Global Executive MBA for Healthcare and the Life Sciences Curriculum – Prior to Spring 2025
Curriculum
The following curriculum information is for students who began their studies prior to Spring 2025.
The Global Executive MBA for Healthcare and the Life Sciences (GEMBA-HLS) program provides the knowledge and skills to develop and apply effective leadership, strategic decision-making, data analytics, system integration, design-innovation-commercialization, and value creation in the global value chain in the Healthcare and Life Sciences sector.
The program centres in developing leaders with a business and economic perspective for health systems and life-sciences enterprises in Canada and abroad. It is founded on a core MBA curriculum that builds on analytical rigour, strategic decision-making, and problem-solving skills; and by field-specific courses with an intellectual focus in healthcare and life sciences. Similarly, engagement with and exposure to global best practices in health systems, healthcare, and life sciences businesses enrich the students’ experience linking theoretical concepts and practice. Leadership development is supported through specific courses in the curriculum, personal skills awareness, individualized development plans, and career coaching.
Highlights:
18 months in duration, offered over five academic terms and structured in six modules
23 (+1) courses:
14 core MBA curriculum (contextualized to the healthcare and life sciences sector)
Nine healthcare and life sciences field-specific courses
One optional extra course with Rotman’s Creative Destruction Lab (CDL), a world-premiere venture-scaling program (requires additional application to CDL)
Delivered to a distinct cohort:
All candidates are professionals from the healthcare and life sciences sector
All candidates progress through the program together as a class from day one
Level 1
Delivered in a blended model (face-to-face and online learning)
Level 2
Face-to-face learning (over 80% of the courses)
Five residency modules: two modules in Toronto; one module in San Francisco and Bay Area; one module in Singapore; one module in Tel Aviv,and one module in London, UK and area.
On-site learning from innovative firms and organizations in multiple countries
Distance-based learning
Pre- and post-module coursework for residency courses
Four courses delivered completely online
Note: In case of impossibility of delivering courses face-to-face due to circumstances beyond our control, we have the capabilities to facilitate both synchronous and asynchronous online delivery of courses. Students participating remotely will not be disadvantaged.
GEMBA-HLS Course Calendar
The information below provides overviews of the Global Executive MBA for Healthcare and the Life Sciences degree requirements, including combined programs.
Note: Dates and locations are subject to change.
Module 1 – Toronto
Table Legend
Course
RSM2020H – Health Sector Strategy & Organization
RSM5600H – Personal Leadership
RSM5108H – Decision-Making with Models & Data in the GEMBA-HLS Program
RSM5604H – Leadership Development Practicum
RSM5109H – Rotman Study Tour
Online Between Modules 1-2
Course
RSM5101H – Economics 1
Module 2 – San Francisco
Course
RSM5001H – Strategy 1
RSM5013H – Digital Health
RSM2524H – Business Design Practicum
RSM5109H – Rotman Study Tour
RSM5015H – Capstone Project
Online Between Modules 2–3
Course
RSM5201H – Accounting 1
Module 3 – Singapore
Course
RSM5023H – Strategic Change & Implementation
RSM5604H – Leadership Development Practicum (Retreat)
RSM5109H – Rotman Study Tour
RSM5015H – Capstone Project
Online Between Modules 3–4
Course
RSM5301H – Finance 1
Module 4 – London
Course
RSM5007H – Global Health Systems
RSM2085H – Healthcare Innovation
RSM5109H – Rotman Study Tour
RSM5015H – Capstone Project
Online Between Modules 4–5
Course
RSM5801H – Quantitative Reasoning for Management
Module 5 – Sao Paulo
Course
RSM5303H – Corporate Finance and Corporate Governance
RSM5603H – Ethics
RSM5109H – Rotman Study Tour
RSM5015H – Capstone Project
Online Between Modules 5–6
Course
RSM5501H – Marketing 1
Module 6 – Toronto
Course
RSM5014H – Data Analytics
RSM2522H – Marketing and Behavioural Economics
RSM5602H – Negotiations
RSM5401H – Business Operations
RSM5604H – Leadership Development Practicum
RSM5109H – Rotman Study Tour
RSM5015H – Capstone Project
Term Dates and Academic Schedule
Module 1 – Toronto: October 22, 2023 – November 1, 2023
Module 2 – San Francisco: January 20, 2024 – January 27, 2024
Module 3 – Singapore: April 13, 2024 – April 20, 2024
Module 4 – London: July 7, 2024 – July 13, 2024
Module 5 – Sao Paulo: November 10, 2024 – November 16, 2024
Module 6 – Toronto: February 20, 2025 – March 1, 2025
Course Selection
Students are automatically enrolled in courses prior to the start of each module. Due to the integrated nature of the GEMBA-HLS curriculum, courses must be taken in the sequence outlined in the program curriculum. All GEMBA-HLS courses are mandatory. Students who experience difficulty with the course load or a particular subject should consult the Associate Director for advice.
Leave Policy
Students registered in the GEMBA-HLS program may apply for a leave during their program of study. Please see here for additional details and information.
Graduation Requirements
Students must satisfactorily complete all Core and Field courses in order to meet the graduation requirements of the GEMBA-HLS program. 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.
