SDSU to Launch Human Resources and Entrepreneurship Undergraduate Degree Programs in Fall 2008

Contact: Suzanne Finch, Chief Communications Officer
SDSU College of Business Administration
(619) 594-0206 sfinch@mail.sdsu.edu

SAN DIEGO (May 7, 2008) – The College of Business Administration at San Diego State University (SDSU) announced today that the college would offer entrepreneurship and human resources specializations to undergraduate students pursuing management degrees starting in the fall semester, 2008.

While the university’s entrepreneurship graduate program has long been nationally ranked, SDSU will be the only traditional university in the region to offer entrepreneurship and human resources as specializations to undergraduates. The addition of the two new specializations was created primarily to fill a need for individuals with these specific skill sets within the San Diego region.

“We founded this program to fulfill a business need for individuals with an entrepreneurial mindset. People who can recognize opportunities and react appropriately to them during the start-up phase are critical to the success of young organizations,” said Dr. Alex DeNoble, incoming SDSU management department chairman. DeNoble will head up the entrepreneurship specialization, which will include courses in creativity and innovation, family business management and franchise management.

The human resources (HR) specialization evolved from a lack of skilled HR managers within the local business community, explained Dr. Michelle Dean. Dean, who will be in charge of organizing the HR specialization said “College graduates from this area tend to stay in San Diego and this creates a valuable resource for the business community to draw on workers with skills in labor relations, diversity issues, compensation and employment law knowledge. It is these areas and more which the program at SDSU will be specifically addressing to the benefit of our students and San Diego employers.”

Both specializations require that students complete an internship at local businesses in order to earn their diplomas.