Finance

EDWARD S. AGENO SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

PROGRAMS OFFERED:

• MBA with a concentration in Finance (see p. 35)

• MS in Finance with a concentration in General Finance, Corporate Finance or Investment Management

• MS in Financial Planning

• MS in Financial Planning and Taxation with a concentration in Estate Planning

• MS in Financial Planning and Taxation with a concentration in Taxation

• Graduate Certificate in Finance

• Graduate Certificate in Technical Market Analysis

• Graduate Financial Planning Certificate

 

(For undergraduate programs, please go to p. 17.)

Finance experts are among the most valued employees in any corporation. Many CEOs trace their academic and professional roots back to finance, a reflection of the strategic perspective that this discipline provides. Whatever your intended destination in the rapidly changing world of finance, from investments and portfolio management to corporate strategy and financial services, GGU’s finance curriculum delivers the tools necessary for success in your career. Today’s financial experts increasingly depend on the sophisticated analytical techniques that are an integral part of our courses. Our goal is to help you develop the creative decision-making skills that you’ll need to move ahead in the global, technology-based world of finance. With our emphasis on professional practice education, we offer an unwavering focus on how you can be a better manager.

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WITH A CONCENTRATION IN FINANCE For requirements for the MBA with a concentration in finance, see p. 35.

 

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN FINANCE The master of science degree in finance is a specialized, technical program that provides in-depth exposure to the principles and practices of corporate finance and investment management. It is a primary objective of this program to ensure that, by the time you graduate, you will have acquired the specialized skills and knowledge that you will need to add immediate value to your organization in your role as financial manager or investment adviser. This degree is intended for students who have made a professional commitment to this key business disci-

pline and who are interested in equipping themselves with the most comprehensive array of analytical tools and techniques. The MS in finance does not attempt to provide the broad overview of business that is typical of an MBA; instead, it focuses with great intensity on the specific areas of compelling interest to financial managers, security analysts, corporate bankers, and portfolio managers.

The four-course foundation of the MS finance emphasizes practical skills essential for success in this field. It’s a challenging beginning to your course of study (though it may be possible to waive some or all of these courses on the basis of equivalent undergraduate work), but it prepares you for the sophisticated analysis that this degree and this professional discipline demand.

The 15-unit core of the MS finance degree emphasizes five critical fields of knowledge that are required of all financial professionals. Three courses in corporate finance, investments and capital markets represent the conceptual foundations of the discipline, the “three legs of the stool.” Two courses in financial analysis and financial modeling build on and strengthen your background in accounting and computer applications, equipping you with the tools you’ll need to pursue the more advanced and specialized studies in your concentration.

The 18-unit concentration allows you to choose a general concentration in order to maximize the flexibility of your program or a more targeted concentration in corporate finance or investment management.

 

Requirements for the Master of Science in Finance 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. All course prerequisites must be satisfied prior to enrolling in a given course; prerequisites are indicated in the chapter on course descriptions in this catalog or at www.ggu.edu/info. 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.

 

Computer Proficiency Requirement

Applicants are expected to demonstrate a working familiarity and skill with computers and software applications appropriate for graduate studies. This includes knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet analysis, visual presentation software and network access capabilities. Faculty may require additional preparation for those students who have not achieved the needed proficiency.

 

Math Proficiency Requirement

Students admitted to this program are expected to possess a level of

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