Golden Gate University is a nonprofit, private school dedicated to educating adult learners. In fact, Golden Gate was recognized three years in a row from 2016 through 2018 as the #1 Best College for Adult Learners by Washington Monthly. Students can attend the main campus in San Francisco, a satellite campus in Seattle or Silicon Valley, or online. The average class size for the Ageno School of Business is 15 students. According to student surveys, 98% of students are satisfied with their business education.
Education
Undergraduate students can earn a Bachelor of Science in Business, Bachelor of Arts in Management, or a Certificate in Management. Management students can pursue a general route, or earn a concentration in Human Resources Management, IT Management, Marketing, Psychology, and Public Administration. The BS in Business features the same concentrations as the Management degree, and additional options in Accounting, Data Analytics, International Business, and Operations and Supply Chain Management.
A traditional Master of Business Administration and an Executive Master of Business Administration are offered for graduate students. The MBA takes approximately two years to complete, and the EMBA is a 16-month program. Classes for the MBA program meet in the evenings and every other Saturday for the EMBA program. MBA concentrations provide an in-depth study in Accounting, Adaptive Leadership, Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Global Supply Chain Management, Human Resource Management, IT Management, Marketing, Project Management, or Public Administration. A joint JD/MBA degree is also available. Graduate students might also be interested in adding a certificate to their resume in Organizational Leadership, Analytics for Competitive Advantage, Estate Planning, Financial Life Planning, or one of many others.
Students seeking a challenge beyond the master’s degree may pursue the academically rigorous Doctor of Business Administration. In this 60-unit program, students will develop a dissertation on a topic of personal interest. To prepare for their dissertation, students can choose two seminars or independent study. Seminars offered include Financial Theory and Application, Project and Systems Management, Buyer Behavior, Leadership Theory, or Special Topics in Business Administration.
Student Life
Students are encouraged to network with their peers through GGU Community Days. These special events range from community service projects to watching professional sports games. The Bay Area is a vibrant business community, providing an abundance of opportunities for students to get plugged into internships with Fortune 500 companies, accounting firms, and start-ups. Student Affairs provides one-on-one career coaching, networking events, career panels, and workshops on stress management. Students can assume a leadership role with the Student Government Association.
Online Programs
All of the undergraduate business degrees can be accessed fully online, as well as the Master of Business Administration. All graduate certificates are also conveniently offered online. Online students have access to free math and writing tutoring. Professional development workshops and guest speaker series are also available online. The GGU LinkedIn group is a great way for students to connect with their colleagues, professors, and alumni. Via the click of an app, students can also read company reviews or search for jobs.