Fresno State is launching a new degree, designed to equip working executives with the knowledge and skills they need to move into higher management.

At the same time, the new "master of business administration for executives" should improve the business climate in the San Joaquin Valley, said David Spaur, president and chief executive of the Economic Development Corporation Serving Fresno County.

The EDC, the Fresno Chamber of Commerce and the Fresno Business Council have supported the idea for the degree at California State University, Fresno.

The degree is identical to the Craig School of Business' traditional MBA program, university officials say, and is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

The first class will begin in August. The school of business is recruiting candidates.

Plans call for executives to earn MBA degrees within 17 months, including monthly breaks.

Business professor Tom Burns coordinates the new degree program in the Craig School and says the offering is similar to other universities' degrees tailored to executives.

"We are putting this together for the community," he said. "There is not one like it in the San Joaquin Valley from an AACSB-accredited school."

Burns said the program should be attractive to people in midlevel jobs.

"Maybe someone is head of accounting, but his next assignment would be vice president in charge of the group. Or the person may become a general manager or at least in charge of a division with profit and loss responsibilities."

He said the university will offer the degree to groups of at least 15 candidates and not more than 25 per group. Burns has recruited 15 candidates. Each group will stay together through its course work.

The new program will feature classes on campus Friday evenings and Saturdays on nine weekends out of a 12-week block.

Students would have a one-month break between 12-week blocks.

"This program gives companies a chance to develop people locally, and they will be more likely to stay local rather than traveling to Los Angeles or the Bay Area," Burns said.

Those who travel to earn their advanced degree are more likely to stay and work there, he said.

Students in Fresno State's new program must attend two weeks of intensive classes, from 6 to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, at the beginning of the course to acquire foundational materials.

A 10-day trip is also required, giving depth to the international business section of the program.

Tuition for the course is $25,000, including reading material, the international trip and meals on weekends.

The new Fresno State degree is not state-funded and relies entirely on the proceeds of tuition. So far, more than half of the applicants' fees have been paid by their companies, Burns said.

"A couple of large companies are sending three of their people, and they could send more," he said.

Economic Development Corporation president Spaur named insurance, real estate, banking and mortgage firms as examples of business sectors likely to send executives to the new program.