Despite the ubiquity of the MBA degree, no two business schools are the same. Some offer both an undergraduate education and graduate degrees, while others focus entirely on graduate-level programs. Some business schools take a more general approach to business education while others are more interested in helping you specialize your career path and skill set.
Where does the College of Business at California State University, Chico fall on this spectrum? Read on to learn what business school is like at Chico State for both on-campus and online students, from class sizes and faculty engagement to career opportunities and educational technology tools.
What is the College of Business like?
The College of Business at Chico State prides itself on offering a top-quality business education to all students. Proudly AACSB accredited since 1972, the College of Business is committed to academic rigor, innovation, and constant improvement. In alignment with the University's motto of "Today Decides Tomorrow," the College of Business prepares students for success in dynamic organizations and high-demand roles at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Education for on-campus students at the College of Business emphasizes hands-on, applied projects in all three degree programs the college offers: a BS in Business Administration, a BS in Business Information Systems, and an MBA. This ethos has informed the development of Chico State's new Online MBA program: Practical group work remains a key element of the instruction in this program, and all online students have the opportunity to work with a team coach who helps coordinate group assignments and sharpen collaboration skills in the digital setting.
How can the Chico State business faculty help me?
Faculty at the College of Business come from a variety of personal and professional backgrounds and proudly maintain a diversity of academic and nonacademic interests. They are experienced educators who fully buy into Chico State's teaching-forward vision of business education, and each is committed to investing time and personal attention in their undergraduate and graduate students.
Even in the Online MBA program, the Chico State business faculty goes the extra mile to ensure their students receive the personalized attention for which the College of Business is known. Every faculty member who teaches in the Online MBA program holds virtual office hours and optional live classes for each of their courses, and all of them are certified through the California State University system's Quality Learning and Teaching program.
What do you learn in the Online MBA program at Chico State?
Chico State's Online MBA program offers the flexibility to provide a meaningful boost at any point in your career and toward any professional goals. Its curriculum features a general path that builds skills and knowledge across subject areas essential for all business roles as well as two specialization paths. If students choose to specialize in either Enterprise Information Systems or Project Management, their coursework can prepare them to take some of the most prominent professional certification exams in their field.
The Online MBA curriculum integrates immediately applicable real-world skills in a uniquely impactful way. The curriculum features novel courses called FAST (Focused. Applied. Strategic Training) electives, each of which is three weeks long and focuses on practical skills that all successful professionals can and should know. Training in Excel, Salesforce/CRM, SAP, and business communication, especially when delivered effectively over such a short time frame, can have both an immediate impact on your job performance and long-term positive implications for your career.
What is the career outlook like for Chico State MBA graduates?
Quite promising! Chico State is committed to supporting the career journey of all MBA students well after graduation. A full suite of career development resources is available to on-campus and Online MBA students while they're in the program and to all alumni after graduation. Recent MBA graduates have been placed at Chevron (IT Business Analyst), Workday (Business Consultant), Build.com (Manager), Target (Executive Team Lead), KPMG (Consultant), Accenture (SAP Analyst), Lenovo (Supply Chain Manager), and more.
And students who choose one of the optional specializations offered in the Online MBA program have another advantage in their job search as well. The professional certification exams which Enterprise Information Systems and Project Management students can take upon completing their degrees are extremely valuable credentials that can lead to some of the most in-demand roles in contemporary business. Chico State students have a standout record of success on these exams: The pass rate for Project Management students taking the CAPM exam in 2018 was 100 percent.
Find Out How Powerful an Online MBA Can Be at Chico State
Chico State is proud to offer a new Online MBA program that upholds everything that has distinguished the College of Business for years: an engaged and attentive faculty, real-world skills development, and AACSB-accredited degree programs at an affordable cost.
Learn more about the Online MBA program, and find out how the online student experience at Chico State has been designed to uphold the values and educational experience that make the College of Business stand out.