UC Berkeley to introduce a four-year undergraduate business program

UC Berkeley will begin enrolling students in four-year undergraduate business programs for the first time starting in 2024, the university announced Tuesday.

The four-year program replaces the two-year program through the Haas School of Business, and was made possible by a $30 million donation from Haas alumnus Warren “Ned” Speaker and his wife, Carol Speaker. Ned Spieker is the founder and former CEO of Spieker Properties, one of the largest commercial property owners in America.

In honor of Spieker, the university is naming the four-year program the Spieker Undergraduate Business Program.

In the past, undergraduate students enrolled in the business program as a sophomore. Starting in 2024, students will be able to enroll directly into the Haas Business School as freshmen, university officials said, “which will provide them with an additional two years of in-depth education, including career development, study abroad opportunities, entrepreneurship programs, major projects, mentoring and internships.” “