San Jose State University

College of Business - 75 Years of History

  • 1928 Commerce (the word-of-the-era for Business) Department at San Jose State Teachers College was formed — employing four full-time faculty, with a first graduating class numbering two.
  • 1935 name changed to San Jose State College
  • 1940ish the establishment of the Outstanding Business Awards and Distinguished Businessman Seminar. Alpha Al Sirat Award presented to the outstanding students receiving a Bachelor’s degree with a Business Major.
  • 1949 Masters Degree in Business Education
  • 1965 title changed from Division of Business to School of Business
  • 1967 The American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business gave the School of Business their stamp of approval or accreditation. (AACSB)
  • 1969 and 1970 the School of Business building was erected at a construction cost of $4,337,090.
  • 1971 fall semester classes were scheduled in the new School of Business
  • 1971-72 the School of Business awarded 666 baccalaureate degrees 86 master’s degrees. The Fall of 1972 saw 3,087 students enrolled in the School of Business.
  • 1978 20th Annual Achievement Banquet
  • 1986 College of Business Alumni Association established it’s own office in the Business Tower.
  • 1988 School of Business and Apple Computer form a unique Off campus MBA program.
  • 1991 The School of Business is now the College of Business.
  • 1994 New College Mission Statement: Institution of opportunity * Innovative Business Education * Applied Research* Silicon Valley Region
  • 1997 College of Business Classroom renovation project and Capital Campaign begun.
  • 1997 Implementation of an off-campus Corporate undergraduate degree program benefits HP and National Semi
  • 1999 January, Ground breaking for the Business Classroom Building.
  • State and Private funds raised a total of $16 million for the classroom renovate project
  • September 1999 the College of Business Graduate Programs occupied their new 13,488 sq. ft. off-site location at 180 Rose Orchard Way, San Jose to house all off campus graduate courses.
  • 2000 Spring semester classes will be held in the new state of the art facility.
  • 2000 Korean E-Business Commercialization Institute established in the college of Business
  • 2001 over 3,200 full-time students in the College of Business
  • 2002 fall, 1,750 students graduated from the College of Business
  • Today there are between 25,000 and 30,000 SJSU College of Business graduates working in the valley.
  • 2002 Silicon Valley Center for Entrepreneurship (SVCE) established
  • 2003 SJSU College of Business selected to lead Northern California Small Business Development Centers.