Master of Business Administration - Golden Gate University
Online
MBA
DURATION
15 months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
USD 10,000
STUDY FORMAT
Blended
Key Summary
From the heart of San Francisco’s thriving high-tech and financial district, Golden Gate University offers an ideal opportunity for students seeking an MBA. As one of the oldest universities in California and an early MBA degree designed for working professionals, Golden Gate University has consistently produced graduates with top skills that employers want.
The GGU MBA program will advance your leadership skills and business knowledge using an activity-based learning approach. Our faculty members are seasoned professionals in their fields and will prepare you to lead in today’s complex business environment.
Golden Gate University
About
Golden Gate University (GGU) is a private, non-profit institution founded in 1901, based in San Francisco with deep roots in adult and professional education. GGU is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), the recognized regional accrediting body for higher education in California and Hawaii.
GGU offers flexible learning formats: on-campus, online and hybrid to cater to working professionals.
Introduction
Golden Gate University brings the energy and opportunity of San Francisco straight to its learners. Located in the heart of the city’s financial and tech district, GGU connects you to a thriving network of industry leaders, groundbreaking companies, and dynamic career pathways.
At GGU, education isn’t just theoretical; it’s built around practical experience and real-world relevance. Taught by industry professionals and scholar-practitioners, programs are structured so you can apply what you’ve learned immediately. This makes GGU especially suited for working professionals seeking to upskill or pivot without putting life on hold.
With over 120 years of academic heritage, a flexible, career-focused curriculum, and a broad set of degree and certificate options, GGU delivers education designed for today’s fast-moving professional world. Whether you aim to lead in business, finance, technology, or beyond, GGU offers a platform where ambition meets opportunities.
Location
536 Mission St. San Francisco, CA 94105
1-415-442-7800
Format: 100% online
Working professionals seeking to advance their careers in business and management.
Students outside the U.S. benefit from a scholarship of up to 70% once admitted. This fee can be paid as you progress through the program—with a caution deposit and then 15 monthly installments. Alternatively, you can also choose to pay the fees upfront (via credit or debit card) and receive an additional 10% fee waiver.
The Golden Gate University Master of Business Administration (MBA) requires completion of 33 credits in the core program and 9 credits in the concentration, for a total of 42 credits.
Fundamentals of Business:
- The Firm and the Consumer
- The Market System
- Fundamentals of Macroeconomics
- Macroeconomic Policy and Tools
- Project - 1
- Getting Started With Financial Accounting
- Analysis of Financial Statements
- Project - 2
- Case Study
- Time Value of Money and Capital Budgeting.
Management and Leadership:
- Introduction to Leaders and Managers
- Essential Management Frameworks and Tools
- Interpersonal Skills
- Organizational Skills - I
- Organizational Skills - II
- Strategic Skills
- Executive Skills
- Project - 1
- Project - 2
- Advanced Leadership Skills.
Marketing Management:
- Introduction to Marketing Management
- Marketing Strategy and Planning
- Consumer Behavior
- STP Framework
- Project: Marketing Management
- Marketing Mix - I
- Marketing Mix - II
- Branding
- Digital Marketing and Branding Case Studies.
Foundations of Business Analytics:
- Course Overview
- The Language of Analytics
- Getting Started with Business Analytics
- Pillars of IT Infrastructure and Big Data
- Exploring Big Data
- Analytical Thinking: From BI to BA
- Analytics Principles, Tools & Techniques
- Business Analytics: Organizational Environment
- Session 1 - Resources & Recording
- Final Journal Presentation Submission.
Corporate Finance:
- The Company and its Environment
- Time Value of Money
- Project: Company Analysis Project
- Risk and Rates of Return
- Interest Rates and Bond Valuation
- Cost of Capital and Capital Budgeting
- Stock Valuation
- Case study Analysis: Lady M Confections
- Financial Forecasting and Capital Structure
- Cash Flow Estimation and Risk Analysis
- Financial Forecasting and Capital Structure
Teamwork in Organization:
- Pre-course Requirements
- Team Leadership and Team Design
- Team Leadership and Neuroscience of Teams
- Team Engagement and Team Conflict
- Giving and Receiving Feedback
- Milestone 1: Team Submissions
- Decision-Making and Divergent Thinking
- Pitfalls in Team Decision-Making
- Managing Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity
- Best Practices for Virtual Teams
- Milestone 2: Team Submissions
Information Technology:
- Selecting the Technology Aligned to Business Strategy
- Choosing IT Infrastructure and DBMS
- Optimizing Business processes through IS
- Enhancing Enterprise Performance Through IS
- Transforming Shopping Through E-Commerce & AI
- Building Information Systems
- Managing Projects and Global Systems
- Ethics and Security in IT Management
- Course Project
Operations and Supply Chain Management:
- Introduction to Operations and Supply Chains
- Supply Chain Strategy and Macro Process Design
- Individual Project - Memos
- Production Process and Materials Management
- Logistics and Inventory Management
- Group Project - Term Paper
- Infrastructure and Personnel Capacity Design
- Systems and Technology Network Capacity Design
- Tactics of Performance Improvement
- Planning, Control, and Project Management
Context of Business:
- Business and Social Responsibility
- Business, Sustainability and the Environment
- Corporate Governance and Strategic Management
- Individual Assignment: Case of Contagious Cook
- Ethics, Technology, and the Global Environment
- Profit vs Sustainability Balance Analysis
- Internal Stakeholders: Employees
- External Stakeholders: Consumers
- External Stakeholders: Government
- Globalization and Competition Policy
- Course Project: Profit vs Sustainability Analysis.
Strategic Analysis and Design:
- Course Overview
- Competition and Market Influence on Strategy
- Group Project: The Rise and Fall of Nokia
- Strategy and Strategic Analysis
- Applying Strategy to a Business Plan
- Individual Assignment: Analyzing Your Organization
- Corporate Strategy and Scope of the Firm
- Managing Multi-Business Firms.
Business Planning:
- Course Overview
- Understanding a Business Plan
- Capstone Project: Growth-Based Business Plan
- Building a Business Plan
- Current Event Assignment
- Executing a Business Plan
Concentrations (Choose any 1):
- Marketing
- Adaptive Leadership
- Business Analytics
- General Management
- Marketing Strategy
- Over 120 years of legacy: Founded in 1901 with a primary campus in San Francisco, Golden Gate University is a leader in online education and has been enabling individuals to achieve their professional aspirations with nearly 70,000 alumni.
- Recognized in the US: Golden Gate University is a member of AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), ensuring quality standards in business education, and was ranked #1 in the United States for working professionals for four consecutive years by Washington Monthly.
- WASC Accredited: The program is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission, the organization that accredits universities in California and Hawaii, including Stanford, University of San Francisco, UC Berkeley, UCLA, and more.
Graduates of the Master of Business Administration program will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Demonstrate a general management “holistic” perspective.
- Demonstrate managerial and leadership skills, such as teamwork, critical thinking and problem-solving, communication and presentations, and self-awareness.
- Master and apply general management analytic processes and tools for decision-making.
- Integrate strategic business objectives within competitive industry dynamics.
- Integrate strategic business objectives within the socio-political-economic-ecological-global context.
- Understand functional areas’ impact on business and departmental interaction issues.
- Demonstrate integrated business-level planning.
- Demonstrate an understanding and ability to identify the ethical, environmental, and social implications of business issues and formulate appropriate responses.
- Transition into the C-Suite: Designed for professionals aiming to step into executive leadership roles, this program provides the strategic, technical, and leadership skills necessary to navigate complex business challenges and drive organizational growth.
- Senior Management Specialization: Tailored for experienced professionals looking to deepen their expertise, this program enables them to become thought leaders in their chosen domain, equipping them with advanced knowledge and practical insights to lead with confidence.