Overview

Welcome to the University of Santa Barbara (USB). The University of Santa Barbara operated under the Laws of the State of California as a private graduate school from 1973 to 2006. The University was founded to provide accessible, innovative education to adult learners through on-campus and off-campus, non-resident learning programs.

The University offered Master’s and Doctoral degree programs in Business and Education commensurate with the demands and requirements of the business and education worlds. Our resident and nonresident degree programs enabled students to earn the degrees they needed to advance their careers, consistent with quality education, without having to place their professional activities on hold.

Our faculty comprised practicing business professionals who possessed solid educational credentials and a strong desire to teach, and who were therefore able to provide a unique education that was immediately useful on the job.

Today’s fast-paced, complex society, along with the increasing demands and challenges in technological advances, created an unprecedented need for expert managers in all fields. To this end, the faculty and staff worked diligently to bridge the gap between the typical academic classroom experience and the day-to-day demands of business by:

• Preparing courses of study that students pursued courses in sequential order, using lessons prepared by the faculty. Students submitted written assignments for evaluation and comment, either by meeting with instructors on site or through telephonic and electronic communication.
  

• As courses proceeded from the less difficult to more difficult concepts, the faculty assessed student progress using the methods appropriate for each course. These included, but were not limited to, formal examinations, term papers, case studies, and major projects.

Over its 33-year history, the school graduated over 1,000 students, many of whom held, or went on to hold, prestigious positions in education and business. Present alumni and former faculty, staff, and board members alike are proud of the long-standing reputation of the school as an innovative leader in the fields of business and education.

Kenneth Stokes, Ph.D.
Former President & Executive Director

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Transcripts and Records

Student records are retained for five years, and transcripts for fifty years. Both are available by sending a written request to the administrative address in Santa Barbara, California (below). Transcripts will be released only after receipt of a signed, written request from the student.

Transcripts issued to the student will be marked “Issued to Student.” Students are allowed one transcript at no charge. A fee will be charged for each additional student transcript.

To request a duplicate or replacement copy of a transcript, submit a request in writing with payment of the applicable $10 fee. The request should include the following information:

1. Full name
2. Former name (if different)
3. Social Security number
4. Dates of attendance, or year of graduation
5. Type of document requested
6. Address(es) to which the documents are to be mailed
7. Signature

Please direct transcript requests to Dr. Kenneth Stokes in the Office of the Registrar at the following address:

University of Santa Barbara
380 Woodley Road
Santa Barbara, California 93108
USA
Phone: (805) 453-8637

Third-party transcripts from other institutions cannot be released to any individual or institution.

Please allow 10 to 14 business days for the processing of all requests.

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History and Background

The University of Santa Barbara was founded in 1973 by Dr. Lester Sands as Laurence University of California. Celeste King served as Chairman of the Board. In 1986, the name was changed to the University of Santa Barbara. In 1987 Robert Hawkins, M.D. became the Chairman of the Board and served until May 2003. At that time, Kenneth Stokes, Ph.D., then Vice Chairman, was chosen as the Chairman of the Board. Dr. Stokes served as the Chairman until 2006.

The University was a nonprofit corporation organized pursuant to the general Nonprofit Corporation Law of the State of California, and Division 21, Chapter 1, Section 29004 and Section 29005(b) of the Education Code of California. The University maintained a tax exempt status under Sections 501(c) 3 and 501(c) 7 of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States, or Section 23701 of the Revenue and Taxation Code of California.

PROGRAMS

The following educational programs were offered by the University of Santa Barbara:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree Program
• Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration (Ph.D.) Degree Program
• Master of Arts in Education (MA) Degree Program
• Doctor of Philosophy in Education (Ph.D.) Degree Program

The following were the objectives and expected learning outcomes for the graduates of University of Santa Barbara’s programs:

1. The Master of Business Administration Degree

This degree was offered to qualified students who planned to serve in a leadership role in business. The program emphasized Project Management as both an integral function within organizations as well as a discipline that has its own unique organizational structure. The program also focused on the integration of organizational activities, how various departments and functions work together in a concerted effort to optimize organizational output, and on the presentation of techniques for analysis, decision making, and effectiveness assessment in all areas a business manager handles on a daily basis.

2. The Master of Arts in Education Degree

This degree was offered to qualified students seeking to become involved in functional, multidisciplinary, or task-oriented structures. The Master of Arts program enabled a student to become a master practitioner in a particular area of emphasis selected from those offered. The program built upon the basic entry-level skills of teachers, administrators, and counselors to enhance their potential for contributing to the communities they serve.

3. The Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration Degree

This degree encompassed the theoretical concepts and practical applications for business practitioners. The program provided a portal to emerging events and activities in the global business environment and the implementation of new concepts and technologies. The program emphasized the role of senior management in the establishment and administration of policy and strategic plans as well as developing competence in conducting independent research involving business problems.

4. The Doctor of Philosophy in Education Degree

This degree encompassed the theoretical concepts and practical applications for education professionals. The program provided a portal to emerging events and activities in the field of education and the implementation of new concepts and technologies. The program emphasized the role of education management in the establishment and administration of policy and strategic plans as well as developing competence in conducting independent research involving education problems.

Additional Requirements for Ph.D. Programs

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees entailed research-oriented programs that required a minimum of three years of full-time postgraduate education or the equivalent in part-time study. The Doctor of Philosophy degree was awarded only to students who had completed a program of study that included research methodology and who demonstrated learning achievement through original research directly attributable to the student.

Programs leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree included substantial instruction in both theory and research at advanced levels in a designated field and specialty. Each educational program leading to a Doctor of Philosophy degree involved preparation for scholarship and systematic inquiry.

FACULTY

The academic strength of the University encompassed its ability to access academically rich resources through a wide and flexible network of faculty members. In this network were faculty members chosen from academics and professionals from diverse fields, with multinational exposure to teaching business and education-related courses and real-world work experience.

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS & ASSIGNMENTS

The University’s learning and study materials were designed for either on-site dissemination or self-directed independent study. Instructors provided continual guidance through frequent evaluation of the students’ mail-in or verbal answers.

Each course was divided into an appropriate number of segments, and consisted of textbook(s) accompanied by a comprehensive Study Guide written by experienced faculty. Study Guides provided clear directions for the learning assignments to be completed by the student.

STUDENT ASSESSMENT & GRADING

Students demonstrated subject mastery through written essays and other assignments after taking each course segment. The University evaluated each student’s educational progress through ongoing assessments of the student’s knowledge. Course assessments included, but were not limited to, formal examinations, term papers, case studies, and major projects.

The University awarded letter grades with corresponding grade points, if applicable, for most classes and distance learning courses. Theses and dissertations were graded Pass/No Pass by the Thesis or Dissertation Committee upon completion of the research, oral examination, and the filing of bindery-ready copies with the Registrar.

THE RESEARCH PROCESS

A Thesis Committee for master’s degree candidates or a Dissertation Committee for doctoral candidates was appointed to advise the student during the thesis or dissertation research process. The Committee Chair was available to advise the student on the development of the research, which included the design of the study, the collection and processing of data, the formal writing of the thesis or dissertation, and the scheduling of the final Oral Defense.

Criteria for approval of the thesis or dissertation were evidence of:

• A comprehensive review of the literature
• Employment of standard, statistical procedures in data-based studies
• Clear presentation of data collected
• A lucid elaboration of ideas advanced
• Originality
• A completed product in publishable form and quality

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