Program Overview

The Master of Science in Finance (MSF) program offers advanced training in corporate finance and investment management. This specialized curriculum, which emphasizes practical skills and theoretical knowledge, prepares students for diverse roles such as financial analyst, investment banker, portfolio manager, risk manager, and corporate financial officer.

Golden Gate University’s MS in Finance program has been recognized by the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute as part of its University Affiliation Program. This affiliation signals to employers that the MSF curriculum is closely tied to the practice of financial management and helps prepare students for the CFA exams, enhancing graduates’ credentials and career prospects across various finance specializations.

The MSF degree program is for students who have made a professional commitment to finance and seek to equip themselves with a comprehensive array of analytical tools and techniques applicable across the finance industry. As a STEM-designated degree program, it underscores the quantitative rigor of our curriculum and may offer extended OPT for international students.

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 extensive relationships with the local financial community. Our strategic location offers students unique exposure to diverse financial sectors, from traditional banking to innovative fintech startups.

Students can earn this degree entirely online or through a combination of online and in-class courses, all taught by experienced faculty using consistent, high-quality materials. This flexibility allows working professionals to advance their careers while balancing other commitments.

Technical Analysis Concentration 

The Technical Analysis Concentration in the MS Finance Program focuses on using charts, technical indicators and statistical analysis to identify patterns and make investment decisions. The disciplined application of these methods are combined to analyze past market data and predict future price movements. Technical analysis is often used in conjunction with other forms of analysis, such as fundamental analysis, to make informed investment decisions. This concentration covers the disciplines of chart pattern analysis, trend identification, momentum indicators, oscillators, moving averages, sentiment and risk management. Investment methodology development and peak performance trading are studied. This concentration prepares students to become skilled in interpreting financial data and making informed investment decisions.

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.