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Craig School of Business

We are The Craig School of Business

The Craig School of Business has come a long way since 1928 when it was established as the Department of Commerce. Today, the Craig School is proud to be recognized for its excellence, taking pride in offering students a wide array of transformative educational and networking opportunities. We are recognized for offering a high-quality, cost-effective education.

The Craig School of Business is the first CSU business school to receive a naming endowment, a $10 million pledge from Sid and Jenny Craig. Sid Craig, an alumnus of the business school, was a successful entrepreneur, even as a student. Endowments elevate the business program to new heights, with four endowed chairs, scholarships for incoming and continuing students, an Honors Program and financial support for faculty research. Empowering future business leaders, the Craig School of Business helps young professionals embark on successful careers and provides opportunities for alumni to stay connected to their alma mater.

Mission

The Craig School of Business educates and inspires a diverse student body and supports sustainable, inclusive economic development in Central California and beyond.

Vision

To lead in transformative business education that elevates societal well-being.

Values

I =  Inclusive community

L = Leadership with integrity

E = Equity and justice

A = Applied experiences

D = Diversity of perspectives

Goals

A. The Craig School offers comprehensive business and economics curricula that integrate fundamentals with engaging experiences.

  • All Business Programs are accredited by AACSB International.
  • Faculty meet standards consistent with AACSB and include a significant number with diverse professional experiences.
  • Over 88% of CSB graduates report being employed within three months of completing their degrees.
  • Fresno State is one of fewer than 240 campuses that have earned the University Community Engagement Certification by the Carnegie Foundation.
  • Undergraduate business majors gain valuable experience through a variety of hands-on, applied programs, including:
    • A service-learning program allows over 800 students a year to experience the challenges of operating non-profit organizations.
    • An Internship Program provides over 250 students a year with valuable work experience.
    • The Lyles Center, home to several entrepreneurship programs, provides students experience starting and managing new business ventures.
    • The Student Investment Fund allows students to gain real investment experience by managing a fund of nearly $6.5 million using the specially created Trading Room for financial research.
    • The Gazarian Real Estate Center supports the option in Real Estate and Urban Land Economics, as well as research opportunities to faculty.
    • The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, allows students to file tax returns for community members in need. Students file about 1,000 returns and generate refunds of over $1.5 million annually.
    • Student chapters of national business associations and honors societies flourish at the CBS, including the American Marketing Association, Beta Alpha Psi (an honor organization for financial information), Omicron Delta Epsilon (an academic international honor society in economics), the International Business Association, and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
    • The MBA program provides students with team consulting as a culminating experience. 

B. The Craig School prepares students for emerging areas of business that require adaptability, fluency with technology, and global insight.

  • Team-based and applied projects in classes are designed to increase real-world experience and capacity for adaptability in today’s competitive global economy.
  • Current technology is fully integrated in several required classes, and an option in Computer Information Systems is available for students seeking careers in IT.
  • A significant number of faculty have expertise in statistics, computer programming, networking, cyber security, geographic information systems, business communication, database systems, expert systems, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and Website design.
  • CSB is a member of the SAP Academic Alliance. All business majors are exposed to enterprise resource planning (ERP) using SAP, and students may take an additional elective course devoted to ERP using SAP.
  • Sustained undergraduate and graduate International Business Programs, including Study Abroad, International Scholars, and One-On-One Exchange options provide a global perspective, an introduction to foreign languages and cultures, and an improved ability to function effectively in a globalized, interdependent world. Annually, CSB hosts over 70 international students and over 200 CSB students study abroad in places such as Barcelona, Sydney, and Hong Kong, among others.
  • CSB support is provided for students through travel grants to study abroad.
  • Several faculty are dedicated to adopting new technologies in the classroom by transforming traditional courses into tablet-based learning environments via the DISCOVERe program and by enhancing online course experiences through the eScholars’ program.
  • Sections of various core business courses, as well as certain courses within the MBA program, are offered completely online; many others are offered as blended learning.

  • The CSB is committed to intellectual pluralism and welcomes students, faculty, and staff from all ideological perspectives both within and across disciplines.

  • Fresno State is a minority serving institution and is recognized by the federal government as a Hispanic Serving Institution (48% University-wide compared to 42% in the CSB in Fall 2016).  CSB is also an Asian American/Native American/Pacific Islander Serving Institution (14% University-wide compared to 16% in the CSB in Fall 2016).

  • Approximately 55% of CSB undergraduates are male; 45% are female, and 61% of CSB graduate students are male; 39% are female.
  • Approximately 65% of CSB undergraduate students are first-generation college students.

  • In 2014 and 2015, Fresno State was nationally recognized with a Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award for demonstrating outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion and for embracing a broad definition of diversity on campus.

  • CSB contributes to the regional “brain gain,” as about 70% of graduates join the workforce of Central California.

  • Students and faculty perform applied research addressing real issues in the region. Such research is showcased in the MBA projects, the Central California Business Review (an annual publication by the CSB), and the economic and fiscal impact reports produced by the Department of Economics.

  • School administrators, faculty and staff are active members of the community through consulting, volunteering, and other activities.

  • Faculty are active participants in non-profit organizations (as members of boards or advisory committees) and in professional organizations (either as participants or in leadership positions).

  • CSB assists the business community in creating and attracting new business and investment.

  • Students and faculty enhance the quality of life of the community by participating in service-learning activities. Through the MKTG 100S course, CSB students provide 1,000 hours of service in applied marketing for non-profit entities each year. This CSB program is the largest service-learning program on campus.

  • Accounting students support the community through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

  • CSB facilitates the formation of networks and stimulates interaction among the professional community through the University Business Center, Gazarian Real Estate Center, Institute for Family Business, and the Lyles Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

Accreditation

AACSB LogoAACSB International (AACSB), a global nonprofit association, connects educators, students, and business to achieve a common goal: to create the next generation of great leaders.

Synonymous with the highest standards of excellence since 1916, AACSB provides quality assurance, business education intelligence, and learning and development services to over 1,700 member organizations and more than 900 accredited business schools worldwide, a distinction that is made to fewer than 5% of all business schools worldwide.

When educational, professional, and business organizations become members of the AACSB Business Education Alliance, they are part of a movement united to improve the quality of business education around the world. AACSB connects, shares, and inspires innovation and quality throughout the member network, as well as the business community. The collective strength of the organization is founded on diverse perspectives, a global mindset, and a commitment to making a difference.

AACSB’s mission is to foster engagement, accelerate innovation, and amplify impact in business education. The global organization has offices located in Tampa, Florida, USA; Amsterdam, the Netherlands; and Singapore.

Learn more about AACSB here! 

Fresno State is reviewed and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Additional information about WASC is included here.  Please see the Assessment of Learning site for information on our most current review.