Starting in May 2022, students in the Full-Time MBA and Morning/Evening MBA programs at the Rotman School can choose to pursue their interests from a revised set of degree emphases, which play the role of majors at the graduate level.
The revised set of eight emphases reflect the key priorities and strengths of the School.
The new emphases are:
- Data Analytics and Modeling
- Finance
- Global Management
- Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Business Design
- Leadership
- Marketing
- Strategy
- Sustainability and Society
“The emphases are designed to give students a solid foundation in their area of interest, while remaining broad enough to open multiple career pathways,” says Prof. Joe Milner, vice-dean of MBA programs at Rotman.
“With leading management researchers and faculty in each of these areas – and with the support of 15 specialized research centres at Rotman – students are set up for success the moment they begin the program.”
MBA candidates have the option to complete more than one emphasis during the program. They can dive into a core interest like strategy or finance, and explore an emerging area such as innovation, entrepreneurship and business design or sustainability and society – two fields which have seen growing demand from students over the years.
“The emphases are designed to give students a solid foundation in their area of interest, while remaining broad enough to open multiple career pathways.”
Joseph Milner
“We continue to invest in a wide variety of courses to build on Rotman’s strengths and where our students have interest,” says Milner.
Of the three highest ranking full-time MBA programs in Canada – Rotman, Smith and Ivey (QS Global MBA Rankings 2022) – Rotman’s program is currently the only one with a major related to sustainability. Courses that count toward this emphasis include Environmental Finance and Sustainable Investing, Leading Social Innovation and Building Businesses for Sustainability.
Electives in the innovation, entrepreneurship and business design emphasis include the Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) courses, where students partner with science and technology-based startups to turn research innovations into high-growth ventures. Beyond the CDL electives, students can take courses in business design fundamentals, technology strategy and more to complete the emphasis.
“We’re a big school with a diverse faculty, and we’re attracting students who potential employers will want to hire in each of these areas,” says Milner.
To complete an emphasis, students will take five elective courses that count towards the major. With more than 90 elective courses offered by Rotman, each emphasis will have between nine and 19 electives for students to choose from.
Students who enroll in the Full-Time MBA or Morning/Evening MBA programs before August 2022 can continue to request letters of completion of the current set of majors and specializations.