Vision Statement
To be nationally recognized for the transformational effect we have on the lives of our students and the communities we serve.
Located in one of the most vibrant and entrepreneurial business communities in the United States, the College of Business and Economics at Cal State Fullerton is the largest accredited business school on the West Coast, nationally recognized for accreditation in both its business and accounting programs.
Our college provides a world-class business education, offering graduate and undergraduate programs that integrate classroom education with best business practices, technology, award-winning research, functional applications and real-world experience. Our network of over 84,000 alumni and business partners are the driving force of Southern California business.
Dean's Welcome
A Message From Our Dean
Dr. Sridhar Sundaram
Dean
Dean's Bio
Dr. Sridhar Sundaram joined Cal State Fullerton in July of 2021 as Dean of the College of Business and Economics, the second largest business college in the nation. Dr. Sundaram's career in higher education spans more than 30 years, having most recently served as the Dean of the Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance at the University of South Florida. Dr. Sundaram has vast expertise in leadership, curriculum and new program development as well as community engagement and fundraising.
A Welcome From Dean Sundaram
It is truly my honor and privilege to serve as the Dean and lead the College of Business and Economics here at Cal State Fullerton. The College of Business and Economics (CBE) enters a new era as we enroll more than 11,000 students in Fall 2024, becoming the largest college by major at the University. With over 40% of our students coming from a Hispanic/Latino heritage and another 30% coming from an Asian heritage, we are one of the most diverse business schools in the country. A third of our students are also first in the family to attend college and over 40% are Pell Grant recipients. Cal State Fullerton is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as No. 6 in the nation for “social mobility,” a top performer among all national universities.
The College is anchored on three pillars: student success, thought leadership and community engagement.
Our academic mission is to “ change the lives of our students through student-focused education grounded in academic excellence and personal development. ” CBE academic programs embrace a philosophy of providing a foundational education with relevant curriculum in each discipline, offering experiential learning opportunities to apply this knowledge and a commitment to student professional development and personal growth. Both undergraduate and graduate programs adopt this framework and help our graduates become career ready and leaders in their organizations.
CBE faculty provide “thought leadership” by conducting cutting-edge research in all areas with significant impact on extant literature and the profession. They consistently publish in the top journals in the field and serve on many editorial boards of journals. Their research has been cited over 76,000 times (Google Scholar) in the past five years and highlighted in many national and regional media outlets. Our faculty also provide thought leadership to the region through applied research (research reports) and professional presentations (Fall and Spring Economic Forecasts) for various community stakeholders.
CBE's community mission is to create positive “Social Impact” and “Economic Impact” in the region through intentional engagement. The College of Business and Economics is the home to nearly 20 Centers and Programs of Excellence. They play a key role in the region's economic development and social impact through collaboration with community partners. The collective societal impact of these centers is significant and we are proud to serve the communities where we live. We also serve the region by providing needed talent, as 70% of our graduates remain in Orange County. With over 79,000 Business Titan alumni calling Southern California home, we are proud of the reach and impact they have in the region.
I invite you to engage with the College of Business and Economics as we build a lasting legacy in serving the needs of our students, businesses and the community with the level of excellence that has come to represent Cal State University Fullerton.
Dr. Sridhar (Sri) Sundaram
Dean, College of Business and Economics
Vision and Values
Our Core Principles
Academic Mission Statement
We provide student-focused education, grounded in academic excellence and personal development, that empowers our students to change their lives, the organizations they lead and the communities they serve.
Community Mission Statement
We positively impact organizations and communities through intentional engagement.
Core Values
Inclusiveness
We create a culture of belonging and connectedness by respecting, celebrating and learning from our diverse backgrounds.
Excellence
We continuously strive for the highest level of performance in our personal, professional and organizational endeavors.
Future-Focused
We are forward-thinking and approach future opportunities and challenges with an innovative mindset.
Professionalism
We hold ourselves to the highest standards of ethical conduct and behavior.
Impact
We intentionally connect and collaborate to create positive social and economic impact in the community.
Dean's Office Leadership
Meet the Team
The CSUF College of Business and Economics is led by a diverse, experienced and innovative leadership staff blending academic excellence and industry expertise. Read more about our deans, directors and assistants.
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Dean's Advisory Board
Industry Insight
The Dean's Advisory Board is a visionary leadership forum dedicated to making the College of Business and Economics the premier business school in Southern California. Through its guidance, this board ensures that the college's curriculum, programs and activities relate to the most current business trends the corporate community faces in this new era of unprecedented risk, change and opportunity. Board members bring diverse experiences, backgrounds and industry knowledge to bear in ensuring that the business college best educates the professionals of the future.
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Mihaylo Hall
A Spectacular New Era
From the chairs to the stairs, every detail within Steven G. Mihaylo Hall is the result of an all-encompassing collaboration. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, administrators, architects, contractors and friends of the college all weighed in on creating a world-class home for Cal State Fullerton's College of Business and Economics.
“The very social process of exchanging ideas for this building was something I really enjoyed,” says Ernest Cirangle, AIA, the design director for the project for HOK architecture firm in Los Angeles. “The ideas that came out of this collaboration were really productive.”
Four years from start to finish, the three buildings that make up Mihaylo Hall stand as a flagship at the front of the campus at the intersection of Folino Drive and Nutwood Avenue. This theme of “intersections” was an intentional element throughout the design, says Cirangle. “The building has two characters. First, it has a more business-like appearance and generous entrance on the public side toward the street. Second, toward the campus side, it has a university scale and several avenues and crossroads where students can walk from different corners of the campus straight through this complex of buildings. People are encouraged to interact with each other and exchange ideas. We organized the building to facilitate that.”
The first step into the building's Grand Foyer is impressive, and Michael Smith calls it the heart of Mihaylo Hall. “It is the cornerstone in making this building not only unique but pleasurable. It's not like anything else on campus,” says Smith, director of the Office of Design and Construction for Cal State Fullerton. “It's the great meeting space to collaborate in.”
Mihaylo Hall is also a showcase of cutting-edge technology—from teaching tools to office furnishings. With an eye toward society's priorities in the future, the hall was also built with strong environmental considerations—from the use of renewable building materials to maximum exposure to natural light. “We integrated sustainability from day one, because the modern expectation is to do buildings differently,” says Smith. “It's no longer just putting up brick and mortar. The building is energy efficient and built with a socially responsible design.”
With the dedication of Turner Construction Company—the project's contractors, who donated both time and materials for various portions—HOK architects, Dean Puri and his team, and the Office of Design and Construction, this four-year, $89 million project arrived on schedule for the start of the fall 2008 semester and functions as a true home to all of the people who learn, teach and work within the spectacular structure. “It is a really interesting intersection of both a business building and a hall of education,” says Cirangle. “We saw the merging of these two worlds—business and education—and knew we could make a good impact.”
Accreditation
Why Choose an AACSB-Accredited Business School?
“It takes a great deal of commitment and determination to earn and maintain AACSB Business and Accounting Accreditation,” said Robert D. Reid, executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB International. “Business schools must not only meet specific standards of excellence, but their deans, faculty and professional staff must make a commitment to ongoing continuous improvement to ensure that the institution will continue to deliver the highest quality of education to students.”
View our Accreditation Report — Business (PDF).
View our Accreditation Report — Accounting (PDF).
Visit the AACSB website .