College of Business

Preparing Transformational Responsible Business Leaders

Located in California’s lush Central Coast, the College of Business is a leader in business education. At CSUMB, our students learn to develop and transform businesses and nonprofits into modern community-focused organizations, achieving financial success while caring for human and environmental resources in an ethical and equitable manner.

The College of Business is focused on student success, academic excellence, transformational innovation, community responsibility and societal impact. With our unique emphasis on Responsible Business, we're preparing tomorrow's business leaders to make a positive impact on their local communities and around the globe.

Why Our College Stands Out

Our small class sizes allow students to connect one-on-one with their professors, who are deeply invested in the success of their students. Capstone projects provide hands-on experience in collaborating with teammates to create professional presentations, and all of our students gain real-world experience through individualized internships.

These advantages, combined with abundant networking opportunities and career readiness resources offered through our Career Access Programs, ensure College of Business students are top candidates for full-time positions with employers in a variety of industries in the Monterey Bay region and beyond.

Responsible Business is the Prime Objective

What is Responsible Business?

A diagram for the college of business that shows aspects of Responsible Business

CSUMB's College of Business is the only one of its kind in the world to teach Responsible Business and the Quintuple Bottom Line (QBL) as core concepts. The QBL goes beyond the traditional triple bottom line of profit, people and planet by incorporating ethics and equity into business practices and everyday decision-making.

The College of Business is a United Nations PRME Signatory

According to the United Nations-supported initiative, Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) “aims to raise the profile of sustainability in (business) classrooms through Six Principles focused on serving society and safeguarding our planet. As a voluntary initiative with over 800 signatories worldwide, PRME has become the largest organized relationship between the United Nations and management-related higher education institutions.”

Selected Program Highlights

Discover our business programs designed to shape leaders in responsible business practices. Explore our programs, from undergraduate to graduate levels, and start your journey to responsible business!

Sustainable Hospitality & Tourism Management

The College of Business’ Sustainable Hospitality & Tourism Management program provides students with a chance to put learning into “service with the heart,” as Carson Meachim describes it. With the longest (and arguably the most stunning!) coastline of any California county, Monterey attracts more than 3 million visitors annually.

Four students around their personal computers

iiED

Housed within the College of Business, The Institute for Innovation and Economic Development (iiED) plays a pivotal role in bolstering the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem, with a particular emphasis on providing essential support to underserved communities spanning Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties.

College of Business students listening at class

Support the College of Business

Give young entrepreneurs a leg up by giving responsibly to one of the College of Business’ support programs. Your gift enables enterprising students to take on the corporate responsibility challenges of today and tomorrow.

Pay it forward: give today

College of Business News

From Cerritos to NASA: How an MBA Opened New Doors for Rudy Ruano

Rudy Ruano’s career took flight when he enrolled in the online MBA program at Cal State Monterey Bay. His story highlights how real-world learning and strong faculty support can open unexpected doors. Read more.

April 3, 2025

Alumna Lina Melchor Returns to Lead Pebble Beach Scholars Program

Hospitality grad comes full circle to mentor future industry leaders. Read more.

April 2, 2025

CSUMB Launches Responsible Business Innovation Lab to Drive Ethical and Sustainable Business Practices

CSU Monterey Bay’s College of Business has launched the Responsible Business Innovation Lab (RBIL) to support research, education, and collaboration rooted in the Quintuple Bottom Line of Responsible Business: People, Planet, Profit, Ethics, and Equity. Led by Executive Champion Kelly O’Brien, the RBIL supports research, education, and collaboration rooted in the Quintuple Bottom Line: People, Planet, Profit, Ethics, and Equity. Learn more.

March 31, 2025

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