Academic Calendar

Business Administration, M.B.A.

Degree Requirements

Boot Camps and Workshops

Mandatory preparatory boot camps and workshops help develop the necessary skills to succeed in the Asper MBA program and in the business world. The Asper School of Business MBA has three regularly offered pass/fail auxiliary courses (X):

  • SCM 5110 (Math Boot Camp) – online number crunching primer (challenge exam option available).
  • MIS 5120 (Information Technology Boot Camp) – online course that provides you with the basics of common productivity software packages used in the business world, with particular focus on Excel (challenge exam option available).
  • IDM 5120 – develop the “soft skills” you need to advance your career, such as business etiquette, networking, resume-building and behaviour-based interview skills.

Program Core

The Program Core consists of 30 credit hours of business fundamentals and strategy, and a foundation in leadership, decision-making methods, and contemporary themes that inform decisions in today’s business world.

Business Foundations

Course Title Hours
GMGT 7200Critical and Creative Thinking1.5
ACC 7010Accounting Fundamentals3
FIN 7000Managerial Economics1.5
FIN 7020Corporate Finance3
GMGT 7220Managing People in Organizations3
MKT 7010Marketing Management3
SCM 7120Operations and Supply Chain Management3
ACC 7020Managerial Accounting1.5
MIS 7120Management Information Systems1.5
GMGT 7210Strategy3
Total Hours24

The Strategy Capstone Course, to be taken in the last term of the program, provides a holistic perspective on managing an organization or business by integrating all the functional areas and themes explored in the Program Core.

Leadership

Course Title Hours
IDM 7510Strategic Leadership and Managing Change1.5
IDM 7000 Leadership and Practical Ethics1.5
IDM 7002Executive Leadership and Responsibilities- the CEO Course1.5
Total Hours4.5

Business Themes

Course Title Hours
IDM 7130Contemporary Themes in Business1.5
Total Hours1.5

Contemporary Themes in Business focuses on three themes: International and Emerging Markets, Sustainability, and Entrepreneurship and Innovation. These themes also inform the two Leadership courses and the Strategy Capstone Course. Together, they prepare you for the realities of business – and give you a distinct advantage in today’s competitive job market.

Concentrations and Themes

Tailor your MBA to your passion, your experience and the career you want. Half of the program (30 credit hours) is made up of electives, allowing a world of options to customize your program. Focus your studies on two functional areas, two themes, or a combination of area and theme. You can earn up to two concentrations/themes – the choice is entirely yours. Students can obtain a concentration by taking 12 credit hours of electives in that area or theme.

Specialized Concentration

  • Financial Analyst

Functional Concentrations

  • Finance
  • Leadership and Organizations
  • Marketing
  • Supply Chain Management

Themed Concentrations

  • International and Emerging Markets
  • Sustainability
  • Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Interdisciplinary Concentrations

  • Health Administration
  • Management of Public Enterprises
  • Individual Interdisciplinary Studies

General Management Option

  • Choose any combination of Asper MBA electives to suit your personal and professional goals.

An Experiential Course is a mandatory component of each of the three themes. It provides hands-on integrated business-related experience through opportunities such as an international study trip, a domestic industry project, stock market simulation, or launching a business.

*Please note: Not every combination of two themes and/or concentrations may be achieved in any given year/12 month program. GMGT 7210 constitutes the comprehensive examination. The course must be completed at the University of Manitoba normally in the final term of a student’s program, or once all the course pre- and co-requisites are satisfied.

Readings Courses and Industry Projects - With the approval of the MBA Program Committee and the academic area involved, a student can choose to undertake an industry (consulting) project or a readings course. The industry projects and readings courses count as three credit hours of elective coursework. Normally, a student is allowed up to two readings courses, two industry projects, or one readings course and one industry project during the program. An industry or readings course proposal must be submitted to a faculty supervisor and the MBA Program Committee for approval prior to registration for the course. Projects and reading courses can normally only be taken within the Asper School of Business, and normally cannot be counted towards a concentration.

No thesis option is available.

MBA Co-op Program

MBA students have an option to enrol in the MBA Co-op Program and complete a co-op work term as an elective in their program (IDM 7140 – 3 credit hours). The course consists of a work term assignment of a minimum of 420 hours in business, industry, or government.

To apply for a co-op work term, MBA students must have a degree GPA of at least 3.00 and normally would have completed all 30 credit hours of MBA core courses; at a minimum, students must have completed at least 27 of their program credit hours, including successful completion of IDM 5120. An interview with the Graduate Co-op Office personnel will be required for admission to the Asper MBA Co-op Program and applicants for the MBA Co-op Program will be evaluated based on a complete application.

Expected Time to Graduate: 1 - 6 years. 

  • Full Time: 12 months or up to 2 years.
  • Part Time: Take up to six years (the average is three).
  • Exemptions: You may qualify for a number of course exemptions, reducing your program course load and cost, if you:
    • Completed a business or management degree (or economics major) in a recognized university degree program, or courses in another MBA program, within the last five years, or
    • Have certain professional designations within a field where you are active and practicing.

Progression Chart

Plan of Study Grid
Years 1-6Hours
Required Courses  
SCM 5110 Basic Quantitative Analysis for Management 1
MIS 5120 Spreadsheet Skills for Management (AX) 1
IDM 5120 Career Development Seminar (AX) 1
GMGT 7200 Critical and Creative Thinking 1.5
FIN 7000 Managerial Economics 1.5
IDM 7130 Contemporary Themes in Business 1.5
FIN 7020 Corporate Finance 3
GMGT 7220 Managing People in Organizations 3
MKT 7010 Marketing Management 3
ACC 7010 Accounting Fundamentals 3
SCM 7120 Operations and Supply Chain Management 3
IDM 7510 Strategic Leadership and Managing Change 1.5
IDM 7000 Leadership and Practical Ethics 1.5
IDM 7002 Executive Leadership and Responsibilities- the CEO Course 1.5
ACC 7020 Managerial Accounting 1.5
MIS 7120 Management Information Systems 1.5
GMGT 7210 Strategy (program capstone course; ideally completed in the last term of the program) 3
GRAD 7300 Research Integrity Tutorial 0
GRAD 7500 Academic Integrity Tutorial 0
Elective Courses  
Select 10-14 Elective Courses 1 30-42
Co-op for Professional Graduate Programs 2  
 Hours63-75
 Total Hours63-75
1

Selections will vary for individuals, depending on chosen concentration(s) – see calendar entry. Total credits hours for the degree is 60 (max 72).

2

IDM 7140 MBA Co-op elective can be completed any time past the half way point of the program (after 30 credit hours).

Registration Information

Students should familiarize themselves with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies ‘GRAD’ courses applicable to their program. If you have questions about which GRAD course(s) to register in, please consult your home department/unit.

Regulations

Students must meet the requirements as outlined in both Supplementary Regulation and BFAR documents as approved by Senate.

Supplementary Regulations

Individual units may require specific requirements above and beyond those of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, and students should consult unit supplementary regulations for these specific regulations. 

Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR)

Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR) represent the core academic requirements a graduate student must acquire in order to gain, and demonstrate acquisition of, essential knowledge and skills.

All students must successfully complete:

  • GRAD 7300 prior to applying to any ethics boards which are appropriate to the student’s research or within the student’s first year, whichever comes first; and
  • GRAD 7500 within the first term of registration;

unless these courses have been completed previously, as per Mandatory Academic Integrity Course and Mandatory Research Integrity Online Course.

Students must also meet additional BFAR requirements that may be specified for their program.

General Regulations

All students must:

  • maintain a minimum degree grade point average of 3.0 with no grade below C+,
  • meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum course requirements, and
  • meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum time requirements (in terms of time in program and lapse or expiration of credit of courses).

Courses

Entrepreneurship

ENTR 7240  Entrepreneurship and New Venture Formation  1.5 cr  
Entrepreneurship and enterprising behaviour with an emphasis on the identification and evaluation of viable new venture concepts and their development into successful enterprises.

General Management

GMGT 7060  Readings in Business Administration  3 cr  
Supervised readings in one of the areas of business administration including human resource management, industrial relations, organizational behaviour, policy and environment.
GMGT 7070  Administrative Studies Research Project  6 cr  
Research in any one of the areas of administrative studies.
GMGT 7080  Research Methods  3 cr  
Principles of research design and data collection with examples drawn across the areas of marketing management, industrial relations, policy analysis, etc. Both cases and computer-based exercises are used.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: MSCI 5100.
GMGT 7090  Organizational Decision-Making  3 cr  
A study of the goal-setting and decision-making processes in organizations and the implications for the growth and survival of such organizations.
GMGT 7100  Interpersonal Processes  3 cr  
An examination of theories of interpersonal behaviour and processes as they apply to managerial situations. Emphasis upon individual behaviour and change, group dynamics, leadership behaviour, and communications.
GMGT 7110  Business and Its Environment  3 cr  
Analysis of the environmental factors within which a business operates.
GMGT 7120  Organizational Power and Politics  3 cr  
An examination of personal, interpersonal and organizational power in the context of organizational politics. Topics covered include rational versus political models of organizations, the accumulation and management of personal power, the politics of decision-making, the politics of managerial succession, the politics of budgets, authority, intergroup conflict, and bargaining and negotiation processes.
GMGT 7200  Critical and Creative Thinking  1.5 cr  
This course introduces students to different ways of thinking about cognitive dimensions of organizational leadership. Approaches include the creative (divergent perspective), the critical (convergent perspective) and the holistic (systems-perspective) with special emphasis on understanding the nature and appropriateness of different forms of cognition in organizational leadership.
GMGT 7210  Strategy  3 cr  
Students will integrate and apply concepts from various functional areas in analyzing organizational resources and capabilities, and environmental opportunities and threats. Students will study evolving strategic management problems and practices, and examine issues of formulation and implementation.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisites: ACC 7010 (or ACC 6050), FIN 7020 (or FIN 6072), GMGT 7200, GMGT 7220 (or one of HRIR 7450 and GMGT 6030), MKT 7010 (or MKT 6080), OPM 7120 (or OPM 6090). (All grades C+ or better) Pre- or Co-requisites: FIN 7000 (FIN 7120 or IDM 7720), ACC 7020 (or ACC 6060), MIS 7120 (or MIS 6150), IDM 7000 and IDM 7002 (or IDM 7120 or IDM 7060), IDM 7130, and IDM 7510. (All grades C+ or better)
GMGT 7220  Managing People in Organizations  3 cr  
This course examines strategies and methods for the management of people in organizations, their implications for organizational effectiveness, and both the challenges and opportunities they present to managers within the Canadian context and beyond.
GMGT 7230  Negotiations  3 cr  
This course helps familiarize students with the principles of integrative and distributive bargaining as a tool for decision-making and conflict resolution. It draws on theory and research from psychology, economics, and conflict management, and allows students to apply these principles in simulated negotiation contexts.
GMGT 7350  Administration: Selected Topics  3 cr  
Topics in one of the areas of business administration including human resource management, industrial relations, organizational theory and behaviour, and business policy and strategic management.
GMGT 7360  Organizational Behaviour and Self Development  3 cr  
This course will operate in a seminar format with two goals. The first goal is to provide an environment in which the student can develop and manage to successful conclusion a project in which they have significant intrinsic interest. The second goal is to improve the student's understanding of the inner life of an organization by increasing his/her ability to discriminate between the organizational "ropes to skip and the ropes to know."
GMGT 7370  Managing Innovation  3 cr  
An examination of organizational design characteristics in the context of a competitive international perspective. Emphasis is on an organizational and technological innovation to facilitate the development of new products or processes or to implement change in existing products or processes. Topics covered include Canadian experience and policy, facilitators and inhibitors in the creative process, diffusion of innovations, and the aims of the patent process.
GMGT 7400  Readings in Organizational Behaviour (Ph.D.)  3 cr  
An examination of theory and research from the social and administrative sciences that focuses on the interaction between organizations and their environments. The evaluation and synthesis of theoretical and empirical work in this area will be emphasized.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: admission to the Ph.D. program in Management (Organizational Behaviour) or approval by instructor.
GMGT 7410  Doctoral Seminar in Organizational Behaviour (Ph.D.)  3 cr  
An examination of theory and research from the social and administrative sciences that is relevant to the behaviour of individuals and groups within organizations. Emphasis will be placed on evaluation and synthesis of theoretical and empirical work in this area.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: admission to the Ph.D. program in Management (Organizational Behaviour) or approval by instructor.
GMGT 7440  Doctoral Seminar in Organizational Theory (Ph.D.)  3 cr  
The major goal of this course is to familiarize students with central schools of thought within organization theory. As with other theories in the social sciences, these schools of thought tend to be based on differing assumptions about the nature of the organizational world, the operation of causality, epistemology, and the role of human actors.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: admission to the Ph.D. program in Management (Organizational Behaviour) or approval by instructor.
GMGT 7510  Strategic Leadership and Managing Change  1.5 cr  
An examination of the role of the manager as a change agent and processes associated with strategic vision and change. Analysis of factors affecting strategic decisions and how organizations adapt to their environment. Emphasis is upon the role of leaders: transformational leadership, charisma, organizational design and managing organizational culture change.
GMGT 7520  Issues in Managerial Communication  3 cr  
An examination of strategies and development of skills for effective oral, written, non-verbal, interpersonal, group, cross-cultural, and ethical communication in management.
GMGT 7530  Selected Topics  3 cr  
An examination of current issues in areas which could, for example, include: organizational behaviour, organizational theory, strategy, human resource management, and industrial relations.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
GMGT 7540  Doctoral Seminar in Research Methods (Ph.D.)  3 cr  
Principles of research design and data collection appropriate for the areas of marketing, management, industrial relations, policy analysis, finance, management science, etc. Research problems and issues will be discussed from a number of perspectives. Conceptual material, statistical analyses, theoretical material and the utilization of statistical application software are used as the bases for seminar discussion.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: admission to the Ph.D. program in Management or approval by instructor.
GMGT 7710  Managerial Communication  1.5 cr  
Focus is on the interpersonal, intergroup, and intra-organizational communication skills required for effective leadership, and the objectives are to assist the participants in the following: increasing the clarity, correctness, and effectiveness of written and oral communication; recognizing and analysing communication dynamics at work in personal, group, and organizational interactions; increasing combination flexibility and proficiency in times of corporate challenge, change, and crisis.
GMGT 7720  Business Conditions Analysis  1.5 cr  
To provide an awareness of key components of the economic/business environment. Identifies critical indicators that affect decision-making and suggests strategies for forecasting future conditions. Topics covered include critical demographic trends, the change technological frontier, international trade, finance, and investment trends, and trends in interest rates and exchange rates. A theoretical overview will precede the discussion of business conditions indicators.
GMGT 7740  Business/Government Relations  1.5 cr  
Focuses on the logic of political-economic-business relations. The point of view is that of the manager. Specific tools of analysis are discussed that assist managers in understanding and working with aspects of public policy which interface with their private sector decisions.

Human Resources Management / Industrial Relations

HRIR 7140  Topics in Industrial Relations/Human Resource Management  3 cr  
An in-depth analysis of various topics in industrial relations and human resource management.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite or co-requisite: GMGT 7220.
HRIR 7162  Staffing  3 cr  
This graduate seminar provides an understanding of the staffing function of HRM. It focuses on how recruitment, selection, performance and retention management, function within an organization to gain a competatitve advantage through the management of work and people. Pre-or
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
co-requisite: GMGT 7220.
HRIR 7164  Training and Development  3 cr  
This graduate seminar provides an understanding of the training and development functions of HRM. The course focuses on how to design, implement , and evaluate a training program, and employee development and career management.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite or co-requisite: GMGT 7220.
HRIR 7166  Compensation  3 cr  
A review of the major concepts and design of compensation systems such as:strategy, external competitiveness, rewarding individual contributions, performance incentives, employee benefits, government regulations, union role in compensation, budgets and administration. Pre-or
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
co-requisite: GMGT 7220.
HRIR 7168  The Management of Labour and Employee Relations  3 cr  
An examination of the systems of labour and employee relations in Canada as it compares with the systems of other countries. Emphasis upon understanding and managing labour and employee relations in a changing economy. Not to be held with HRIR 7500. Pre-or
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
co-requisite: GMGT 7220.
Equiv To: HRIR 7500
HRIR 7460  Collective Bargaining  3 cr  
The labour management relations in the negotiation and administration of the collective agreement. The analysis of conflict and the application of bargaining theories.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Pre- or co-requisite: GMGT 7220.

Interdisciplinary Management

IDM 7000   Leadership and Practical Ethics  1.5 cr  
This course explores the nature of the ethical and moral challenges inherent in senior leadership, and contemplates the influence and responsibility within the role of the ethical executive leader. Not to be held with the former IDM 7120 or IDM 7060.
Mutually Exclusive: IDM 7060, IDM 7120
IDM 7002  Executive Leadership and Responsibilities- the CEO Course  1.5 cr  
This course focuses on learning about executive leadership through drawing on direct exchanges in the classroom with CEOs from top companies in a range of sectors. Students will engage in extended dialogues with several executives concerning their experience in leading organizations with special attention to selected program themes. Not to be held with the former IDM 7120 or IDM 7060.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: IDM 7000 (C+).
Mutually Exclusive: IDM 7060, IDM 7120
IDM 7010  Industry Project  3 cr  
Supervised study and research of a problem opportunity in business or management. Specific course requirements determined by the faculty member assigned to be the course coordinator. In addition, each project will be supervised by a faculty member expert in the area. Projects consist of written report(s) containing substantive, practical evidence and analytically structured comments, academic materials, and bibliographical references. Pass/Fail basis only.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: completion of all 600-level MBA courses (or equivalent experience) and consent of MBA program director.
IDM 7020  Managing for Sustainable Development  1.5 cr  
Strategic issues related to the manager's role in sustainable development, including enterprises in the renewable and non-renewable resource sectors, life-cycle analysis, and full cost accounting. Emphasis is placed on environmental management control systems, environmental performance measurement, reporting, and the impact of environmental management on strategic management decisions.
IDM 7030  Social and Community Awareness Project  0 cr  
An experiential project examining issues related to economically and/or socially disadvantaged individuals and groups with emphasis on corporate social responsibility. This course is graded pass/fail.
IDM 7040  Leadership and Personal Development Seminar  0 cr  
Preparation in computer, technical, interpersonal, and team-building skills for MBA MANITOBA program. This course is graded pass/fail.
IDM 7050  International Study Trip  3 cr  
A supervised international experience to examine the relationship between corporations, senior managers, and social institutions in selected countries. Examination of the interplay between culture, economic development, management systems and strategies in other countries. Emphasis upon establishment of business networks on an international basis.
IDM 7070  Fundamental Professional & Leadership Seminar  1.5 cr  
Series of seminars covering fundamental topics essential for modern management including business ethics and managing diversity.
IDM 7080  Professional and Leadership Seminar  1.5 cr  
Series of seminars covering fundamental topics essential for modern management including such topics as: aboriginal business, managerial law, situational leadership, creating shareholder value, developing a business plan, and career management.
IDM 7090  Interdisciplinary Management Topics  3 cr  
This is a graduate-level MBA course on a very specialized topic and is offered on an infrequent basis. Course content will be an examination of specialized topics or issues which may cross-pollinate with other business related areas. The overall aim of the course is to provide solid practical knowledge about a developing subject, to understand both implications and potential applications for organizations and their leadership today and in the future. Some topics could, for example, include Global Social Enterprise, Global Sales Distribution, Channel Management, Big Data and the Corporation, Infrastructure and Real Estate, and Coaching International Teams. Students may not hold credit for IDM 709 and IDM 7092 with the same topic title.
Equiv To: IDM 7092
IDM 7092  Interdisciplinary Management Topics  1.5 cr  
This is a graduate-level MBA course on a very specialized topic and is offered on an infrequent basis. Course content will be an examination of specialized topics or issues which may cross-pollinate with other business related areas. The overall aim of the course is to provide solid practical knowledge about a developing subject, to understand both implications and potential applications for organizations and their leadership today and in the future. Some topics could, for example, include Global Social Enterprise, Global Sales Distribution, Channel Management, Big Data and the Corporation, Infrastructure and Real Estate, and Coaching International Teams. Students may not hold credit for IDM 709 and IDM 7092 with the same topic title.
Equiv To: IDM 7090
IDM 7130  Contemporary Themes in Business  1.5 cr  
This course exposes students to salient themes found in the modern business environment. Students will develop a broad appreciation for the challenges and opportunities presented by these contemporary themes (e.g. International and Emerging Markets: Sustainability: Entrepreneurship and Innovation).
IDM 7140  Co-op for Professional Graduate Programs  3 cr  
Work assignment in business, industry, or government for students registered in an Asper School of Business Professional Graduate Co-operative Education Program. For Asper Professional Graduate students only.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Written permission from the Asper School of Business Professional Graduate Co-operative Education Program, IDM 5120, a current degree GPA of 3.00 or higher, and completion of at least 27 credit hours in the current degree program.
IDM 7510  Strategic Leadership and Managing Change  1.5 cr  
An examination of the role of the manager as a change agent and processes associated with strategic vision and change. Analysis of factors affecting strategic decisions and how organizations adapt to their environment. Emphasis is upon the role of leaders: transformational leadership, charisma, organizational design and managing organizational culture change.

International Business

INTB 7030  Comparative Management  3 cr  
Comparative study and evaluation of management philosophy and practices in cross-cultural setting; the cultural, economic, and political environment which influence management decision-making. Not taught every year.
INTB 7032  Comparative Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management  3 cr  
Equiv To: INTB 7150
INTB 7040  International Organizational Behaviour  3 cr  
The examination of dilemmas and opportunities that managers face when they work in a cross-cultural setting. The purpose of this course is to develop the necessary understandings and skills to effectively manage problems arising from the interaction of people from different cultures in work settings. Not to be held with INTB 7030.
Equiv To: INTB 7030
INTB 7730  International Business  1.5 cr  
Develop an appreciation of business decision-making in an international/global context. Learning activities are focused towards developing intellectual and interpersonal skills in order for managers to function more effectively in international markets.