#1. Business Administration

CSU’s Business major is a robust program with 11 concentrations that can add focus and and specialization to your academic journey. 

If you are hoping to land a leadership-focused career someday, you may want to look into concentrations like Human Resource Management, Management and Innovation, and Supply Chain Management. However, if you find interest in another area, such as marketing or real estate, many of the other Business major concentrations can translate into leadership careers. 

While you find your business niche, you’ll have an option to minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, designed for students who may see themselves running a startup or being a consultant or freelancer. This kind of program can be especially helpful in preparing you for the unexpected details that come with a career outside of the corporate world.

Leadership-focused careers that you can get with a CSU Business degree:

• Employee Relations Manager
• Health and Safety Manager
• Client Services Manager
• Operations, Production, or Project Manager
• Marketing Manager
• Creative Director
• Account/Client Manager
• Supply Manager

#2. Communication Studies

When you’re interested in a leadership career path that can go almost anywhere, the Communication Studies major might be for you. The degree gives you a broad foundational knowledge base in everything from verbal and written communication to critical thinking, problem solving, global understanding, inclusive teamwork, creativity, and digital proficiency — all skills inherently necessary to be a capable, successful leader in any field. 

Beyond that, you can choose to specialize in a focus area within the major, such as Relational and Organizational Management, Rhetoric and Civic Engagement, or Film and Media Studies, allowing you to further explore your interests and find a niche within the program. 

Leadership-focused careers that you can get with a CSU Communication Studies degree include:

• Employee Relations Specialist 
• Human Resources Consultant 
• Public Relations Specialist 
• Foreign Service Officer 
• Politician or Lobbyist 
• Speechwriter 
• Literary Agent 
• Scriptwriter 

#3. Hospitality and Event Management

If you find yourself flourishing in a resort setting, in the hustle-and-bustle vibe of a restaurant or event center, and love experiencing the magic of an amazing, multi-tiered production of a big event, the Hospitality and Event Management major could be the perfect fit for your leadership career dreams.

The program focuses on helping you develop critical-thinking skills through hands-on events and productions both in and outside of the classroom. You’ll take courses to learn about culinary arts and food service, lodging, event planning, nutrition, and business to build skills for a variety of professions. You’ll have internship experiences and participate in events throughout the community to get a real feel for the variety of work, and have chances to run the show on team projects and other events as you learn and grow.

Some leadership-focused career paths you can expect to land with Hospitality and Event Management include:

• Event Planning Manager 
• Hotel Manager 
• Restaurant Manager
• Tourism Coordinator 
• Wedding Planner 
• Conference Coordinator
• Health Inspector
• Food Importer
• Club Manager 

#4. Agricultural Business

If you know you want to land a career as a leader, but have interests that lean more toward the farm-and-ranch industry, you’ll be happy to hear that, yes, there’s a major for that! CSU’s Agricultural Business major teaches you the operating techniques and business skills used in the modern food-and-fiber industry. You’ll get a solid foundational education in agriculture, along with the skills needed to manage small- and medium-sized businesses in agriculture and similar industries.

Within the major, you’ll have opportunities to hone your academic focus with a selection of three concentration areas: Agricultural Economics, Farm and Ranch Management, and Food Systems — all with robust educational components that can lead to leadership roles. 

In addition to the major’s many opportunities for leadership learning, you can further your resume by adding the Food Industry Management Interdisciplinary minor, which can give you an edge both in business skills and food products marketing, food supply chain and cost management, food safety management, and food law and policy.

Some leadership-focused career paths you’ll find within CSU’s Agricultural Business degree include:

• Farm or Ranch Owner/Manager 
• Farm Machinery Sales Manager
• Agricultural Operations Manager
• Feedlot Manager 
• Landscape Contractor
• Crop Insurance Agent 
• Chemical Sales Manager