Master of Science in Finance (MS-Fin)

Wall Street in the Classroom

Launch or extend your career in finance. The MS in Finance at Golden Gate University (GGU) provides real-world and in-depth exposure to the principles and practices necessary for a career in investment management or corporate finance. The program focuses on specific, compelling areas necessary for success in careers in financial management, investment management, security analysis, corporate banking and portfolio management, among others.

Overview

The Master of Science in Finance is a specialized, technical program providing in-depth exposure to the principles and practices of corporate finance and investment management. The main objective of the program is to provide the specialized knowledge needed to add immediate value to your organization as a financial manager or investment adviser.

Located in the heart of San Francisco's Financial District, Golden Gate University provides networking and internship opportunities through its 68,000-strong alumni network and relationships with the local financial community.

The MS in Finance program has been certified by the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute as a University Affiliation Program. This membership signals to employers that the MSF curriculum is closely tied to the practice of financial management, and helps to prepare students for the CFA exams.

The MS in Finance does not attempt to provide a broad overview of a business that is typical of an MBA. Instead, it focuses on the specific areas of compelling interest to financial managers, security analysts, corporate bankers, and portfolio managers. This degree is intended for students who have made a professional commitment to this key business discipline, and who are interested in equipping themselves with a comprehensive array of analytical tools and techniques.

You can choose to earn this degree entirely online or through a combination of online and in-class courses that are taught by the same professors and present the same material as the traditional format.

Curriculum

The Master of Science in Finance requires completion of 6 units in the foundation program and 30 units of advanced program coursework, with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 or better in courses taken at Golden Gate University that are applicable to the program’s requirements. Courses carry three-semester units of credit unless otherwise noted.

All course prerequisites must be satisfied prior to enrolling in a given course and are indicated in the course description for each course. Individual foundation program courses may be waived if the student has previously completed comparable courses at a regionally accredited college or university. Students may enroll in advanced program courses before they have completed the entire foundation program (provided they have met any course prerequisites) but must complete the foundation program by the time that they have enrolled in 12 units in the advanced program.

Total Units — 30

Foundation Program — 6 Units (Not Included in Total Units)

• Accounting for Managers, or...
• Introductory Financial Accounting
• Data Analysis for Managers

Advanced Courses — 30 Units

Required Courses - 24 Units

• Analysis of Financial Information for Accountants
• Financial Markets and Institutions
• Corporate Finance
• Financial Modeling
• Capital Budgeting and Long-Term Financing
• Investments
• Derivative Markets
• Business Valuation

Elective Courses - 6 Units

Select any two ACCTG, ECON, FI, or MSBA 300/400-level courses, which may include FI 497 Internship: Finance.

Admission Requirements

The MS finance requires completion of 12 units in the foundation program and 33 units of advanced program coursework, with a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or better in courses taken at Golden Gate University. Courses carry three-semester units of credit unless otherwise noted. Individual foundation program courses may be waived if the student has previously completed comparable courses at a regionally accredited college or university. Students may be admitted to advanced program courses before completion of the entire foundation program, but must complete the foundation program by the time that 12 units have been earned in the advanced program.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the MS in Finance program will have the knowledge and skills to:

• Evaluate and explain financial decisions regarding the firm’s investment and long- and short-term financing strategies by applying financial theory, quantitative decision-making tools, and analytical methods.
• Apply economic analysis to the firm’s decision-making, taking into account the impact of markets, institutions, and international trends on these decisions. Understand whether or to what extent a financial market satisfies the conditions of an efficient market.
• Define and measure business and financial risk. Describe the relationship between risk and return, and distinguish between expected and required returns. Explain how risk affects the valuation of real and financial assets, and describe techniques for managing risk.
• Evaluate the corporate governance structures of firms and examine the interactions, from a governance perspective, among firm management, financial markets, and stakeholders.
• Describe and evaluate the ethical implications of financial decision-making and financial practices, assess alternative recommendations for solutions to ethical financial problems, and offer appropriate resolutions to those problems.

Cost & Fees

Estimated total tuition: $32,700-$42,510.

Priority application for fall 2020 scholarships was June 15, 2020 but GGU is still accepting applications.

For more information, please see our brochure here.

For more than 100 years, non-profit Golden Gate University (GGU) has been helping adults achieve their professional goals by providing undergraduate and graduate education in Accounting, Law, Taxation, Business and related areas.

GGU is one of California's oldest private universities, enrolling thousands of students and representing more than 68,000 alumni. The university's main campus is located in San Francisco with additional teaching sites in Seattle and Silicon Valley. In addition to evening and weekend classes, most courses and degrees are offered entirely online.