Curriculum
The Full-Time MBA program comprises a first-year set curriculum of core courses; 3 first-year elective courses; an internship with associated course RSM1380 – Flexible Internship Program (FIP); and a second year in which students choose from elective courses. The information below provides overviews of the MBA degree requirements, including combined programs, effective September 2019.
| Degree Program | Core | First-Year Elective | Elective |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time MBA | 14 courses | 3 courses | 10 courses (30 credit hours) + Internship (RSM1380 – Flexible Internship Program) |
| JD/MBA | 14 courses | 3 courses | 7 courses (21 credit hours) + Law requirements |
| Skoll BASc/MBA | 14 courses | 3 courses | 10 courses (30 credit hours) + Internship (RSM1380 – Flexible Internship Program) |
| MGA/MBA | 14 courses | 3 courses | 6 courses (18 credit hours) + MGA requirements |
| PharmD/MBA | 14 courses | 3 courses | 10 courses (30 credit hours) + Internship (RSM1380 – Flexible Internship Program) |
| MD/MBA | 12 courses | 3 courses | 9 courses (27 credit hours) + MD requirements |
Use the links below to jump to a specific curriculum topic:
First-Year Course Credits (All Programs)
All first-year MBA students at Rotman—regardless of academic background or program—participate in a unique core curriculum that includes the foundation areas of business from an integrated perspective.
Each first-year course comprises one, two, or three credit hours. Weighting for the first-year courses (1000 range) is determined by the second digit of the course number (e.g. RSM1382, where 3 implies three credit hours for the course). A student’s academic record will display course credit weight rather than credit hours. Credit hours can be translated to a credit weight as follows:
- 1 credit hour = 0.17 credit
- 2 credit hours = 0.33 credit
- 3 credit hours = 0.50 credit
| Course Number | Course Title | Credit Weight | Credit Hours | Academic Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSM1160H | Business Ethics | 0.17 | 1 | Organizational Behaviour & Human Resource Management |
| RSM1165H | Leveraging Diverse Teams | 0.17 | 1 | Organizational Behaviour & Human Resource Management |
| RSM1201H | Fundamentals of Strategic Management | 0.33 | 2 | Strategy |
| RSM1210H | Managerial Economics (Micro) | 0.33 | 2 | Economic Analysis & Policy |
| RSM1211H | Economic Environment of Business (Macro) | 0.33 | 2 | Economic Analysis & Policy |
| RSM1215H | Decision Making with Models & Data | 0.33 | 2 | Economic Analysis & Policy |
| RSM1220H | Financial Accounting and Reporting: A Global Perspective | 0.33 | 2 | Accounting |
| RSM1222H | Managerial Accounting | 0.33 | 2 | Accounting |
| RSM1231H | Finance I: Global Capital Markets and Valuation | 0.33 | 2 | Finance |
| RSM1232H | Finance II: Corporate Finance | 0.33 | 2 | Finance |
| RSM1240H | Operations Management | 0.33 | 2 | Operations Management & Statistics |
| RSM1250H | Managing Customer Value | 0.33 | 2 | Marketing |
| RSM1260H | Leading People in Organizations | 0.33 | 2 | Organizational Behaviour & Human Resource Management |
| RSM1282H | Statistics for Management | 0.33 | 2 | Operations Management & Statistics |
| RSM1380H OR RSM1381H | Applied Management: Placement OR Applied Management: Independent Study | 0.5 | 3 | |
| RSM2XXXH | First-Year Elective 1 | 0.5 | 3 | |
| RSM2XXXH | First-Year Elective 2 | 0.5 | 3 | |
| RSM2XXXH | First-Year Elective 3 | 0.5 | 3 |
Full-Time MBA Program
RSM1165H – Leveraging Diverse Teams – August (prior to Fall Term 1)
Year 1 – Fall Term
| Term 1 | Term 2 |
|---|---|
| RSM1215 – Decision-Making with Models & Data | RSM1231 – Finance I: Global Capital Markets and Valuation |
| RSM1260 – Leading People in Organizations | RSM1201 – Fundamentals of Strategic Management |
| RSM1210 – Managerial Economics (Econ I) | RSM1250 – Managing Customer Value (Marketing) |
| RSM1220 – Financial Accounting (Accounting I) | RSM1282 – Statistics for Management |
Year 1 – Spring Term
| Term 3 | Term 4 |
|---|---|
| RSM1211 – Economics Environment of Business (Econ II) | RSM1222 – Managerial Accounting (Accounting II) |
| RSM1240 – Operations Management | RSM2XXX – First-Year Elective I |
| RSM1232 – Finance II: Corporate Finance | RSM2XXX – First-Year Elective II |
| RSM2XXX – First-Year Elective III |
Year 2
Year 2 consists of Summer Intensive, Summer, Fall, Winter Intensive, and Spring terms. Over those terms, the following courses must be completed:
- MBA Elective Courses (10 courses, equivalent to 5 credits)
- RSM1160 – Ethics (0.17)
- Choice of completing in either the Fall or Spring term.
- RSM1380 or RSM1381 – Flexible Internship Program (FIP)
- RSM1380 (FIP) can be completed alongside a maximum of one (1) course. RSM1381 (FIP) is only available in the Spring Term and can be completed alongside 4 courses.
- Regular course load in Year 2 is five courses.
- RSM1160H may be added as a sixth.
- Students wishing to overload, i.e., take a sixth elective, please refer to the Overload section.
- Students doing RSM1380H Applied Management: Placement, are limited to taking one course, in addition to RSM1380H.
Note that most Fall and Spring Term elective courses in the MBA program run on either a 12- or 13-week term (excluding examinations). Elective courses scheduled during the Winter and Summer Intensive Term are normally scheduled over 9 consecutive days (3 hours per class) within a two-week period. Students are permitted to take a maximum of 2 intensive courses during the intensive periods.
JD/MBA Program
The JD/MBA program is designed with the Faculty of Law to permit students to obtain both the JD and MBA degrees in four full-time years of study instead of the five years that would be required to receive the two degrees separately.
Year 1 (Law Core Curriculum)
Year 1 consists of Fall and Spring terms. Over those terms, the following courses must be completed:
- 7 required courses in first-year law:
- Constitutional Law; Contracts; Torts; Criminal Law; Property Law; Legal Process, Ethics and Professionalism; Legal Research & Writing
- LAW111H1 – Legal Methods (two week intensive course in August)
Year 2 – Fall Term (MBA Core Curriculum)
RSM1165H – Leveraging Diverse Teams – August (prior to Fall Term 1)
| Term 1 | Term 2 |
|---|---|
| RSM1215 – Decision-Making with Models & Data | RSM1231 – Finance I: Global Capital Markets and Valuation |
| RSM1260 – Leading People in Organizations | RSM1201 – Fundamentals of Strategic Management |
| RSM1210 – Managerial Economics (Econ I) | RSM1250 – Managing Customer Value (Marketing) |
| RSM1220 – Financial Accounting (Accounting I) | RSM1282 – Statistics for Management |
Year 2 – Spring Term (MBA Core Curriculum)
| Term 3 | Term 4 |
|---|---|
| RSM1211 – Economics Environment of Business (Econ II) | RSM1222 – Managerial Accounting (Accounting II) |
| RSM1240 – Operations Management | RSM2XXX – First-Year Elective I |
| RSM1232 – Finance II: Corporate Finance | RSM2XXX – First-Year Elective II |
| RSM2XXX – First-Year Elective III |
Years 3 and 4 (Combined Law and MBA Courses)
Years 3 and 4 each consist of a Fall, Winter Intensive, and Spring term. The Winter Intensive term applies only to MBA Elective Courses. Over those terms, the following courses must be completed:
- MBA Elective Courses (7 courses, equivalent to 21 credit hours = 3.5 credits)
- RSM1160 – Ethics (0.17)
- 45 elective credits at the Faculty of Law
- Includes Administrative Law; Business Organizations; an Ethics and Professionalism course; a perspective course; a moot; and an international / comparative / transnational (ICT) perspective course.
- Cannot fulfill the Perspective course requirement and ICT requirement in the same course.
- At least 10 credits must be management-related as required by the School of Graduate Studies. These courses can be identified in the Faculty of Law Academic Handbook under the following areas of concentration:
- administrative law and regulation;
- business law;
- law and economics; and
- labour law and social justice law.
- Includes Administrative Law; Business Organizations; an Ethics and Professionalism course; a perspective course; a moot; and an international / comparative / transnational (ICT) perspective course.
JD/MBA students are exempt from participating in the Flexible Internship Program. Students may elect to participate, but will not receive credit for its completion.
Students may take courses at Rotman and the Faculty of Law in any particular order during the final two years of the program, providing that standard requirements for pre-requisites/co-requisites are satisfied.
Distinction Standing Requirements: Combined programs must complete a minimum of 22 graded credits at the Faculty of Law in each program year or complete a minimum of 13 graded credits in one term of that year.
JD/MBA Program Restrictions
Course Restrictions
Students are excluded from taking courses of a combined law/management nature due to their general or introductory nature as specialists in both management and law. As such, students in the combined JD/MBA program are not eligible to enroll in the following courses:
- Management: RSM2211 – Business Law
- Faculty of Law course restrictions
Cross-Listed Courses
Each year, there are courses which are cross-listed between the Rotman School of Management and the Faculty of Law. In such cases, students are advised that for the purposes of academic credit, these courses will count as follows:
- LAW300 – The Art of the Deal: counts as a Law course
First-Year Firm Recruitment
Students in the second year of the combined JD/MBA program may choose to participate in first-year law firm Toronto recruitment for summer positions in law. This recruitment is governed by the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and provides set dates on which students may interview. The LSUC endeavours to schedule the week during which interviews occur so that most Ontario law schools may benefit from the interviews occurring during Reading Weeks. These interviews have often taken place during the University of Toronto Reading Week and over an intensive 72-hour period (Tuesday–Thursday).
Students in the JD/MBA program may experience conflicts between academic activities scheduled in the MBA program and the recruitment period.
In the event of conflicts with examinations or the like, students should consult with their Career Services Consultant and Office of Student Engagement Section Assistant Director for support and next steps.
MGA/MBA Program
The combined MGA/MBA program is designed for students interested in studying the intersections of Business and Global Affairs. The combined program permits the completion of both degrees in three years rather than the four years it would take to acquire them independently. After completing their first year of full-time studies, Fall and Spring Terms, at the Munk School of Global Affairs (MGA), students then undertake the Global Internship for the Summer Term. In second year, students begin their Full-Time MBA studies. In the third year, students take both MBA and MGA courses.
Note: The Flexible Internship Program, which is required for students doing the FT MBA degree program only, is not part of the MGA/MBA combined degree program. Students in the MGA/MBA program are not required to take the work placement course (internship and RSM1380H course), however, they will be eligible to take the work placement course, if they so desire, as an extra elective. Permission of the MBA Academic Director is required to ensure that the learning outcomes have value for a particular individual student.
Year 1
Over Year 1 Fall and Spring terms, students will complete full-time studies (4.0 Full-Course Equivalents (FCE)) at the Munk School of Global Affairs.
Over Year 1 Summer term, students will complete the MGA Global Internship (0.5 FCE).
Year 2 – Fall Term
RSM1165H – Leveraging Diverse Teams – August (prior to Fall Term 1)
| Term 1 | Term 2 |
|---|---|
| RSM1215 – Decision-Making with Models & Data | RSM1231 – Finance I: Global Capital Markets and Valuation |
| RSM1260 – Leading People in Organizations | RSM1201 – Fundamentals of Strategic Management |
| RSM1210 – Managerial Economics (Econ I) | RSM1250 – Managing Customer Value (Marketing) |
| RSM1220 – Financial Accounting (Accounting I) | RSM1282 – Statistics for Management |
Year 2 – Spring Term
| Term 3 | Term 4 |
|---|---|
| RSM1211 – Economics Environment of Business (Econ II) | RSM1222 – Managerial Accounting (Accounting II) |
| RSM1240 – Operations Management | RSM2XXX – First-Year Elective I |
| RSM1232 – Finance II: Corporate Finance | RSM2XXX – First-Year Elective II |
| RSM2XXX – First-Year Elective III |
*Pending approval, MGA/MBA students may seek an exemption for Economics courses already completed under the MGA program. Each exempted course will need to be replaced by an additional course as approved by the Academic Director.
Year 3
Year 3 consists of a Fall, Winter Intensive, and Spring term. The Winter Intensive term applies only to MBA Elective Courses. Most Fall and Spring Term elective courses in the MBA program run on either a 12 or 13-week term (excluding examinations). Elective courses scheduled during the Winter Intensive Term are normally scheduled over 9 consecutive days (3 hours per class) within a two-week period. Over those terms, the following courses must be completed:
- MBA Elective Courses (6 courses, equivalent to 18 credit hours = 3 credits)
- RSM1160 – Ethics (0.17)
- Part-Time MGA (Effective 2018)
- Year 2 MGA Capstone Seminar (0.5 FCE) + 5 MGA electives (2.5 FCEs)
- Part-Time MGA (2017 and Prior)
- Year 2 MGA Capstone Seminar (0.5 FCE) + 4 MGA electives (2.0 FCEs)
MGA/MBA students are exempt from participating in the Flexible Internship Program. Students may elect to participate, but will not receive credit for its completion.
PharmD/MBA Program
Unique in Canada, this combined program, designed with the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, provides graduates with unparalleled opportunities for leadership within the health-care and pharmaceutical manufacturing sectors, allowing for completion of both the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and Full-Time Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs in less time than it would take to acquire them separately.
Years 1–3
Over the first three years, students will be enrolled full-time in PharmD courses at the Faculty of Pharmacy.
Year 4 – Fall Term
RSM1165H – Leveraging Diverse Teams – August (prior to Fall Term 1)
| Term 1 | Term 2 |
|---|---|
| RSM1215 – Decision-Making with Models & Data | RSM1231 – Finance I: Global Capital Markets and Valuation |
| RSM1260 – Leading People in Organizations | RSM1201 – Fundamentals of Strategic Management |
| RSM1210 – Managerial Economics (Econ I) | RSM1250 – Managing Customer Value (Marketing) |
| RSM1220 – Financial Accounting (Accounting I) | RSM1282 – Statistics for Management |
Year 4 – Spring Term
| Term 3 | Term 4 |
|---|---|
| RSM1211 – Economics Environment of Business (Econ II) | RSM1222 – Managerial Accounting (Accounting II) |
| RSM1240 – Operations Management | RSM2XXX – First-Year Elective I |
| RSM1232 – Finance II: Corporate Finance | RSM2XXX – First-Year Elective II |
| RSM2XXX – First-Year Elective III |
These MBA courses will also count as electives toward the PharmD program requirements.
Year 5
Year 5 consists of a Fall, Winter Intensive, and Spring term. The Winter Intensive term applies only to MBA Elective Courses. Most Fall and Spring Term elective courses in the MBA program run on either a 12 or 13-week term (excluding examinations). Elective courses scheduled during the Winter Intensive Term are normally scheduled over 9 consecutive days (3 hours per class) within a 2-week period. Over those terms, the following courses must be completed:
- MBA Elective Courses (10 courses, equivalent to 5 credits)
- RSM1160 – Ethics (0.17)
- RSM1380 or RSM1381 – Flexible Internship Program
Skoll BASc/MBA Program
Students admitted to the Jeffrey Skoll BASc/MBA program spend the first three years of undergraduate study in the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering.
Prior to completing their fourth and final year in Engineering, students are required to complete a 16-month Professional Experience Year (PEY).
Years five and six are spent at the Rotman School where they fulfill the requirements of the Full-Time MBA program.
Year 5 – Fall Term
RSM1165H – Leveraging Diverse Teams – August (prior to Fall Term 1)
| Term 1 | Term 2 |
|---|---|
| RSM1215 – Decision-Making with Models & Data | RSM1231 – Finance I: Global Capital Markets and Valuation |
| RSM1260 – Leading People in Organizations | RSM1201 – Fundamentals of Strategic Management |
| RSM1210 – Managerial Economics (Econ I) | RSM1250 – Managing Customer Value (Marketing) |
| RSM1220 – Financial Accounting (Accounting I) | RSM1282 – Statistics for Management |
Year 5 – Spring Term
| Term 3 | Term 4 |
|---|---|
| RSM1211 – Economics Environment of Business (Econ II) | RSM1222 – Managerial Accounting (Accounting II) |
| RSM1240 – Operations Management | RSM2XXX – First-Year Elective I |
| RSM1232 – Finance II: Corporate Finance | RSM2XXX – First-Year Elective II |
| RSM2XXX – First-Year Elective III |
Year 6
Year 6 consists of a Summer Intensive, Summer, Fall, Winter Intensive, and Spring term. Most Fall and Spring Term elective courses in the MBA program run on either a 12 or 13-week term (excluding examinations). Elective courses scheduled during the Summer and Winter Intensive Term are normally scheduled over 9 consecutive days (3 hours per class) within a two-week period. Students are permitted to take a maximum of 2 intensive courses during the intensive periods. Over those terms, the following courses must be completed: MBA Elective Courses (equivalent to 5 credits)
- RSM1160 – Ethics (0.17)
- Choice of completing in either the Fall or Spring term.
- RSM1380 or RSM1381 – Flexible Internship Program
RSM1380 (FIP) can be completed alongside a maximum of one (1) course. RSM1381 – (FIP) is only available in the Spring Term and can be completed alongside 4 electives.
MD/MBA Program
The MD-MBA (Full-Time) Combined Degree Program (MD-MBA FT CDP) is offered jointly by the Faculty of Medicine and the Rotman School of Management. The MD-MBA FT CDP is intended for a small number of medical students who have an interest in becoming health sector leaders with management competencies. Graduates of the combined degree program will be well positioned to act as the health-care executives of tomorrow, in both the public and private sectors. The MBA FT coursework, combined with the MD Program curriculum, will prepare students for significant leadership opportunities throughout their career.
Applicants to MD-MBA FT CDP must be enrolled, and in good academic standing, in Year 3 of the MD Program, and must meet the MBA admission requirements for the MD-MBA FT CDP. Medical students registered in the MD-MBA FT CDP must maintain good academic standing in the MD Program to continue in the CDP.
Students who successfully complete the MD-MBA FT CDP will be awarded both the MD and MBA degrees. The MD-MBA FT CPD is designed such that the requirements can be completed in five years rather than the six years it would take to acquire the degrees independently.
Year 1-3
Over the first three years, students will be enrolled full-time in MD courses at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine.
Year 4 – Fall Term
Note: Students in the MD-MBA FT CPD are granted credit for RSM1165H – Leveraging Diverse Teams, RSM1380H – Applied Management: Placement, and one MBA Year 2 elective (0.5 FCE).
| Term 1 | Term 2 |
|---|---|
| RSM1215 – Decision-Making with Models & Data | RSM1231 – Finance I: Global Capital Markets and Valuation |
| RSM1260 – Leading People in Organizations | RSM1201 – Fundamentals of Strategic Management |
| RSM1210 – Managerial Economics (Econ I) | RSM1250 – Managing Customer Value (Marketing) |
| RSM1220 – Financial Accounting (Accounting I) | RSM1282 – Statistics for Management |
| Term 3 | Term 4 |
|---|---|
| RSM1211 – Economics Environment of Business (Econ II) | RSM1222 – Managerial Accounting (Accounting II) |
| RSM1240 – Operations Management | RSM2XXX – First-Year Elective I |
| RSM1232 – Finance II: Corporate Finance | RSM2XXX – First-Year Elective II |
| RSM2XXX – First-Year Elective III |
Year 5
Note: Students in the MD-MBA FT CPD are granted credit for RSM 1160H Business Ethics
Year 2 consists of Summer Intensive, Summer, Fall, Winter Intensive, and Spring terms. Over those terms, the following courses must be completed:
- MD Program requirements
- MBA Elective Courses (9 courses, equivalent 4.5 credits)
Note that most Fall and Spring Term elective courses in the MBA program run on either a 12- or 13-week term (excluding examinations). Elective courses scheduled during the Winter and Summer Intensive Term are normally scheduled over 9 consecutive days (3 hours per class) within a two-week period. Students are permitted to take a maximum of 2 intensive courses during the intensive periods.
RSM1160 – Ethics
Business Ethics is a core course which is done in the second year of studies in the Full-Time MBA program.
There will be two sections offered in each the Fall and in the Spring term. Instructions on how to indicate section preference will be sent by email in July.
For students enrolled in the Flexible Internship Program in either term, an additional course may be taken alongside Ethics and RSM1380H. Students are reminded that while it is best professional practice to inform their employers of their academic schedules in order to avoid work conflicts, this is required for Business Ethics as it takes place during working hours. Work-related reasons are generally not considered for academic accommodations.
Fall 2022
Instructor: Richard Powers
No course conflicts with Electives in the Fall
Drop Deadline: Monday, October 3, 2022 at 5:00 pm
Please note: This is a required course for the degree and must be completed in order to graduate.
| Class # | Start Date | Section 1 Time | Section 2 Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Friday, October 14, 2022 | 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| 2 | Saturday, October 15, 2022 | 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| 3 | Sunday, October 16, 2022 | 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Spring 2023
Instructor: Richard Powers
Note: RSM2406 Operations Management Strategy conflicts with Section 1 of RSM1160H Business Ethics
Drop Deadline: Monday, February 6, 2023 at 5:00 pm
Please note: This is a required course for the degree and must be completed in order to graduate.
| Class # | Date | Section 1 | Section 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Friday, February 10, 2023 | 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| 2 | Saturday, February 11, 2023 | 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| 3 | Sunday, February 12, 2023 | 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Flexible Internship Program (FIP)
The Flexible Internship Program, through the Applied Management: Placement (RSM1380) course, allows students to put theory into practice by deepening their foundational knowledge in management and business concepts through thoughtful reflection, coaching, and feedback. Students learn to apply core management ideas, models, data, and theories learned in the classroom during their first-year core MBA curriculum in real time during their work placement.
The course begins with an introductory lecture to prepare students for their experience and is followed by individual assignments and one-on-one meetings with an assigned Academic Mentor (Senior Faculty Members and Executives-in-Residence). The course culminates in a final debrief on the Flexible Internship concepts and the student’s experience. Assessment and feedback take place throughout and after the work placement course.
The required work placement course will be taken at the same time as the student is completing their internship. RSM1380 – Applied Management: Placement will be offered 3 times a year, in the Summer, Fall and Spring terms. Once students complete their “Job Offer” information in the Career Services section of the Rotman HUB, the student will be enrolled in the course in the appropriate term according to their internship start date.
Another aspect to the Flexible Internship Program is the opportunity for students to undertake their internship in any of the 3 electives terms: Summer, Fall or Spring. Traditionally, the majority of Rotman Full-Time MBA students have completed their degree by taking two terms of courses, followed by a summer internship, and then two more terms of courses. The Flexible Internship Program expands the flexibility of internship work placement and the new associated course to be undertaken at any time after the first year during the Summer, Fall, or Spring terms. The total time to complete the program remains the same at two years.
Pre-requisites for the Flexible Internship Program and associated course include all first-year core MBA courses.
The responsibility for finding an internship opportunity and successfully securing employment lies with each student.
Internship and MBA Elective Courses
In order to set you up for success professionally and academically, students who are undertaking an internship in a given term are expected to focus on their placement and are restricted on the number of electives they can take within the same term. These students may select a maximum of one course (elective in Summer or core/elective in Fall/Spring) in addition to RSM1380 (the required FIP course alongside the internship).
Students interested in completing an intensive elective before their internship should negotiate the placement start date with their employers. The start date decision rests with the employer and not all students may have the opportunity to participate in intensives or additional courses during their placement.
Course Match Selection
- Students not participating in an internship are expected to take a full course load (4 or 5 electives) over the Summer Term (both intensive and regular terms combined) to ensure the timely completion of their degree requirements and graduation.
- If students land an internship before course selection begins, they must update the Career Services section of the Rotman HUB. They will be enrolled in the mandatory core course (RSM1380 Applied Management: Placement) and permitted to request for one elective via Course Match.
- If students land an internship after course selection has ended, they must drop all but one elective for the term (Summer Intensive and Summer term, combined), and update their profile on the Career Services section of the Rotman HUB.
- If students choose not to take an elective while doing their internship, they must log in to Course Match during course selection, set their target number of courses to “0,” and log out of the system.
- Students are encouraged to take a course, if at all possible, in order to lighten their course load in the Fall or Spring terms
- Students who are not taking any electives while doing their internship must notify the Registrar’s Office in advance of Course Match taking place.
Work Placement Alternative (RSM1381)
Any student who does not find a suitable work placement during their time at Rotman will engage in a research based independent study course (RSM1381) that also teaches the application of foundational management knowledge to real life managerial work problems. The course will study a real-world firm/institution, under the supervision of management faculty. The learning outcomes are the same as RSM1380.
The work placement alternative course will only be offered in the Spring term. Students who do not land an internship by their final term will be required to complete this course before graduating.
MBA Elective Courses
Full information on these courses can be found at MBA Electives Guide.
Course Selection
Each student’s course schedule is available on the Rotman Hub and Quercus. Please note that from time to time, it may be necessary to cancel or re-schedule classes and consequently, students are well-advised to view their personal schedules on a regular basis.
Classroom Schedule
The schedule of class meetings is published at the beginning of the academic year. On occasion, there are changes to the meeting schedule that may impact the time or location of the class. The Registrar’s Office will make every effort to notify students of any such changes well in advance.
Changes in Courses
For each program of study offered by the University through the Rotman School of Management, the courses necessary to complete the minimum requirements of the program will be made available annually. The Rotman School, however, reserves the right to change the content of courses; instructors and instructional assignments; enrollment limitations; pre-requisites; co-requisites; grading policies; and timetables without prior notice.
Enrollment Limitations
The Rotman School of Management makes every reasonable effort to plan and control enrollment to ensure that all of our students are qualified to complete the programs to which they are admitted and to strike a balance between enrollment and available instructional resources. Sometimes such a balance cannot be struck and the number of qualified students exceeds the instructional resources that we can reasonably make available while at the same time maintaining the quality of instruction. In such cases, the Rotman School reserves the right to limit enrollment in the programs, courses, or sections listed in the schedule and to withdraw courses or sections for which enrollment and resources are insufficient.
For information about taking courses at different campuses, Faculties, or Universities, please see Taking Courses Outside the MBA Program.
Final Grades
The Registrar’s Office releases unofficial final grades via the Preliminary Grade Report, available on the HUB. As soon as grades are approved by the Dean’s Office, the RO informs students by email that the grades are available.
Instructors have 10 business days after the final exam to submit grades for core courses. Once an instructor submits final grades these are approved by the academic program director and the Vice Dean, MBA programs. This process can take time if revisions are necessary. Typically grades are released within three to four weeks after the end of the exam period.
The tentative grade release dates are:
- Term 1: Early November
- Term 2: Early January
- Term 3: Early April
- Term 4: Mid-May
Program Progression
Enrollment in Core Courses
No course selection is necessary as all MBA program core courses are mandatory. Course withdrawal is permitted only under extenuating circumstances on a case-by-case basis up to the second class, with supporting documentation. After the second class, core course withdrawal is subject to academic penalty.
Students who require additional help with a particular subject should visit the course instructor during office hours or by appointment, and attend all available Rotman Scholar sessions. Students who may require tutoring support are advised to review the Academic Support Policies and contact the Registrar’s Office (RO) as soon as possible.
Progression from Core to Elective Courses
Before moving on to the elective phase of the program, students must first complete all core courses, with the exception of RSM1165 and RSM1213 which are to be completed during year 2. A minimum B- (2.7 GPA) standing in all MBA courses is required.
In the case of RSM1380 – Flexible Internship Program, this course must be taken alongside the internship/work placement. Students who have not completed all of their required core courses, but wish to take an elective course, should reach out to their Section Assistant Director for advice. Such requests will be considered provided that all of the following conditions are met:
- The student has completed at least 10 required courses;
- The student has at least a 3.2 GPA average; and
- The elective course has either no prerequisite or the student has taken the prerequisite.
The Registrar’s Office will then request final approval from the Academic Director.
Enrollment in Elective Courses
Students will select core electives and, subsequently, elective courses via Course Match. Questions regarding course selection or Course Match results should be directed to the student’s Assistant Director in the Office of Student Engagement (OSE).
JD/MBA Progression
Year One
Students in the combined program must meet the credit and other program requirements (e.g. mooting, writing, and perspectives requirement) as set out in the Faculty of Law’s syllabus and Academic Handbook.
Year Two
Students must achieve a minimum B- (2.7 GPA) standing in each first-year (1000-level) core course taken at the Rotman School of Management.
Years Three and Four
Students must achieve a minimum B- (2.7 GPA) in each 2000-level MBA elective course and meet the credit and other program requirements (e.g. mooting, writing, and perspectives requirement) as set out in the Faculty of Law’s syllabus and Academic Handbook.
Accelerating a Program – Implications for Early Finishers
Registration
As per the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) policy, Rotman is required to submit a degree recommendation for students as soon as all degree requirements have been fulfilled.
If an overload request accelerates the completion of a student’s program requirements, the student will be put forward for graduation immediately following the term in which those requirements have been met; further registration will not be permitted. Students will not be able to take extra courses.
Fees and OSAP
Students who accelerate their degree completion may incur a Balance of Degree Fee (BoD). If at the end of your program, the total amount of academic fees which you paid during the time you were registered is less than the minimum degree fee, you will be required to pay the outstanding balance.
Every degree program has a minimum degree fee and a defined program length:
- Full-Time MBA is 2 years (or 5 sessions: Fall, Winter/Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter/Spring)
- Morning/Evening MBA is 3 years (or 8 sessions: Fall, Winter/Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter/Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter/Spring)
For students who are OSAP recipients and complete their MBA program ahead of schedule, they will not receive their remaining installments.
Access to Resources
Access to University of Toronto and Rotman resources will be adjusted to reflect the early program completion date. This includes Health Insurance coverage, which will end for those students who are no longer registered.
Decelerating a Program
Students in the Full-Time MBA program needing to decelerate their studies due to extenuating circumstances may do so with approval from the Registrar’s Office.
Students considering decelerating their program:
- Must make an appointment to discuss the request with their Assistant Director by the end of August of their first year
- If approved, students may change their program status only once and are subject to the degree requirements of the originating program of study
- Access to existing entrance or in-program awards may be affected by deceleration
Each request is evaluated on a case-by-case basis, with due consideration given to a student’s personal, professional, and academic needs and goals.
Deceleration maintains a student’s enrollment in the Full-Time MBA program.
Fees Implications
School of Graduate Studies policy regarding fees implications for decelerators can be found under the SGS Fee Regulations sections. The two more relevant sections are 14.3 Academic Fees Structure and 14.4 Minimum Degree Fee.
These sections explain that:
…all graduate students must pay a minimum degree fee. This fee is based upon the full-time program length for each graduate master’s program and is assessed prior to graduation. Minimum degree fee represents the minimum amount of tuition that every student, whether registered full-time or part-time, must pay upon completion of the program prior to graduation.
A degree program is defined on a sessional basis and the full fee is charged regardless of the number of courses taken. All students are accepted into a program with a defined program length (see General Regulations section 5.3 Program Length). This period establishes the minimum degree fee that must be paid before graduation.
Students who take longer to finish their studies are required to pay at least the same amount of tuition for their degree as a full-time student. If a student takes longer than the established program length to meet their degree, they will likely pay more than the minimum degree fee due to the time taken to complete the degree requirements. There will be no refund of fees.
Every degree program has a minimum degree fee and a defined program length:
- Full-Time MBA is 2 years (or 5 sessions: Fall, Winter/Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter/Spring)
- Morning/Evening MBA is 3 years (or 8 sessions: Fall, Winter/Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter/Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter/Spring)
Leave Policy
Students registered in the MBA programs may apply to the Director, Academic Services for a one-term to three-term (one academic year) leave during their program of study for:
- Serious health or personal problems which temporarily make it impossible to continue in the program
- Parental leave by either parent at the time of pregnancy, birth or adoption, and/or to provide full-time care during the child’s first year. Parental leave must be completed within twelve months of the date of birth or custody. Where both parents are graduate students taking leave, the combined total number of sessions may not exceed four.
Students may make an application for a leave by completing the School of Graduate Studies Leave Request form and submitting it to the Director, Academic Services for approval.
The termination date of the degree program (i.e. expected graduation date) will be extended by the duration of the leave taken (i.e. one, two, or three sessions as appropriate). Except for parental leave or in exceptional circumstances, it is not expected that a student will be granted more than one leave under the terms of this policy. Normally the start and finish of the leave would coincide with the start and end of a term.
School of Graduate Studies policies dictate that students on leave do not have access to University resources. As such, MBA students who are on leave will not be able to attend or audit courses; will not have card access to the Rotman building(s); and will not have access to services through Career Services. However, students will continue to have access to their Rotman email to enable communication with the School for the duration of the leave.
Graduation Requirements
Students must achieve a minimum of B- (2.7 GPA) on each core and elective courses in order to be eligible to graduate, keeping in mind any additional specific program requirements.
Graduation Requirements Effective September 2019
Full-Time MBA (including BASc/MBA) Program
Students must satisfactorily complete all fourteen (14) 1000-level core courses, three (3) 2000-level core elective courses, ten (10) 2000-level elective courses, and the Flexible Internship Program in order to meet the graduation requirements of the MBA program.
JD/MBA Program
Students must complete all fourteen (14) 1000-level core courses, three (3) 2000-level core elective courses, and seven (7) 2000-level elective courses, in addition to the Faculty of Law requirements, in order to meet the graduation requirements of the JD/MBA program.
MGA/MBA Program
Students must complete all fourteen (14)* 1000-level core courses, three (3) 2000-level core elective courses, and ten (10) 2000-level elective courses, in addition to the Munk School of Global Affairs requirements, in order to meet the graduation requirements of the MGA/MBA program.
*Pending approval, MGA/MBA students may seek an exemption for Economics courses already completed under the MGA program. Each exempted course will need to be replaced by an additional course as approved by the Academic Director.
PharmD/MBA Program
Students must complete all fifteen (15) 1000-level core courses, three (3) 2000-level core elective courses, and nine (9) 2000-level elective courses, in addition to the Faculty of Pharmacy requirements, in order to meet the graduation requirements of the PharmD/MBA program.
Degree Recommendations
When all requirements for the MBA degree have been fulfilled, the School is required to submit a degree recommendation to the School of Graduate Studies indicating that the program has been satisfactorily completed by the student.
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