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Careers & Alumni
The curriculum at the School of Business, Cal Poly Humboldt, emphasizes practical skills and a holistic understanding of business functions and prepares students for roles across industries. With a strong foundation in business principles and specialized concentrations in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Marketing, Management, and entrepreneurship, our graduates can pursue roles including accountant, financial analyst, marketing coordinator, and business manager.
Among these, roles such as accountants and auditors allow professionals to manage and examine financial records. Budget analysts help organizations plan their finances, a critical function for both public and private entities. For those interested in risk management, careers like claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators offer opportunities to evaluate insurance claims and ensure proper compensation.
The field of financial services also provides robust career paths. Financial analysts guide businesses and individuals in making profitable investment decisions, while credit counselors and personal financial advisors help clients navigate debt management and financial planning. Additionally, financial examiners ensure institutions comply with monetary laws. Those drawn to strategic business decisions can pursue roles as management analysts, focusing on improving organizational efficiency, or as project management specialists, overseeing complex initiatives.
Graduates with an interest in human resources or employee relations can explore opportunities as human resources specialists, handling recruitment and benefits, or as training and development specialists, focusing on improving workforce skills. Careers in market research analysis and fundraising allow graduates to blend analytical skills with creative problem-solving to drive business growth and community engagement.
Related Job Titles
According to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment in business and financial occupations is projected to experience above-average employment growth from 2023 to 2033. Learn more about these occupations.
- Accountants and auditors
- Budget Analysts
- Cost Estimators
- Financial Analysts
- Financial Examiners
- Fundraisers
- Human Resources Specialists
- Loan Officers
- Management Analysts
- Market Research Analysts
- Personal Financial Advisors
- Project Management Specialists
- Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents
- Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents
Marketable Skills In Your Major
Management/Leadership
Communication
Negotiation
Team building
Marketing
Creativity/problem solving
Creating/editing projects
Influencing others
Accounting/Finance
Attention to detail
Computer and software proficiency
Organizational skills
Critical Thinking Skills
Gathering information
Conducting research
Analyzing quantitative data
Alumni Updates
Kate McPike
Business Administration, 1971
Kate McPike, 1971 Business, has lived all over California, Long Island, New Orleans, Chicago, and Houston. Now, she has finally retired to Ahwatukee (Phoenix), Arizona. She started a pet sitting business in 2016 called K8's Pet Care. She loves what she does and loves being her own boss. Prior to retirement she was a district operations manager for Weight Watchers International and ended her career in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. as a strategic planning and training manager for the CA Credit Union League, a trade association for credit unions in California. Happily divorced and happy to be retired with her own business!
Peter Cowper
Business Administration, 1971
Peter Cowper, 1971 Business, has served as a member of the board of directors of the Sequoia Riverlands Trust since 2013. The trust is a regional nonprofit land trust accredited by the Land Trust Alliance, which is dedicated to strengthening California's heartland and the natural and agricultural legacy of the southern Sierra Nevada and San Joaquin Valley.
Kay Sinclair
Business Administration, 1983
Kay Sinclair, 1983, Master’s of Business Administration, recently left a 30-plus-year career as an IT manager with General Electric/Martin Marietta/Lockheed Martin, in Utica, NY. She has been teaching IT related management courses at State University of New York Polytechnic Institute as an adjunct professor, while also continuing her nonprofit work in the community. Sinclair is currently the president of the board at the Women’s Employment and Resource Center. She is also involved in STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Art and Math) activities in the area, including co-teaching summer workshops for middle school students such as 3D Daze for Girls and Nanotechnology. This April, Kay was delighted to receive the Unsung Heroine Award from the Young Women's Christian Association of the Mohawk Valley at its annual Salute to Outstanding Women luncheon. The Unsung Heroine award honors “an individual who works continuously and tirelessly behind the scenes, goes the extra mile with little thanks, or has made an outstanding contribution.”
Carol Taylor
Business AdministrationMinor - Single Subject Teacher Prep, 1993
Carol Taylor, 1993 Business & Teaching Credential, is currently Vice President of the Sonoma Valley Democrats, Vice Chair in the Senior Caucus of the California Democratic Party, a member of the Sonoma County Public Authority Advisory Board, and a former Ethics Officer for the Homecare Division of the Service Employees International Union for United Health Care Workers. Taylor was able to use her experience in accounting to help bargaining teams in Sonoma and Marin counties raise the wages of thousands of in-home support service providers.
Wayne F Hess
Business AdministrationAccounting Concentration, 1964
Wayne F. Hess, 1964 Business Administration, spent a number of years as a forensic accountant after retiring as founder of a Portland-area certified public accountancy firm. Currently Hess is the president of the La Pedrera School Project, a registered public charity for the benefit of indigenous students in the western highlands of Guatemala. To date, over 30 students have graduated from high school and one from university, while just 20 years ago it was rare for a student to advance beyond fourth grade. Hess also works with Casa Xelaju, a Spanish Language school in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, to arrange home-stays with indigenous families while attending classes.
Thomas A. Dorst
Business AdministrationFinance, 1984
Graduated with honors: Most Outstanding Finance and Economics Student, Class of 1984. I have been working at the same company the past 26 years after getting my MBA from San Jose State University with honors (Beta Gamma Sigma). I am currently the Deputy Director of Business Management responsible for Operations Finance, Program Planning & Financial Control, Estimating & Pricing, Rates & Budgets, Compliance and Archives.
earl e miller
Business Administration, 1970
Graduated 107- with a BA in Business Education. Earned teaching credential in 1971 at Humboldt. Retired in 2008 from the Chaffey School Dist.(Ontario,Ca) after 36 years as teacher, coach, counselor, and assistant principal. Married Anita in 1974, two children Andrea and Zack. In 2011 with Gary Tuttle(69), Vince Engle(70(, Pete Pedroza(71), and Bill Scobey(72) started the Jim and JoAnne Hunt Scholarship Funds for track and cross country athletes. Raised $5000 last year, hoping to raise $6000 this year. Like to help? contact me through the Alumni Association web site. Humblodt was a great place help us help some others enjoy the experience.
Kenneth James Townsend
Business AdministrationAccounting, 1967
Now retired after 30+ years of Federal service with the US Govermental Accountability Office, US Bureau of Reclamation, the Department of Energy and US Army Vietnam veteran. Have enjoyed world wide travels with my wife of 47 years Emilie (Britvec) Townsend (66). Will always treasure our years at HSU where we met and married.
Kathy McPike
Business Administration, 1971
I'm the Strategic Planning/Training Manager for the CA/NV Credit Union League (a trade association for credit unions in CA and NV). I moved back to CA nine years ago after 12 years in New Orleans. I plan to retire in New Orleans within the next two years.
Carol Taylor
Business Administrationwith Acct'g. Emphasis, Minor Single Subject Teacher Prep, 1993
Am running for one of three Ethical Advisor to the Executive Board positions for the SEIU United Healthcare Workers Union (165,000 members). Let you know if I win the election!