Required Courses — 9 units

FI 346 Derivative Markets FI 350 Portfolio Management

One of the following:

FI 344 Fundamental Analysis of Securities or FI 352 Technical Analysis of Securities

Electives — 9 units

Take three courses (nine units) of 300- or 400-level FI/ECON prefix courses. We recommend that you choose from the following courses: ECON 340 International Trade and Finance FI 344 Fundamental Analysis of Securities FI 347 Financial Engineering and Risk Management FI 352 Technical Analysis of Securities FI 354 Wyckoff Method I FI 355 Wyckoff Method II FI 358 Technical Market Analysis Strategies FI 360 Behavioral Finance FI 463 Real Estate Finance and Investment

 

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN FINANCIAL PLANNING

The master of science in financial planning is designed for students who aspire to become financial planners, investment advisers or money managers, or who may be interested in one of the many elements — estate planning, insurance, taxes, real estate, for example — of this broad and rapidly growing field. Golden Gate has one of the oldest accredited programs in financial planning in the country, having offered our first courses more than 20 years ago.

At the heart of this degree is a core of courses that examine the key functions of financial planning: financial planning principles, income tax planning, risk management, estate planning, investments, and employee benefits and retirement planning. Not only do these courses provide the academic foundation of the discipline, they also satisfy the educational requirements necessary for the premier Certified Financial Planner™

designation; thus, students can prepare to sit for the CFP^® exam while they are earning an advanced academic degree in financial planning.* *Golden Gate University is a “Registered Program,” which provides authorized coursework covering all of the knowledge requirements of the CFP® . Golden Gate University does not award the CFP® and Certified Financial Planner™ designations. The right to use the marks CFP® and Certified Financial Planner™ is granted by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards to those persons who have met its rigorous educational standards, passed the CFP Board’s certification examination, satisfied a work experience requirement and agreed to abide by the CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility. Only persons registered with the CFP Board are permitted to sit for the certification examination. CFP® certificates and licenses are issued only by the CFP Board.

 

Requirements for the Master of Science in Financial Planning The MS in financial planning degree requires completion of 30 units of advanced program coursework, with a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 (B) or better in courses taken at Golden Gate. 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 section “Course Descriptions.” 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 with computers and software applications appropriate for graduate studies. Deficiencies in computer proficiency may require additional work as determined by the faculty.

 

Math Proficiency Requirement

Students admitted to this program are expected to possess a level of mathematical skill at least equivalent to College Algebra ( MATH 30 ). Students may meet this requirement by satisfying one of the screening criteria listed under the heading “Proficiency in Mathematics, English and Computer Skills Required for Certain Master’s Degrees” on p. 148.

FOUNDATION PROGRAM — 12 UNITS

ACCTG 201 Accounting for Managers
ECON 202 Economics for Managers
FI 203 Financial Analysis for Managers
MATH 240 Data Analysis for Managers

ADVANCED PROGRAM — 30 UNITS

Core Courses — 24 units

FI 420 Personal Financial Planning

FI 421 Personal Investment Management

FI 422 Retirement and Employee Benefits Planning

FI 425 Income Tax Planning

FI 426 Estate Planning

FI 430 Business Development in Financial Services

FI 434 Cases in Financial Planning

FI 483 Insurance Planning

Electives — 6 units

Take two 300- or 400-level graduate courses for a total of six units. FI 497 Internship: Finance may be taken for three of these units.

Graduate Finance 43