Global Executive MBA for Healthcare and the Life Sciences Curriculum
Curriculum
The following curriculum information is for students who are beginning their studies in Spring 2025 and later. For students that began their studies prior to Spring 2025, please see the curriculum information here.
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:
15 months in duration, offered over four academic terms and structured in five modules
22 (+ one) courses:
12 core MBA curriculum (contextualized to the healthcare and life sciences sector)
Includes two program-long courses
10 healthcare and life sciences field-specific courses
Includes one program-long course
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
50/50 hybrid format with in-person classes and live online sessions
Course Calendar and Academic Schedule
The information below provides overviews of the GEMBA-HLS degree requirements.
Note: Dates and locations are subject to change.
Program Long Courses
Course
Delivery
RSM5015Y – Capstone Project
Hybrid
RSM5109H – Rotman Study Tour
Hybrid
RSM5604H – Leadership Development Practicum
Hybrid
Module 1 – Toronto
Mid-January
Course
Delivery
RSM2020H – Health Sector Strategy & Organization
In-Person
RSM5001H – Strategy 1
Hybrid
RSM5201H – Accounting 1
Hybrid
RSM5600H – Personal Leadership
Online
Module 2 – Toronto
Late April to Early May
Course
Delivery
RSM2523H – Business Design Fundamentals
In-Person
RSM5301H – Finance 1
Hybrid
RSM5603H – The Business Environment: Ethics
Hybrid
RSM5101H – Economics 1
Hybrid
RSM5501H – Marketing 1
Online
Module 3 – London/Milan
Early to Mid-September
Course
Delivery
RSM5023H – Strategic Change & Implementation
In-Person
RSM5012H – Special Topics in Strategy: Global Health Systems
In-Person
RSM2085H – Healthcare Innovation
Online
RSM5801H – Quantitative Reasoning for Management
Online
Module 4 – Singapore
Early to Mid-December
Course
Delivery
RSM5401H – Business Operations
In-Person
RSM5013H – Digital Health
In-Person
Module 5 – Toronto
Mid-March
Course
Delivery
RSM5108H – Decision-Making with Models & Data in the GEMBA-HLS Program
Hybrid
RSM5602H – Negotiations
Hybrid
RSM2522H – Marketing and Behavioural Economics
Hybrid
RSM5302H – Finance 2
Hybrid
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.
