Shandon Mitchell, business and IT

Discovering new opportunities with Columbus State’s Honors Program

Shandon Mitchell almost didn’t go to Columbus State. He started at a four-year college in 2014, but had to leave after a problem with scholarships. Luckily, a spot was still open in Columbus State’s Honors Program. "At first, it seemed like the end of the world, but I'm glad I ended up at Columbus State," Mitchell says. "The Honors Program has helped me in ways I couldn't have imagined."

That program also led to an internship at COSI, which led to a job as a research assistant on a project to compare regional accents around Ohio. And if that wasn’t enough, Mitchell helped his brother and some friends start an apparel company while he was still a student as Columbus State. StarStrukt has a thriving online trade and maintains a storefront in Reynoldsburg.

After earning his associate degree, Mitchell transferred to Ohio State’s Fisher College of business, where he’s decided to focus on business and IT for his bachelor’s degree. “I’m on track to graduate, on time, and with half the cost,” Mitchell says, noting the value of Columbus State’s low tuition.

Exact Track Business Program

Earn a bachelor’s degree in less than four years with this streamlined business program

Whether you want to advance your career or prepare for a new one, The Exact Track Business program can get you there. This accelerated program from Columbus State and Franklin University allows candidates to earn a bachelor’s degree in less than four years. The program is convenient and affordable, with preplanned classes and free textbooks. After completing the program, you’ll have an Associate of Applied Science in Business Management from Columbus State and a B.S. in Business Administration and Management & Leadership from Franklin University.

Ohio is expected to add 53,300 additional food service jobs by 2027.

According to the National Restaurant Association, the food service industry is expected to grow rapidly in Ohio. Columbus State’s hospitality program is widely recognized as one of the best in the state.

The annual median salary for property, real estate and community association managers is $57,040

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, property, real estate and community association managers earn an average of almost $60,000 a year. Columbus State’s real estate major offers flexible certificate that prepare you to work as a property manager.

Reuel Barksdale, Business Management

Professors at Columbus State are here because they love to teach

Business management professor Reuel Barksdale calls the environment at Columbus State “addictive.” He’s passionate about teaching, and thrives on the relationships he’s able to build with students. “At Columbus State Community College, teachers get rewarded or get applauded because of their ability to teach,” he says. “Not because of research. Not because of journaling. Not because of publishing, but because of the ability to teach.”

Autumn Spitler – Autumn’s Sweet Shoppe

Autumn Spitler’s recipe for success includes a big heaping of hard work and a pinch of Columbus State.

Spitler graduated with an associate degree in Baking & Pastry Arts, with a Foundations of Business Certificate, in winter 2018. Today, she’s running Autumn’s Sweet Shoppe, a small-batch bakery specializing in tantalizing treats.

She credits her time at Columbus State for not only building her baking skills, but also her leadership. While on campus, she was a diversity peer educator, social media ambassador, and received an Outstanding Woman Leader of the Year award. “The opportunities provided to me as a student were amazing and far beyond what I expected from a community college,” Spitler says.

Hospitality programs at Columbus State

From event planning to restaurant management, we prepare graduates for a wide range of careers in the food and tourism industry.

If you’re looking to start your career (or take it to the next level) in the food and hospitality industry, there’s a program for you in Columbus State’s hospitality program. Our widely respected Culinary Apprenticeship major blends classroom instruction with on-the-job experience in local restaurant kitchens, while the Baking and Pastry Arts major balances baking fundamentals with business management instruction. Students who aspire to management will get the skills they need in the Restaurant and Foodservice Management major. And if you love planning and organizing events, the Hotel, Tourism and Event Management major prepares students for a variety of careers in the hospitality industry, including meeting and event planning.

Accounting

Ever heard of forensic accounting? It’s one of many career options in the surprisingly diverse accounting field.

If you love numbers, you’re in luck — accounting consistently ranks as one of the top career opportunities in business. Investors, creditors, business managers, and government agencies all rely on accurate and complete financial statements so that they can make good decisions, and the accounting major at Columbus State gives you the conceptual and practical knowledge you need to start your accounting career. Job opportunities in this field range from internal auditing, cost accounting, budgeting, financial forecasting, and even forensic accounting, which focuses on detecting fraud.