General Information
Effective September 1, 2022, the Rotman School will offer the option of emphases for currently enrolled students in the Full-Time MBA, Extended Full-Time MBA (Morning/Evening), and students in the combined MBA degree programs: JD/MBA, MGA/MBA, PharmD/MBA, MD/MBA, Skoll BASc/MBA.
A graduate emphasis is an identified set and sequence of courses that is completed on an optional basis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the MBA degree.
Emphases will be noted on the student’s official University transcript and, as such, will be useful for signaling skills and knowledge to potential employers. They will also provide guidance to upper-year students on the courses that define a particular discipline, as well as a community of study for those students taking several courses together.
The new emphases will come into effect September 1, 2022, but elective courses taken prior may count towards them.
Area Specializations and Majors are still valid for currently enrolled students that started their program prior to Fall 2022 (i.e. the Morning and Evening Class of 2024), but have been discontinued for cohorts that started their program in Fall 2022 or later. Note that majors and specializations are not included on the University of Toronto transcript. For official documentation of a major or specialization, please contact the Registrar’s Office for a letter prior to graduation. Current students may choose to pursue one or more emphases in addition to a major or specialization.
How to Declare One or More Emphases
Students may declare up to two emphases. All requests are subject to confirmation by the Registrar’s Office pending successful completion of all requirements. Once approved, emphases notations will show on both the Preliminary Grade Report (PGR) and the official transcript. Note that students have the responsibility to ensure that they are meeting all requirements for a given emphasis.
Students will be required to complete an emphasis declaration form on the Hub as per below. Exact form and completion dates will be communicated via email.
- June graduands – Form available in mid/late March
- November graduands – Form available in mid/late September
- December finishers – Form available in mid/late December
Questions about the process may be directed to the RO front desk.
Offered Emphases
- Data Analytics and Modeling
- Finance
- Global Management
- Health Sector Management – NEW
- Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Business Design
- Leadership
- Marketing
- Real Estate – NEW
- Strategy
- Sustainability and Society
Given that students need to select from a group of courses, and no specific courses are required, students will continue to select their courses via Course Match.
Note that access to all courses is dependent upon demand and available space (most elective courses have a maximum enrolment of 44 per section). Courses with fewer than 20 students may be cancelled due to low enrolment.
Please consult our FAQs for answers to your potential questions, and direct further enquiries to your Assistant Director.
Each emphasis will consist of a set of main and supplemental courses. Each emphasis requires students to complete 2.5 FCEs (full course equivalents), which typically translates to 5 Rotman elective courses (note that CDL Advanced is 1.0 FCE). A minimum number of courses are to be completed from the list of main courses (link to mapping chart).
Courses By Emphasis
Further information about specific courses may be found on the MBA Elective Schedules. For additional questions on course information, students may reach out to the Registrar’s Office.
Data Analytics and Modeling
Complete five half courses (2.5 FCEs) with at least two half courses (1.0 FCE) from the list of main courses.
- Main
- RSM2129H – Forecasting Models and Econometric Methods
- RSM2401H – Data and Information Management
- RSM2408H – Modeling and Optimization for Decision Making
- RSM2409H – Data Science for Managers (previously Management Analytics)
- RSM2506H – Marketing Research
- Supplemental
- RSM2125H – Game Theory and Applications for Management
- RSM2209H – Financial Statement Analysis
- RSM2303H – Risk Modeling and Financial Trading Strategies*
- RSM2405H – Supply Chain Management
- RSM2513H – Pricing
- RSM2521H – Digital Marketing
Finance
Complete five half courses (2.5 FCEs) with at least two half courses (1.0 FCE) from the list of main courses.
- Main
- RSM2204H – Taxation and Decision-Making
- RSM2209H – Financial Statement Analysis
- RSM2212H – Business Analysis and Valuation
- RSM2300H – Corporate Financing
- RSM2302H – Security Analysis and Portfolio Management
- RSM2306H – Options & Futures Markets
- RSM2309H – Mergers & Acquisitions
- Supplemental
- RSM2210H – Financial Distress and Insolvency
- RSM2215H – Special Topics in Accounting: White Collar Crime: Creative Accounting and Corporate Fraud (previously Special Topics in Accounting: Financial Fraud and Management Control)
- RSM2301H – Financial Management
- RSM2303H – Risk Modeling and Financial Trading Strategies
- RSM2304H – Financial Institutions and Capital Markets
- RSM2305H – International Financial Management
- RSM2307H – Advanced Derivatives
- RSM2308H – Financial Risk Management
- RSM2310H – Analysis and Management of Fixed Income Securities
- RSM2312H – Value Investing
- RSM2313H – Sustainable Finance
- RSM2314H – Private Equity & Entrepreneurial Finance
- RSM2315H – The Management of Private Wealth
- RSM2321H – Special Topics in Finance: Fintech
- RSM2326H – How Banks Work: Management in a New Technological Age
- RSM2328H – Machine Learning and Financial Innovation
- RSM2329H – Block Chain and Decentralized Finance
Global Management
Complete five half courses (2.5 FCEs) with at least two half courses (1.0 FCE) from the list of main courses.
- Main
- RSM2011H – International Strategy
- RSM2123H – International Business in the World Economy
- RSM2127H – Economic Environment of International Business
- RSM2701H – Global Consulting Project (Honours/Pass/Fail)
- RSM2709H – Global Practicum (Honours/Pass/Fail)
- Supplemental
- RSM2018H – Strategy in Emerging Markets
- RSM2305H – International Financial Management
- RSM2612H – Managing Talent for Global Operations
- RSM2616H – Inclusive Global Development
Health Sector Management
NEW – effective as of May 1, 2024
Complete five half courses (2.5 FCEs) with at least two half courses (1.0 FCE) from the list of main courses.
- Main
- RSM2020H – Health Sector Strategy and Organization
- RSM2059H – Healthcare and Life Sciences Consulting: Field Application Project
- RSM2085H – Health Care Innovation
- Supplemental
- RSM2017H – Pharmaceutical Strategy
- RSM2054H – Technology Strategy
- RSM2057H – Venture Capital Strategy
- RSM2407H – Service Operations Management
- RSM2523H – Business Design Fundamentals
- RSM2528H – Service Design: Innovating Service-Based Organizations (previously RSM2518H – Special Topics in Marketing: Service Design: Innovating Service-Based Organizations)
- RSM2702H – OnBoard (Honours/Pass/Fail)
- Eligible Dalla Lana School of Public Health courses
- HAD5760 – Advanced Health Economics & Policy Analysis
- HAD5713 – Introduction to Health Information Systems
- HAD5765 – Case Studies in Health Policy
Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Business Design
Complete five half courses (2.5 FCEs) with at least one-half course (0.5 FCE) from the list of main courses.
- Main
- RSM2008H – CDL Intro
- RSM2012H – Entrepreneurship
- RSM2523H – Business Design Fundamentals
- Supplemental
- RSM2013YY – CDL Advanced (1.0 FCE)
- RSM2054H – Technology Strategy
- RSM2057H – Venture Capital Strategy
- RSM2081H – Social Entrepreneurship
- RSM2085H – Healthcare Innovation
- RSM2216H – Special Topics in Accounting: Accounting for Entrepreneurs
- RSM2314H – Private Equity & Entrepreneurial Finance
- RSM2511H – Fintech Marketing: Innovation in the Marketing of Financial Services
- RSM2517H – Futures Thinking: Developing Business Insight
- RSM2524H – Business Design Practicum
- RSM2526H – Creative Thinking for Business Innovation (previously RSM2530H – Special Topics in Marketing: *Creativity and Business Innovation)
- RSM2527H – Design Research and Insight-Driven Storytelling (previously RSM2516H – Special Topics in Marketing: Design Research and Data Storytelling)
- RSM2528H – Service Design: Innovating Service-Based Organizations (previously RSM2518H – Special Topics in Marketing: Service Design: Innovating Service-Based Organizations)
Leadership
Complete five half courses (2.5 FCEs) with at least two half courses (1.0 FCE) from the list of main courses.
- Main
- RSM2601H – Organization Design
- RSM2604H – Managerial Negotiations
- RSM2619H – Power and Influence in Organizations
- RSM2620H – Leading Teams
- RSM2621H – Effective Leadership
- Supplemental
- RSM2211H – Business Law
- RSM2603H – Advanced Negotiations and Conflict Management
- RSM2609H – Aligning People and Strategy
- RSM2613H – C-Suite
- RSM2618H – The Socially Intelligent Manager
- RSM2625H – Business Problem Solving: A Model-Based Approach
- RSM2640H – Leading Social Innovation
- RSM2913H – Getting It Done®
- RSM2920H – Top Manager’s Perspective
Marketing
Complete five half courses (2.5 FCEs) with at least two half courses (1.0 FCE) from the list of main courses.
- Main
- RSM2504H – Consumer Behaviour
- RSM2513H – Pricing
- RSM2521H – Digital Marketing
- RSM2522H – Marketing and Behavioural Economics
- Supplemental
- RSM2500H – Marketing Strategy
- RSM2505H – Strategic Marketing Communications
- RSM2506H – Marketing Research
- RSM2508H – Sales Management
- RSM2511H – Fintech Marketing: Innovation in the Marketing of Financial Services*
- RSM2512H – Branding
- RSM2519H – MCV 2.0
- RSM2525H – One to One Marketing
Real Estate
NEW – effective as of May 1, 2024
Complete five half courses (2.5 FCEs) with at least two half courses (1.0 FCE) from the list of main courses.
- Main
- RSM2126H – Real Estate Development
- RSM2128H – Real Estate Economics
- RSM2130H – Real Estate Investment
- Supplemental
- RSM2012H – Entrepreneurship
- RSM2125H – Game Theory and Applications for Management
- RSM2129H – Forecasting Models and Econometric Methods
- RSM2132H – Business and the City
- RSM2209H – Financial Statement Analysis
- RSM2211H – Business Law
- RSM2304H – Financial Institutions and Capital Markets
- RSM2306H – Options and Futures Markets
- RSM2310H – Analysis and Management of Fixed Income Securities
- RSM2506H – Marketing Research
- RSM2703H – CityLab (Honours/Pass/Fail)
Strategy
Complete five half courses (2.5 FCEs) with at least two half courses (1.0 FCE) from the list of main courses.
- Main
- RSM2021H – Corporate Strategy
- RSM2023H – Strategic Change and Implementation
- RSM2052H – Management Consulting
- RSM2061H – Strategic Networks
- Supplemental
- RSM2011H – International Strategy
- RSM2014H – Sustainability Strategy
- RSM2017H – Pharmaceutical Strategy
- RSM2020H – Health Sector Strategy and Organizations
- RSM2057H – Venture Capital Strategy
- RSM2058H – Communicating Strategy
- RSM2059H – Healthcare and Life Sciences Consulting: Field Application Project
- RSM2062H – Management Consulting Practicum
- RSM2063H – Catastrophic Failure in Organizations
- RSM2125H – Game Theory and Applications for Management
- RSM2212H – Business Analysis and Valuation
- RSM2309H – Mergers & Acquisitions
- RSM2406H – Operations Management Strategy
- RSM2500H – Marketing Strategy
- RSM2609H – Aligning People and Strategy
Sustainability and Society
Complete five half courses (2.5 FCEs) with at least one-half course (0.5 FCE) from the list of main courses.
- Main
- RSM2014H – Sustainability Strategy
- RSM2081H – Social Entrepreneurship
- RSM2313H – Sustainable Finance
- RSM2615H – Building Businesses for Sustainability
- Supplemental
- RSM2019H – Corporation 360
- RSM2122H – Clean Energy: Policy Context and Business Opportunities
- RSM2416H – Special Topics in Operations Management: Business Operations for Sustainability
- RSM2640H – Leading Social Innovation
- RSM2702H – OnBoard (Honours/Pass/Fail)
- RSM2703H – CityLab (Honours/Pass/Fail)
- RSM2706H – Special Topics in Finance: Impact Investing (Honours/Pass/Fail)
- ENV1707H – Environmental Finance and Sustainable Investing
Emphases FAQs
What are emphases?
Emphases are the University’s designation for an identified set and sequence of courses within an area of disciplinary or interdisciplinary study and may be recorded on a student’s transcript and are a recognized program component.
What MBA programs do emphases apply to?
Rotman will offer the following emphases to students in the Full-Time and Extended Full-Time (Morning/Evening) MBA Programs. Students in Rotman combined degree programs (JD/MBA, MGA/MBA, PharmD/MBA, MD/MBA, Skoll BASc/MBA) are also eligible to complete emphases.
Are emphases mandatory?
No. Emphases are completely optional for students.
Students may undertake an emphasis if they believe that doing so will provide a signal to the job market. However, for many students, the MBA is a generalist degree and most of our students take a wide variety of courses as part of their program because they want to take the best classes for their growth and learning. In general, students should take courses that they believe are interesting, personally useful, thought-provoking, and broadening.
What are the differences between emphases and majors/specializations?
Majors and specializations are not officially documented, whereas emphases are indicated on a student’s official University of Toronto transcript. Students that complete a major or specialization can request that a letter be provided by the Registrar’s Office. As such the designation does not appear on the student’s transcript.
Many of the majors are associated with a specific career path whereas emphases are slightly broader, giving students more flexibility with their career path. This specificity may limit the student’s ability to find a position. For example, a student who completes a major in funds management but does not obtain such a position, may find that a more general finance designation would be useful. Some research does indicate that more narrowly defined candidates receive fewer offers and receive lower signing bonuses.
When will the majors/specializations be discontinued?
Effective September 1, 2022, majors/specializations are no longer available for incoming cohorts in the Full-Time and Morning/Evening MBA programs. Emphases have replaced them.
Can I still complete a major or specialization?
Only current students that were enrolled prior to September 1, 2022 (i.e. the Morning/Evening MBA Class of 2024) may still opt to complete a major or specialization.
Is the list of courses by emphasis final?
Yes, the final approved list of courses is the one that is posted. Courses may be added or removed from an emphasis from time to time only after going through the appropriate committee and governance approval channels.
Due to governance process, we are unable to accommodate individual requests to swap courses.
Students who started an emphasis under a prior list will still be able to complete it under the previous requirements listed.
What are the benefits of having an emphasis noted on the transcript?
The notation of the transcript will be useful for signaling skills and knowledge to potential employers.
What are the additional benefits of having an emphasis?
In the past, students found it difficult to understand the 15 majors currently offered when entering the program. As Rotman partners with employers to provide access to our students, students can use the emphases to clarify what they consider their strengths when applying for jobs.
The emphases will also provide guidance to upper-year students on the courses that define a particular discipline. With over 90 electives on offer, the emphases, as divided by main and supplemental courses, will provide an indication of what is central to a particular study and which courses are associated with a discipline.
Lastly, the emphases, especially for those with fewer classes, will provide some community of study for the students in their upper year(s) as they are likely to take several classes with the same students. As such students will be able to form networks in which they can form study groups and complete team projects.
I’m a continuing student, graduating in 2023 (or later), will I be able to select an emphasis?
Students that continued their FT or Morning/Evening MBA studies into Fall 2022 will be able to select one or more emphases in addition to a major or specialization.
Only emphases are available to students that started their FT or Morning/Evening MBA program in Fall 2022 or later. Majors and specializations are no longer available to incoming cohorts.
What happens to elective courses I have taken prior to September 1, 2022? Will they count towards emphases?
While the new emphases came into effect September 1, 2022, elective courses taken prior may count towards them. This applies to students that continued their FT or Morning/Evening MBA studies into Fall 2022.
How many emphases can I complete?
Because of double-listings, students can realistically complete two emphases within their program. For example, completion of two emphases may require only nine courses.
The same course appears under two different emphases. That being the case, may I have it count towards those two emphases?
Yes, you may, as long as you fulfill all other requirements for those two emphases.
Will EXTra courses count towards emphases?
EXTra courses not required for the degree do not count towards fulfilling any degree requirements, including requirements towards fulfilling an emphasis.
An EXTra course is notated on a student’s academic history to indicate that the course taken was not required for the degree. If a course is intended to count towards an emphasis, or any part of the degree requirement, it cannot be marked EXTra.
May I replace courses in a specific emphasis with an independent study course (ISPs, GCPs, etc.) or other courses I feel are appropriate? Are there emphases coordinators?
The courses for each emphasis were approved following the appropriate governance protocols. Amendments require Rotman Council approval. As emphases are approved by Council, there are no coordinators. Thus, courses may not be replaced/substituted.
Will courses while on exchange count towards emphases?
No. Courses listed under each emphasis have been approved by both Rotman’s MBA Program Committee and Rotman Council. They have also followed the normal university governance process.
Do I get priority for specific courses I want to take in my chosen emphasis?
No. Each emphasis will consist of a set of main and supplemental courses. Each emphasis requires students to complete 5 elective courses, equivalent to 2.5 FCEs (full course equivalents). A minimum number of courses are to be completed from the list of main courses.
Given that students need to select from a group of courses, and no specific courses are required, students will continue to select their courses via Course Match.
Note that access to all courses is dependent upon demand and available space (most elective courses have a maximum enrolment of 44 per section). Courses with fewer than 20 students may be cancelled due to low enrolment.
When will the notation appear on my transcript?
The notation will appear after graduation takes place. This notation, along with the “degree conferred” notation will show on the official transcript starting the day after the graduation ceremony takes place.