PhD in Marketing: Required Courses

Not all courses are offered each year/ each semester. Check with the PhD Office at phdprog@rotman.utoronto.ca for courses schedule information.

For a listing of courses across all areas please see here.

As a prerequisite to starting the PhD program we require:

• Familiarity and comfort with mathematics and statistics for economics and marketing applications. This familiarity will be demonstrated by successful completion of the Mathematics and Statistics Review (ECO 1011/ ECON1010) offered in the economics department of the University of Toronto in the summer prior to entering the program or equivalent background. This course is required as Pre-Qualifying requirement of the Rotman PhD in Marketing.
• A breadth of knowledge in disciplines related to marketing. This can be demonstrated by successful completion of a master’s level course (MA or MBA) in business, psychology or economics in a program recognized by the Marketing Area PhD coordinator.
  1. Most successful applicants will have completed, or be in the process of completing, a master’s program when admitted to the program, which can demonstrate sufficient breadth of knowledge.
  2. For students without this background, the breadth requirement may be satisfied by taking a summer course prior to entering the program. The students may be subject to additional requirements such as additional master’s courses in Marketing at the Rotman School of Management.

Qualifying Courses and Minor Field Requirements

Marketing is an advanced field that requires mastery of psychology or economics and, to a lesser extent, related fields in business administration. The qualifying courses are generally taken during the first year of the PhD program and students are required to pass these courses with a minimum grade of B-, with an A- expectation to maintain full financial support.

Second year students are also required to take the cross-area research methods course (RSM 3080). It consists of an introduction into research methods and the philosophy of science, followed by a series of area seminars spread out over the academic year.

Major Field Requirements

Marketing PhD students are required to complete one master’s level course in business or economics, three marketing area required PhD courses, and two marketing area elective PhD courses (excluding RSM 3057 Workshop in Marketing) to satisfy their major field requirement. These courses ensure that students have a mastery of the body of knowledge and that students will have class contact with a variety of faculty that can serve on thesis committees.

Marketing Area Required Ph.D. Courses

RSM 3051 Marketing Theory I: Consumer Behaviour  2014 -2015 Course Outline RSM3051
RSM 3052 Marketing Theory II: Strategy

Marketing Area Elective Ph.D. Courses

RSM 3053 Behavioural Research Methods
RSM 3054 Current Topics in Consumer Behaviour
RSM 3055 Econometric Methods in Marketing  2014-2015 Course Outline RSM3055
RSM 3056 Current Topics in Marketing Strategy
RSM 3057 Workshop in Marketing
RSM 3058 Psychology of Judgment and Decision Making

Cross-Area Required Ph.D. Course

RSM 3080 Research Methods