and São Paulo.

Rankings and reputation

The school is consistently ranked among the top business schools in the United States by publications including *U.S. News & World Report*, *Bloomberg Businessweek*, and *The Economist*. Its Executive MBA program and specialized master's programs in fields like **accounting** and **real estate** frequently receive high marks. The school is recognized for strong career outcomes, with graduates securing positions at leading firms in **investment banking**, **management consulting**, and **technology**. Its reputation is bolstered by an active and influential alumni network primarily based in the **Southwestern United States**.

Notable alumni

The school's alumni hold leadership positions across diverse industries globally. In business, notable graduates include **Bradley A. Perkins** (former Vice Chairman of Bank of America), **R. Gerald Turner** (President of Southern Methodist University), and **Ruth Sharp Altshuler** (prominent philanthropist). In the arts and media, alumnus **John R. Cash** (former President of Fox Broadcasting Company) is a distinguished graduate. Other prominent alumni include **Randy Best** (entrepreneur and founder of Academic Partnerships) and **Gerald J. Ford** (founding partner of Flexpoint Ford).

Category:Business schools in Texas Category:Southern Methodist University Category:Educational institutions established in 1920 Category:University Park, Texas