phd in management at university of toronto

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PhD in Information

Be equipped to take on leadership roles in information and knowledge-based environments, including academia. The doctorate program features advanced scholarly research in the theoretical basis of information studies. In private and public institutions, apply the PhD to professional practice functions such as research, systems analysis and design, and administration.

 Admission requirements to the PhD in Information program

• Application & deadlines

Academic requirements

Supporting documents, after applying.

Quick links:

• PhD program
• PhD student funding
• Collaborative specializations
• PhD student recruitment

Contact us at [email protected]

 Application & deadlines

Entry into the program occurs once a year, in September . The program is delivered in-person on campus.

Application Form & Fee

• Apply via the University of Toronto School of Graduate Studies Online Admissions Application.
• Read the frequently asked questions  about the online application.
• The application fee is $125 CAD per application.

Application Deadlines for Admission

• October 1 – online application is available
• December 1 – online application, application fee and all supporting documents must be submitted: statement of interest, research statement, transcripts, CV/resume, writing sample, academic letters of reference, English proficiency test scores (if applicable). An application with supporting documents submitted after this date, or with missing supporting documents will be considered incomplete, and will not be reviewed by the Admissions Committee.

Missed the PhD Info Night on October 26? Watch the recording HERE! 

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AN APPROPRIATE MASTER’S DEGREE

• An appropriate  Master’s degree  from a recognized university is required. The degree may be in any discipline or area of study.  
• If your degree was earned outside of Canada, use the  International Degree Equivalency Too l   to identify equivalent credentials.

MINIMUM GRADE REQUIREMENT:

• A- average (or equivalent).
• This is the minimum GPA requirement for consideration. Presenting the minimum does not guarantee admission.

While work experience is invaluable personal and professional experience, it cannot be a substitute for academic requirements.

TRANSCRIPTS

Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended:

• For applicants currently in the process of completing their final year of study, an interim transcript must be submitted.
• Current and past University of Toronto students applying to Faculty of Information programs may give permission to the Faculty to download an official UofT transcript by emailing  [email protected]

For the purpose of the application review, unofficial transcripts may be uploaded  to the online application form.

• If an offer of admission is made, official final transcripts must be submitted to the Faculty as part of the offer condition(s).
• Transcripts are considered official when they have been prepared, sealed in an envelope, and signed over the back flap by an official at the issuing institution. They are to be sent directly to the  Faculty of Information:  University of Toronto, 140 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G6.

The Admissions Committee may at any time during the application process request that applicants submit official transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended.

For students whose admitting degree was granted outside of North America, the Faculty of Information will accept transcripts sent directly from World Education Services (WES) as official transcripts.  The Faculty of Information will consider the evaluation report from WES but will make its own evaluation decision.

For admission to the Faculty of Information,  standardized tests (such as GMAT or GRE) are not required or requested, and will not be considered.

A CURRENT CURRICULUM VITAE (CV)/RESUME

Your CV should include: education; relevant personal and work experience, both paid and unpaid; publications; professional activities; awards, honours, grants and fellowships, as applicable.

*Please submit your research statement and statement of interest   as one document through the  SGS application site  as either a Microsoft Word file or a PDF, under the research statement field.

RESEARCH STATEMENT

All applicants should proactively reach out to  Faculty members  conducting research in the area you are interested in to ensure that your research can be well supported by a faculty member.

Your research statement should be written in essay format and be a maximum of 1,000 words, double-spaced.

A research statement generally outlines: 1) the research you plan to undertake in a PhD; 2) support at the Faculty of Information. We have provided some prompts that may stimulate and guide your thinking:

1 . The research or project you plan to undertake in your PhD : What is the research you will conduct at the Faculty of Information? What fields or areas of research is your project in conversation with (demonstrated through a short literature review)? Who are the scholars (including researchers, artists, practitioners, community leaders,  elders, etc.) that have shaped your research interests? What is significant or novel about this research? Explain how your research contributes to intellectual diversity in the Faculty.

2. Support at the Faculty of Information: Why do you want to undertake this research at the Faculty of Information? Which faculty members do you propose to supervise your research and serve on your dissertation committee, and why? Have you met with these faculty members? Which courses and programs of study (including potential optional collaborative programs) will support your research? Are there research centres, institutions, or communities that can support your research?

• Be specific
• Include citations and a bibliography
• Include a short title for your research project
• Include specific details about achievements (academic, professional, or community)
• Write in clear, jargon-free language for an interdisciplinary committee

STATEMENT OF INTEREST

Your statement of interest should be written in essay format and be a maximum of 500 words, double-spaced. Your statement of interest generally outlines your background. We have provided some prompts that may stimulate and guide your thinking:

Your background : How did you become interested in this research? What led you to this proposed research? What background (academic, personal or professional) do you have that prepares you to pursue this project or area of research, and how do you need to grow? You should be specific about courses, essays, theses, research-creation, community organizing, activism and/or lived experiences that have prepared you to undertake the proposed research.

WRITING SAMPLE​

In the online application, you will be able to upload your writing sample to the portal at the end – during the “review” stage.

The writing sample is a piece of original academic work, around 3,000-8,000 words (double-spaced if not in published format).

It could be one of:

• a course paper
• an excerpt from your thesis or major research paper
• an article submitted for publication
• a chapter from a book or other similar publication

The writing sample is used to evaluate your writing skills, which are an important component of the PhD. This is easiest to do if the sample is single-authored. If you submit a collaboratively authored sample, please include a statement of contributions that explains your role.

ACADEMIC LETTERS OF REFERENCE

Three acadmemic letters are required . If you graduated more than five years ago, you may substitute professional letters of reference. Work-related referees should be direct supervisors who can comment on your skills that are useful in the academic environment.

In the online application, you will be asked to provide the contact information for your referees. Once you have paid the application fee your referees will be emailed by the School of Graduate Studies with instructions directing them to a secure website where they will submit electronically:

• a candidate assessment in a fillable confidential report form
• a reference letter

Suggested guidelines for reference letters:

• Letters should be 1-2 pages maximum
• Include how long you have known the applicant and in what capacity
• Outline the applicant’s strengths as a student/researcher, ideally with specific examples
• Avoid gendered language
• Include details such as: how would you describe the applicant’s intellectual characteristics? Their ability to carry out independent and collaborative research? What has prepared the applicant to undertake a PhD? How do you assess the applicant’s communication, research, and writing skills? Does the applicant possess personal qualities that will help them succeed in a PhD? Is there anything else we should know about the applicant that they may not have included in their research statement?

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY – IF REQUIRED

Applicants whose first language is not English will need to submit an English proficiency test result.

Applicants whose first language is not English but who completed an Undergraduate or Graduate degree from an institution where English is used as the medium of instruction and examination may not require an English proficiency test. However, applicants will be required to provide a letter from their previous institution to verify that English is indeed used as the medium of instruction. This letter should be sent directly to the Faculty of Information on official institution letterhead and email.

The Admissions Committee reserves the right to require applicants to provide an English proficiency test result during the application process.

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APPLICATION STATUS CHECK

You may log in to your profile on the  application website  to confirm the receipt of your supporting documents or amend your current contact information. Your application will be marked “Under Review” when it has gone to the Admission Committee for consideration.

REVIEW PROCESS

The Admissions Committee takes a holistic approach in reviewing candidates. Emphasis is not placed on any specific area but on the overall application. Meeting the minimum requirements of the Faculty of Information and the School of Graduate Studies does not guarantee admission.

Applicants may be contacted for an interview during the application review process.

Admission is based on the availability of a faculty member to support your research. It is important to us that our admitted PhD students are well supported in their area of research by their supervisors. Therefore, you should proactively reach out to  Faculty members who are conducting research in the area you are interested in ahead of time to ensure that you will have a supervisor who has the expertise to support your research.

NOTIFICATION OF DECISIONS

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• Future Students

School of Graduate Studies

Health policy, management and evaluation, program overview.

The Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME) is training Canada’s future health leaders and researchers through its outstanding  degree programs:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Health Policy, Management and Evaluation concen​trations:

• Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research
• Health Professions Education Research
• Health Services Research
• Quality Improvement and Patient Safety​
• System Leadership and Innovation

​Multidisciplinary  collaborative specializations with other University of Toronto graduate departments allow further specialization.

See a complete description of all IHPME programs . Please note the application deadlines.​

Quick Facts

Master of science, program description.

The HPME graduate program offers the following concentrations leading to the MSc degree:

Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research;

Health Systems Leadership and Innovation;

Health Systems Research; and

Quality Improvement and Patient Safety

The MSc program can be taken on a full-time or part-time basis.

Concentration: Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research

Minimum admission requirements.

Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy IHPME's additional admission requirements stated below.

Applicants require an overall B+ average or higher in the last two years of an appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university. For applicants to this concentration, a degree in a health profession (for example, MD, BScN, BScOT, BScPT, DDM, MScN) from a recognized university with a B+ average in the final two years is required.

Program Requirements

Two options are available:

Thesis option comprising 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) and a thesis.

Coursework-only option comprising 5.0 FCEs, including completion of at least one research practicum.

Students may elect to take up to 0.5 FCE on a Credit/No Credit (CR/NCR) basis. See the CR/NCR-eligible courses in the course list section.

Completion of 3.0 FCEs as follows:

​​​1.5 FCEs required: HAD5301H, HAD5307H, and one of HAD5303H, HAD5304H, HAD5306H, or HAD5309H

1.5 FCEs in electives.

A thesis written under the supervision of a thesis committee (supervisor and at least one, and preferably two, additional graduate faculty members) and its defence before an examination committee.

Coursework-Only MSc

Completion of 5.0 FCEs as follows:

​​2.0 FCEs required: HAD5301H, HAD5307H, HAD6360H, and one of HAD5303H, HAD5304H, or HAD5309H

3.0 FCEs in electives.

Program Length

3 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/S); 6 sessions part-time

3 years full-time; 6 years part-time

Master of Science​

Concentration: health systems leadership and innovation.

Applicants require an overall B+ average or higher in the last two years of an appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university.

• Applicants must have health-care experience and demonstrate aptitude for innovation and health systems.
• Preference will be given to medical trainees in a Canadian Faculty of Medicine or to early-career physicians. Undergraduate medical trainees who are accepted must register part-time; post-graduate medical education trainees who are accepted may register full-time or part-time.

The concentration in Health Systems Leadership and Innovation consists of coursework only. Students begin this concentration in the Summer session.

See amendment made on April 10, 2024.

• ​​​​2.5 required FCEs (HAD2001H, HAD2006H, HAD2007H, HAD2012H, and HAD2013H)
• 1.0 required FCE in experiential learning: HAD2040Y 0
• 1.5 elective FCEs; please consult with the department about electives

​Program Length

3 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: S/F/W); 7 sessions part-time

0 Course that may continue over a program. The course is graded when completed.

Concentration: Health Systems Research

Applicants require an overall B+ average or higher in the last two years of an appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university. For applicants to Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research, a degree in a health profession (for example, MD, BScN, BScOT, BScPT, DDM, MScN) from a recognized university with a B+ average in the final two years is required.

Coursework-only option comprising 5.0 FCEs.

Completion of 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

1.0 FCE in research methodology courses

1.0 FCE in health systems research courses:

HAD5011H Canada's Health Care System and Health Policy

0.5 FCE from other health systems research courses

1.0 FCE in electives.

A thesis written under the supervision of a thesis committee and its defence before an examination committee.

Completion of 5.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

1.0 FCE in health systems research courses, normally from HAD5011H, HAD5022H, HAD5727H, HAD5756H, or HAD5773H

1.0 FCE in research methodology courses, normally from HSR1001H, HAD5765H, HAD5772H, HAD5740H, HAD5742H, HAD5744H, HAD5746H, HAD5779H, or HAD5781H

3.0 FCEs in electives, normally from HAD5726H, HAD5728H, HAD5730H, HAD5737H, HAD5738H, HAD5743H, HAD5744H, HAD5760H, HAD5763H, HAD5771H, HAD5778H, or HAD6750H.

Students in the thesis option of the Health Systems Research concentration have the option to complete an emphasis by completing 2.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) in a given area. The emphasis requirements will also count toward their 3.0 FCE concentration requirements.

Students in the Vector pathway within the Health Systems Research concentration must complete the emphasis in Health Systems Artificial Intelligence and complete their remaining 1.0 FCE concentration requirements by taking HAD5011H and HAD5772H.

Emphasis: Health Economics

Students must complete 2.0 FCEs as follows:

HAD5730H Economic Evaluation Methods for Health Systems Research.

HAD5744H Applied Health Econometrics I.

HAD5746H Applied Health Econometrics II.

HAD5760H Advanced Health Economics and Policy Analysis.

Emphasis: Health Informatics Research

HAD5726H Evaluation and Research Design in Health Informatics.

Three courses (1.5 FCEs) from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration, Master of Health Informatics program, or other relevant graduate courses as approved by the Graduate Coordinator.

Emphasis: Health Policy

CHL5300H Public Health Policy .

HAD5778H Comparative Health Systems and Policy.

1.0 FCE from the following list:

CHL5308H Tools and Approaches for Public Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation

HAD5022H Politics, Policy, Public Health, and Health Technology

HAD5765H Case Studies in Health Policy

Other health policy research course as appropriate, for example:

CHL5523H Indigenous Health and Social Policy

CHL5702H History of International Health ​ or

CHL5704H International Human Rights Law and Global Health: The Right to Health in Theory and Practice .

Emphasis: Health Systems Artificial Intelligence

CHL3020H Ethics and AI in Health

CHL5230H Applied Machine Learning for Health Data (research methods course)

MHI2002H Emergent Topics in Heath Informatics

0.5 FCE from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration or the Master of Health Informatics program. Recommended: HAD5726H Evaluation and Research Design in Health Informatics .

Emphasis: Health Technology Assessment

HAD5301H Introduction to Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research or equivalent.

HAD5307H Introduction to Applied Biostatistics.

0.5 FCE from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration.

0.5 FCE from the following list:

HAD5730H Economic Evaluation Methods for Health Systems Research

HAD5771H Resource Allocation Ethics

HAD5779H Evidence Synthesis for Health Services, Systems, and Policy Research or HAD5308H Evidence Synthesis: Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis .

​​​​ Emphasis: Organization and Management Studies

HAD5773H Introduction to Theories of Organizational Behaviour and Applications to the Health Care Sector.

1.5 FCEs from the following list:

HAD5727H Knowledge Transfer and Exchange

HAD5737H Tools for Implementation Science

HAD5740H Intermediate Level Qualitative Methods

HAD5742H Mixed Methods for Health Systems Research

HAD5744H Applied Health Econometrics I

HSR1001H Introduction to Qualitative Methods for Health Systems and Policy Research .

Emphasis: Outcomes and Evaluation Studies

HAD5720H Evaluation I

HAD5743H Evaluation II

HAD5763H Advanced Methods in Health Services Research

CHL5202H Biostatistics II

HAD5316H Biostatistics II: Advanced Techniques in Applied Regression Methods

HAD5772H Intermediate Statistics for Health Systems Researchers

• 0.5 elective FCE from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration.

Concentration: Quality Improvement and Patient Safety

2.5 FCEs required: HAD3010H, HAD3020H, HAD3041Y 0 , HAD3050H

0.5 FCE in electives.

A thesis written under the supervision of a thesis committee (comprising the supervisor and at least one additional graduate faculty member, preferably two) and its defence before an examination committee.

​​3.0 required FCEs (HAD3010H, HAD3020H, HAD3030H, HAD3050H, HAD3060H, HAD3070H)

1.0 required FCE in a research project practicum (HAD3040Y)

3 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/S)

3 years full-time

​Doctor of Philosophy​

The HPME graduate program offers three concentrations leading to the PhD degree: 1) Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research; 2) Health Professions Education Research; and 3) Health Systems Research.

Applicants may enter the PhD program via one of two routes: 1) following completion of an MA or MSc degree; 2) transfer from the University of Toronto MSc transfer program.

The PhD program can be taken on a full-time or flexible-time basis. Some applicants may be admitted to a flexible-time PhD option with the approval of the Graduate Chair. The flexible-time PhD option benefits mature students with career and/or familial obligations.

Concentration: Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research (CEHCR)

Phd program (full-time).

Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the IHPME's additional admission requirements stated below.

Applicants to this concentration must have a degree in a health profession (for example, MD, BScN, BScOT, BScPT, DDM, MScN, or equivalent).

Satisfactory references pertaining to the applicant's academic and research abilities.

Outstanding students with a non-thesis master's degree may be admitted to the full-time PhD upon the recommendation of the appropriate IHPME committee, if the applicant has the appropriate background preparation and research experience or publications which can be considered equivalent to a master's thesis.

Completion of a comprehensive course .

Completion of 5.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) from the PhD courses listed below, which must include:

2.0 FCEs in compulsory courses and

2.0 recommended FCEs from the Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research courses listed below.

Writing of a PhD thesis under the supervision of an approved thesis committee (supervisor plus at least two additional graduate faculty members).

Oral defence of the thesis before an examination committee.

4 years full-time

6 years full-time

PhD Program (Transfer)

Transfer requirements.

To be considered for admission to the PhD transfer option, applicants must be admitted to the MSc program in Health Policy, Management and Evaluation in the Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research concentration.

Within 24 months of registration in the MSc program, applicants must notify the CEHCR Program Director of their interest in applying to transfer to the PhD program.

Transfer to the PhD program is contingent upon successful completion of sufficient master’s coursework (normally, 2.5 FCEs), and the preparation and defence of a PhD thesis proposal.

5 years full-time

7 years full-time

PhD Program (Flexible-Time)

With approval of the Graduate Chair, some applicants may be admitted to a flexible-time PhD option. This option will benefit students with career obligations. The degree requirements for the flexible-time PhD option are identical to those listed above for the full-time PhD option.

Outstanding students with a non-thesis master's degree may be admitted to the flexible-time PhD upon the recommendation of the appropriate IHPME committee, if the applicant has the appropriate background preparation and research experience or publications which can be considered equivalent to a master's thesis.

Students must register full-time for the first four years of their program (Fall, Spring, Summer sessions); thereafter, they may register part-time.

6 years flexible-time

8 years flexible-time

Concentration: Health Professions Education Research

A master's degree (MA or MSc) requiring a thesis with a B+ average or higher.

4.5 FCEs in compulsory courses from the Health Professions Education Research courses listed below.

Doctor of Philosophy

Outstanding students with a non-thesis master's degree may be admitted to the PhD upon the recommendation of the appropriate IHPME committee, if the applicant has the appropriate background preparation and research experience or publications which can be considered equivalent to a master's thesis.

Students must select one of six emphases and complete the required emphasis courses listed below.

Completion of 5.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) including:

A comprehensive course (0.5 FCE) specified as part of the requirements for each emphasis below.

2.0 FCEs as follows: HAD5011H, HAD5772H (or equivalent if specified in the selected emphasis), HAD6760H, and HAD6770H.

Students enrolled in the Health Systems Research concentration of the PhD program must study under one of six emphases , described below, and complete six courses ( 3.0 full-course equivalents [FCEs] ) related to their declared emphasis.

Students must complete 3.0 FCEs as follows:

HAD6750H Advanced Health Economics and Policy Analysis II.

HAD5747H Cognitive, Social, and Information Science Theory in Health Informatics Research .

HAD6764H Health Informatics Research Comprehensive Course.

CHL5300H Public Health Policy (students may elect to take this course on a Credit/No Credit basis).

HAD6763H Health Policy Comprehensive Course.

CHL5308H Tools and Approaches for Public Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation.

HAD5022H Politics, Policy, Public Health, and Health Technology.

HAD5765H Case Studies in Health Policy.

Other course as appropriate, for example:

CHL5523H Indigenous Health and Social Policy .

CHL5702H History of International Health .

HAD5742H Mixed Methods for Health Systems Research.

HAD5781H Case Study Research for Health Services, Systems, and Policy.

HSR1001H Introduction to Qualitative Methods for Health Systems and Policy Research.

Other courses from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration in the area of policy-relevant methods.

0.5 FCE from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration, or other HPME concentrations as approved by the HPME graduate coordinator.

HAD5301H Introduction to Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research.

HAD6765H Health Technology Assessment Comprehensive Course (Credit/No Credit).

Three courses (1.5 FCEs) from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration.

One course (0.5 FCE) from the following list:

HAD5730H Economic Evaluation Methods for Health Systems Research .

HAD5771H Resource Allocation Ethics .

Emphasis: Organization and Management Studies

HAD5750H Seminar in Organizational Behaviour .

HAD6762H Organization and Management Studies Comprehensive Course.

One course (0.5 FCE) from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration.

HAD5743H Evaluation II .

HAD6761H Outcomes and Evaluation Studies Comprehensive Course .

Two courses (1.0 FCE) from the following list:

HAD2003H Learning Health Systems Part 1: Identifying Opportunities for System Change and Designing Sound Innovations .

HAD5720H Evaluation I .

HAD5728H Performance Measurement in Health Care: Theory and Application .

HAD5740H Intermediate Level Qualitative Methods .

HAD5742H Mixed Methods for Health Systems Research .

HAD5763H Advanced Methods in Health Services Research .

HAD5781H Case Study Research for Health Services, Systems and Policy .

One course (0.5 FCE), generally an advanced methods course, from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration.

PhD students in the Health Systems Research concentration who are pursuing the emphasis in Outcomes and Evaluation Studies may fulfil the concentration requirements by replacing HAD5772H Intermediate Statistics for Health Systems Researchers with CHL5202H Biostatistics II or HAD5316H Biostatistics II: Advanced Techniques in Applied Regression Methods .

To be considered for admission to the PhD transfer option, applicants must be admitted to the MSc program in Health Policy, Management and Evaluation.

At the time of application to the MSc program, applicants must indicate in their Letter of Intent their interest in applying to transfer to the PhD program.

Transfer to the PhD program is contingent upon:

Successful completion of a minimum 2.5 FCEs of master’s coursework.

Achieving a minimum grade of B+ in all courses and an overall average of A– in their program.

Obtaining a letter of support from the applicant's supervisor.

The preparation and defence of a PhD-quality thesis proposal.

Once students have successfully transferred to the PhD program, they must study under one of six emphases and complete the required emphasis courses listed below.

Students enrolled in the Health Systems Research Concentration of the PhD program must study under one of six emphases , described below, and complete six courses ( 3.0 full-course equivalents [FCEs] ) related to their declared emphasis.

HAD5779H Evidence Synthesis for Health Services, Systems, and Policy Research or HAD5308H Evidence Synthesis: Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis.

HAD5779H Evidence Synthesis for Health Services, Systems, and Policy Research .

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PhD: HSR Program Details

Minimum education.

Successful applicants will have an excellent record of scholarship and an aptitude for health services research. PhD applicants will have completed a thesis master’s degree or have equivalent research experience.

PhD applicants should have graduated from their master’s program with at least a B+ average.

Applicants without a thesis-based master’s or relevant research experience are required to apply through the MSc program, and may be eligible for the MSc/PhD Transfer Program . If you are in this category you must state your interest in transferring to the PhD in the statement of intent.

• an outline of their research interests;
• a statement of their interest in health services research;
• and a description of the specific areas of research they would like to pursue. 
• Applicants are also required to provide a Curriculum Vitae
• Transcripts (scanned copy). Only students that have been offered admission and accepted will be required to provide original transcripts.

It is strongly recommended that you identify a potential supervisor (review Faculty Profiles and Research and Initiatives and communicate with potential supervisors that align with your research interests) as part of your application.  You will be asked to submit one or two names of potential supervisors.  Once your application is submitted, you are encouraged to continue to try to confirm a supervisor prior to the next phase of the application process.

Reference Letters

You are required to enter contact details for two referees in the application system who can speak to your academic and research abilities. They will receive an email with a link to an online reference letter form.

Other Information Required on the Application 

Indicate your preferred emphasis in the drop-down in the application system.

Finance Your Degree

At IHPME, we offer a variety of financial supports to help you succeed in our graduate programs.

Learn More About this Program

Hsr program director.

Katie N. Dainty Email Address: katie.dainty@​utoronto.ca

Graduate Administrator

Zoe Downie-Ross Phone Number: (416) 946-3486 Email Address: ihpme.grad.admin@​utoronto.ca

Coordinates student records, graduate funding, and student-related awards.

Graduate Admissions

Christina Lopez Email Address: ihpme.admissions@​utoronto.ca

Manages admissions and responds to all related inquiries.

Graduate Assistant

Nadia Ismail Phone Number: (416) 946-4100 Email Address: ihpme.grad.assist@​utoronto.ca

Coordinates various graduate initiatives including defences, student events, and graduation.

HSR Program Assistant

Anita Morehouse Phone Number: 416-946-3922 Email Address: ihpme.hsr.courses@​utoronto.ca

Manages the HSR courses including enrolment, grades, and access to Quercus.

Undergraduate Programs

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Mississauga Campus

Program Information

Degree(s): Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Honours Bachelor of Arts

Program(s): Business, Science and Entrepreneurship (Minor) Human Resource Management (Specialist) Management (Major, Specialist)

OUAC Admission Code: TMG (Management)

Academic Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma Six 4U/M courses, including:

• Advanced Functions (MHF4U)
• English (ENG4U)

Find equivalent requirements for Canadian high school systems , US high school system , International Baccalaureate , British-Patterned Education , French-Patterned Education , CAPE , and other international high school systems .

Scarborough Campus

Degree(s): Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)

Program(s): Management (Co-op, Specialist) Management & Accounting (Co-op, Specialist) Management & Finance (Co-op, Specialist) Management & Human Resources (Co-op, Specialist) Management & Information Technology (Co-op, Specialist) Management & International Business (Co-op, Specialist) Management & Marketing (Co-op, Specialist) Management & Accounting + Master of Accounting & Finance - Combined Degree Path (BBA + MAccFin) (Co-op, Specialist) Management & Finance and Statistics—Quantitative Finance Stream (BBA + HBSc, Double Degree) (Co-op, Specialist)

OUAC Admission Code: TSM (Management), TSB (International Business), TXQ (Double Degree)

• Calculus & Vectors (MCV4U)
• Supplemental Application Required

PhD in Management program

The PhD in Management program requires candidates to successfully complete nine one-term graduate courses, pass the candidacy examination and a proposal defense and complete a dissertation based on independent, original scholarship. Candidates can complete the program in four years full-time and six years part-time.

Students can focus their studies on any one of the following interdisciplinary specializations:

Digital Enterprise and Social Media

Real estate studies, retail and consumer services, strategy, innovation and entrepreneurship.

The nine one-term courses consist of three core courses, three elective credits and three required research seminar courses.

Core courses

The three PhD level core courses include Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods and a Management and Organization Theory course.

Elective credits

Of the three elective credits, one must be taken at the PhD level in the student's proposed area of specialization and two elective credits may be taken from the available master’s level electives at the Ted Rogers School or from graduate level electives offered by other Toronto Metropolitan University departments.

Required research seminar courses

The research seminars provide an opportunity for faculty members and students to discuss theoretical and applied research within the area, explicitly focusing on the methodologies that are useful to conduct and disseminate research.

Candidacy exam

The candidacy exam includes two parts: a written exam and an oral exam. The written exam includes essay type questions that examine the candidate’s integrated knowledge learned through their coursework. The oral exam is held after the written and is meant to further evaluate the candidate’s ability to carry out their dissertation research in their chosen academic field of specialization. This typically takes place in years two and three for full-time students and years three and four for part-time students.

Proposal defense

The proposal defense is held after the candidacy exam. The objective of the defense is to ensure the candidate’s research plan for investigating a proposed research question is complete and academically sound. Students work closely with their supervisory committee in determining the composition of the dissertation proposal.

Dissertation

The dissertation portion of the program primarily consists of individual research, under the supervision of a qualified faculty member and committee who bring a broad range of expertise to the student’s research topic. Dissertations should exhibit substantial evidence of original scholarship. The dissertation may be in the format of a monograph or three publishable academic journal papers.

Candidates defend their dissertations to an examining committee as per Toronto Metropolitan University's guidelines for examination and assessment .

Specializations offered

This specialization will provide students with a deep understanding of the theories, practices, techniques, tools and issues surrounding such digital transformation of organizations into “digital enterprises” ready to operate in the “digital ecosystem”. Digital enterprises need members who are well versed in the functionality and integration of widely used technologies such as enterprise wide systems, database systems, local area networks, artificial intelligence, analytics, big data, cloud computing, social media and useful and usable user interfaces and experience.

As a natural extension, students will pursue discovery and knowledge in one of the most salient changes in the way digital enterprises operate, which can be broadly referred to as “Networked Workers”; a novel notion that recognizes networked workers and how they operate within multiple networks that are internal and external, formal and informal, online and offline while relying on social media and mobile technologies.

Additionally, students in the specialization will examine enterprise architecture, the analysis of the broad set of stakeholders, and management of their interactions with each other and with the digital technology underlying the whole enterprise.  Another important topic in the digital enterprise is the issue of information systems security and privacy management (ISSPM), which requires a broad set of subject matter expertise ranging from established domain of IT security management to emerging topics such as Big Data security, Internet of Things, and blockchain technology.

This specialization focuses on real estate management, finance and economics. The specialization will focus on all aspects of commercial and residential real estate assets and markets. The specialization will offer specialized coursework in real estate markets, sustainability, specialized topics in real estate and advanced financial econometrics.

Historically, residential real estate markets and assets have been the focus area of the graduate and undergraduate real estate programs all over the world. Asset valuation, marketing of property via the multiple listing services and the ensuing agency problems, and development/construction and property management have been the main topics under this domain. In addition, recent developments in option-theoretic analyses and technological advances, such as information technology and its impact on the availability of real estate information around the world, have become integral components of this domain.

Currently, academics have put far more emphasis on commercial real estate assets, both real and financial. Real Estate Investment Trusts have become a key industry in the USA and also begun to dominate a number of markets internationally. Pricing of mortgage-backed securities, which is very complex and mathematical, and development of the real estate price indexes have become cutting edge research topics and avenues for commercial interest and policymaking. Certainly, the key driver of the Global Financial Crisis has been the massive problems in the real estate sector. Both the academia and the industry are still researching the root causes of GFC problems as well as the prescriptions against such disasters in the future.

Given this background, the Real Estate Studies specialization will offer students a rich menu of diverse research topics, opportunities and collaborations. The Ted Rogers School of Management has a wealth of research competencies, accomplishments, aspirations and networking possibilities that will lead to unique and substantial research contributions in a Canadian and international context.

The specialization area of Retail and Consumer Services (RCS) intersects the dynamic interplay of retail operations and consumer behavior. In this focus area, the objective is to understand the dynamics in which retail services and operations influence consumer attitudes and behaviours, and how consumer psychology and preferences influence retail strategies and decisions.

In this specialization, core areas will include omni-channel operations, service quality and leadership, retail branding, technology development and utilization, human resource management, and firm infrastructure. As retailers fight for growth in the new world of physical, digital and mobile shopping, their ability to provide a consistent service level across all channels has become the essence of omni-channel retailing, a field that has not been thoroughly researched. Research on service leadership and human resource management will investigate relationships between profitability, customers and employees. As the Canadian retail sector facing intensified competitions, research into how to integrate product innovation, retail environment and service designs into competitive retail branding strategies will contribute to new knowledge discoveries and also provide practical implications. By seeking to understand the factors that influence the level of adoption and use of retail technologies (i.e., mobile wallet and wearable technologies), interventions can be designed to help users progress to a more advanced level of use, the financial community and retailers will be better informed with regards to the areas and needed of future investments. A critical element of firm infrastructure research is on innovation as a driver of performance in retailer-vendor strategic partnerships, which are a centre for value creation in the supply chain and result in profitability for partners and value for customers.

Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship is a fast growing and broad-reaching and multi-disciplinary academic area. The Academy of Management provides separate descriptions, which provide a good starting point to address the focus on combining disciplines. 1  (external link, opens in new window) 

This specialization examines three domains that are highly interconnected:

• Strategy relates to the processes and mechanisms that influence/drive a firm’s success in comparison with others. Firms seek to gain sustainable competitive advantage and innovation is often a central driver. Innovation helps firms enter new markets and increase profit margins. Firms must not only be innovative but to have sustainable competitive advantage must do so better than their current competitors and create barriers to entry for potential new competitors in order to maintain a competitive advantage. The track will discuss technology strategy and firm performance (the ‘content’ of technology strategy), how technology strategies develop in firms (the ‘process’ of technology strategy), and how technology strategy is related to organizational and environmental factors (the ‘context’ of technology strategy).
• Innovation Management encourages interdisciplinary scholarship and dialogue on the management of innovation and technological change from a variety of perspectives, including strategic, managerial, behavioural, and operational issues. The problem domain includes the management of innovation processes, research and development, information technologies, e-commerce, and process technologies.
• Entrepreneurship is the actors, actions, resources, environmental influences and outcomes associated with the emergence of entrepreneurial opportunities and/or new economic activities in multiple organizational contexts. The focus is on the characteristics, actions, and challenges of owner-managers and their businesses.

Main Content

Rotman Finance offers top-tier training from some of the world’s leading experts in fields such as risk management, corporate governance, delegated asset management, and behavioural finance. The PhD Program in Finance at the Rotman School trains prospective scholars to become highly skilled and innovative researchers and teachers, and to prepare them for careers as faculty members at premier academic institutions throughout the world.

Strengths of the Program

Rotman Finance offers top-tier training from some of the world's leading experts in fields such as risk management, corporate governance, delegated asset management, and behavioural finance. Students are assigned faculty mentors upon admission and work closely with faculty throughout the program. We train prospective scholars to become highly skilled and innovative researchers and teachers.

Admission to the Program

The PhD Program in Finance is looking for accomplished graduate and undergraduate students, with strong backgrounds in economics, finance, quantitative methods or related fields. Our admission is highly competitive. We encourage you to explore our website to discover what makes a successful candidate.

PhD Courses

Rotman PhD courses in finance stream provide a strong base in finance theory, economics and empirical methods. Preview course offerings here.

Program Structure and Requirements

The PhD program in Finance is an intense academic exercise providing effective training for an academic career. Our program includes required courses, comprehensive examinations, research paper presentations as well as the final dissertation.

Current PhD Students

The doctoral students in the Finance stream are a key strength of the Rotman School. After graduation, these students will go on to work at some of the world's top universities, helping to extend the reputation of Rotman and of the University of Toronto.

Meet the Rotman Finance faculty.

Faculty by Research Focus

As a PhD student you will work closely with faculty that share your research interests, are working on similar areas, or can provide a new perspective. Find out what our faculty members are currently working on here.

Risk Management Research Team

Exciting research opportunities at Rotman abound. Learn about a new research team in Risk Management.

ICPM Grant on Corporate Governance

Exciting research opportunities at Rotman abound. Learn about a new research project on Governance.

PhD in Organization and Management – Leadership Drive Success and Inspire Change

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100% online, 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Be the Catalyst for Organizational Change with a PhD in Organization and Management – Leadership

Change is constant. In the business world, a successful leader is one who can take new technologies and trends and guide their company through change to come out on top. Are you a business professional who wants to teach the next generation how to effectively lead their companies? Through Liberty University’s PhD in Organization and Management – Leadership online degree, you can develop effective methods for research and contribute to the body of knowledge in the field of organization and management. You can learn to evaluate current theoretical research and contribute your findings through your dissertation.

The leadership specialization focuses on how to be the catalyst for organizational change and how to use various leadership theories to create high-functioning teams that can excel in the modern workforce. Your organizational leadership education will be integrated with a Christian worldview that focuses on sound, ethical business practices.

Partner with us and see how far your experience and a PhD in management and leadership from Liberty University can take you in your professional and personal life!

Ranked in the Top 10% of Niche.com’s Best Online Schools in America

• What Sets Us Apart?
• Private Nonprofit University
• 600+ Online Degrees
• No Standardized Testing for Admission
• Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
• Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Why Choose Liberty’s Online PhD in Organizational Leadership and Management?

At Liberty, we’ve designed our online doctorate in organizational leadership with your success in mind. Our professors seek to equip qualified professionals with the knowledge, skills, and values essential for impacting the world and contributing to the greater good of society.

Here are some of the benefits of choosing Liberty’s organizational leadership program:

• Flexibility  | Our PhD in Organization and Management – Leadership program is offered 100% online, and the classes have no set login times. You can earn your degree from the comfort of home and easily access your course materials whenever you need them. Most importantly, you can stay invested in the things that matter most — like your family, job, and community — while pursuing your academic goals.
• Integrity  | At Liberty, our mission is to  Train Champions for Christ . That’s why our online leadership PhD is designed to integrate biblical principles with professional knowledge. In addition to honing your research skills and enhancing your business acumen, you can prepare to stand out as an ethical, value-driven professional.
• Career Preparation  | Our PhD in management and leadership program can help you use theory and research methods to address practical business challenges. You can build upon your previous knowledge and experience while preparing future generations of business professionals to excel. Whether you are looking for a future as an educator or top-level executive, the skills and knowledge you gain from this degree can help you succeed.

What Will You Study in Our Online Doctorate in Organizational Leadership?

This PhD in organizational leadership and management offers a blend of business classes focused on organizational change with additional courses covering successful leadership theories and styles. Utilizing your own experience in the business world, you can contribute to the current body of knowledge in organization and management through your dissertation.

Your core courses will explore a variety of pertinent topics, including risk management, managing the contemporary organization, strategy formulation, and human resource management. You can also develop your own leadership skills as you gain an overview of leading organizational change that blends theory and research with practical application.

Our organizational PhD degree also provides an in-depth look at research methods as well as a course that will help you develop the concept for your PhD dissertation. Completing your dissertation will help you contribute to the current body of knowledge in your field and may even set the foundation for future business leaders through your research.

The leadership specialization further explores the concept of leading organizations and covers 3 key areas. First, your courses will cover current and past leadership theories and methods for choosing the best course of action with influence and synergy. Second, you can learn how to lead and manage highly effective teams in today’s organizations. The modern organization has increased reliance on teams and understanding how to develop them and keep them running at optimal performance is crucial to success. Finally, you will explore ethics, reasoning, and methods for guiding organizations using sound morals from a Christian worldview.

Potential Career Opportunities

• Chief executive officer
• Human resources manager
• Management analyst
• Training and development manager
• University professor/postsecondary teacher

Featured Courses

• BMAL 702 – Leading Theory
• BMAL 704 – Leading Organizational Change
• BMAL 727 – Leading Effective Teams
• BMAL 770 – Ethical Leadership

Degree Information

• The PhD in Organization and Management program falls under our  School of Business .
• View the  Graduate Business Course Guides   (login required) .
• View the  PhD in Organization and Management Handbook  for additional program information. 

Degree Completion Plan (PDF)

Not sure what to choose?

Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.

• Tuition & Aid

Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.

Eligible current and former military service members and their spouses may qualify for a special rate of $300/credit hour ( learn more ) .

All Tuition & Fees

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Financial Aid Forms & Eligibility

Scholarship Opportunities

• Admission Information

Admission Requirements

• A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required) .
• Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited master’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing.
• Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy .

Preliminary Acceptance

If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:

• Be in your final term and planning to start your doctoral degree after the last day of class for your master’s degree.
• Complete a Master’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
• Submit an official transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show that you are within 6 credit hours of completion for a 30-48 credit hour master’s degree or within 9 credit hours of completion for a 49+ credit hour master’s degree.
• Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new doctoral degree.

Transcript Policies

Official college transcript policy.

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to [email protected] .

Admissions Office Contact Information

(800) 424-9596

(888) 301-3577

Email for Questions

[email protected]

Email for Documents

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Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

• Active Duty
• Reserve/National Guard
• Veterans/Retirees
• Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
• Current Department of Defense Employees

Available Benefits:

• Discounted divinity block rate – $2,700 per semester *
• Additional discount for veterans who service in a civilian capacity as a First Responder
• 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)

*Credits taken below 7 and above 15 credit hours per semester are charged at the part-time rate of $395/credit hour.

Eligible current and former service members and their spouses may qualify for a special rate of $300/credit hour ( learn more ), but the $300/credit hour doctoral military rate cannot be combined with the First Responder Discount .

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Texas Tech Now

Media and communication graduate earns degree after decade-long journey.

May 10, 2024

Gini Wilbanks proves you can have it all, just not all at once.

Gini woke up, her heart mimicking the pulsing beat of her alarm. 

It was another morning of a racing heart and a sick feeling in her stomach. She wondered if her family had made the right decision moving to Round Rock, Texas. She made her way to Elijah's crib, picking up her 6-month-old who was crying. She wanted to join him, but she was too exhausted to cry. 

Gini and her husband Josh had moved from Lubbock so Josh could take a job near Austin. He had recently graduated from Texas Tech University, but Gini still had roughly 40 credit hours to finish. The move away from campus meant a change in major for Gini. The former Creative Media Industries student switched to Public Relations & Strategic Communication Management. 

She was getting close to finishing her degree, but on this morning, the finish line felt far.  Gini started making breakfast for herself and her two older children, Adeline and Charlotte. 

“I was postpartum, and I got hit hard with depression and high anxiety,” Gini recalled. “My grades started to suffer.”

Gini had moved away from her family, friends and her entire support system. The couple had believed the move would set them up for a successful future but at this moment, Gini couldn't think past the next few hours. 

A Future Red Raider

“Texas Tech has always been a huge part of my life,” Gini said. 

Born and raised in Lubbock, Gini's parents both worked at the university. The family was active in their support of Red Raider athletics and the university's arts scene. They attended each Carol of Lights™ and befriended faculty and staff around campus.

Growing up in the college town inspired Gini to attend Texas Tech one day. 

Coming up through Tubbs Elementary, O.L. Slaton Middle School and Lubbock High School, Gini was active in theater, dance and choir. She involved herself in as many artistic events as she could, finding these endeavors energized her.  

As high school graduation approached, though, she took stock of what would offer a consistent career. 

“When I graduated in 2013, there were not as many jobs in communications,” Gini said. “There was a stigma around creative careers. I wanted to be seen as serious so I looked for something that would make good money.” 

Multiple family members worked in the medical field, so Gini decided to study nursing. 

Around this same time, she and her high school sweetheart were getting more serious. Gini met her now-husband Josh in biology during the ninth grade. The two became friends and started dating the following year. By the time they graduated, they both knew they'd found the one.

Josh enlisted in the Army and was sent to basic training the summer after graduation. The young couple couldn't talk much on the phone, so they wrote letters throughout the long, sweltering summer months. Gini would make her way to the mailbox in the dry West Texas heat, opening the latch to find something stamped from Fort Benning.

The couple kept every letter from that summer. 

Meanwhile, Gini started pre-nursing courses at South Plains College (SPC). While the dream was still to attend Texas Tech, she knew she could get basic requirements out of the way at a lower cost at SPC. 

“For a few semesters, I was very focused on my schoolwork,” Gini recalled. “Josh was getting his stuff done and I was taking care of my classes.”

In the following years, everything rapidly changed. In April 2016, the couple got married and Gini started work as a nurse's aide at Covenant Children's in the postpartum unit. 

In 2017, the couple welcomed their first child, Adeline. By 2018, Josh enrolled full time at Texas Tech.

In the span of a few short years, Gini's life looked drastically different. 

“When we had Adeline, I ended up having an emergency cesarian,” Gini said. “Because of the longer recovery, I ended up taking that whole semester off from school.” 

Gini's classwork began to take a backseat during this time. Supporting Josh in his studies, working as a postpartum nurse's aide and taking care of a newborn was a full load. 

“I decided to take a prolonged break from school,” she said. “I had a job I enjoyed and wanted to soak up being a new mom.” 

While a break was the right choice for Gini at that time, it made going back to school that much tougher. 

A Change in Direction

Josh and Gini had their second daughter, Charlotte, at the beginning of 2020. She was only a few weeks old when the pandemic started. Josh, Gini and their young children were home for months. While Gini did go back to work after her maternity leave was over, the restrictions gave her room to reflect. 

“We were stuck at home for a while, and my need to express myself creatively came back out,” she said. 

It was something she hadn't taken the time to do in years. 

Gini came up with crafts to do with their eldest, and she started dabbling in photography. A light came on, and Gini started questioning the academic road she'd taken up until that point. 

“The stress of working through the pandemic certainly added to it, but I think the pandemic showed me something I already knew deep down,” she said. 

Gini had chosen to forego a creative career seven years prior, worried about appearances and stability. Now, a wife and mother, her priorities had changed. 

“I'd grown up a lot in that short time, and I had different aspirations,” she said. 

Not only had Gini changed, but the communications industry had changed as well. When she graduated from high school, some organizations were just beginning to use social media, and many weren't utilizing it at all. But with the progression of technology and the sudden boom of online activity during the pandemic, Gini decided to revisit a career in communications. 

She met with Associate Director of Advising Don Ellis in the College of Media & Communication (CoMC), who became a mentor to Gini every step of the way. 

“Gini came to us as a transfer student, and she had a level of maturity and diverse life experiences that seemed to enhance the quality of her academic career,” Ellis said. “Despite challenges posed by the pandemic, she consistently displayed a strong sense of determination and resilience, maintained her focus, and always actively participated in her own education.”

Gini had always wanted to help people; she thought nursing was the best way to do that. But as life changed, she realized she could make a difference while using her talents. 

“I discovered Texas Tech had a program called creative media industries (CMI),” she said. 

The program's focus on innovative storytelling was appealing to Gini, who was looking to grow her existing passion for visual communications. So, in the fall of 2020, Gini started her first semester as a Red Raider. 

The moment was a long time coming. 

While her first semester was completely online, Gini was able to be on campus in the spring of 2021. 

“I have a photo of my first day on campus,” she said. “I have a mask on, so it'll always be easy to remember when that was.” 

Life had thrown her some curve balls, but Gini was zeroing in on what she wanted and remembering the dreams she had had as a young girl. She knew she would attend Texas Tech, the reality of that was just a whole lot different than she envisioned. 

For the following year, both Josh and Gini were enrolled in the same college. Josh was a student in the Public Relations & Strategic Communication Management program, while Gini thrived in CMI. It was around this same time that the couple found out they were expecting another child, a son. 

“I remember thinking, ‘Oh boy, here we go again,'” Gini laughed. 

Thrilled to be welcoming a son, Gini struggled, wanting to focus on her growing family and her schoolwork at the same time. When she had her daughters, she was in a love-hate relationship with academia. That had changed this time around. She wondered how she would balance being a mom to three kids while finishing a program she genuinely loved. 

It was a good problem to have, but it remained a problem. To make matters harder, Josh received a job offer in Round Rock after graduating from Texas Tech in the spring of 2022, only a few months after they had Elijah.

Josh was commissioned as an Army officer upon graduation and signed with the National Guard. His new reporting station was in central Texas and a marketing job became available nearby. However, that meant Gini and the kids would have to leave behind their support system in Lubbock. Both Gini's parents still lived in Lubbock, and she had friends in her hometown. 

Unfortunately for the couple, they didn't have a lot of time to weigh their options. They wanted Josh to start work in six weeks. So, with three young children and virtually no community in Round Rock, Josh and Gini ventured into the unknown. 

The Hardest Stretch 

In the early morning hours, a few months later, Gini was at rock bottom. When classes started in fall of 2023, she had to go back to being an online student. Unfortunately, CMI was not a fully online program. But with the encouragement of her adviser, Gini realized the Public Relations & Strategic Communication Management program overlapped heavily with the courses she'd taken, and it was offered both in-person and online. 

If she was going to complete her degree any time soon, she'd need to switch programs. 

So, she did, and the coursework was comparable to what she'd been studying. However, it wasn't the change in major that was so difficult, it was the fact she was an online college student with three children, at home alone, and suddenly without her support system. 

She also struggled with postpartum depression after the birth of her son. 

“Honestly, I felt like finishing school just wasn't going to happen for me,” Gini said. “Like, maybe it wasn't in the cards.

“I was taking care of a five-month-old, a toddler, and a 5-year-old. I had no family or friends nearby and I was waking up every morning with a high heart rate, sick to my stomach. I stressed over finances, wondering if we'd made a mistake.”

During that semester, Gini's grades began to suffer. She knew that wasn't the way she wanted to finish her college career, so she sought help from her doctor and her adviser. Everyone worked with her, finding solutions to help her succeed. 

Her doctor placed her on an anti-anxiety medication that helped her feel like herself again. Gini begin to create a new routine and even befriended other mothers in the area. 

“I also made sure to reach out to my adviser and kept the line of communication open with each of my professors, letting them know my situation from the beginning,” she said. 

By the end of the semester, she made the President's Honors List. 

There were times, particularly that semester, that Gini was tempted to give up. 

“Every time I was about ready to give up, I would think, ‘C'mon Gini, you have to do this for yourself. You've always wanted to be a Texas Tech graduate; you can do this.'”  

In place of having family in town, Gini would get on the phone and get added support when she needed it most. 

Gini's mother was her biggest cheerleader. 

“She has watched me work toward this goal for a decade,” Gini said. “She's always been so encouraging. Whenever I've had a setback, she reminds me to get back up and get at it. She's always believed I can do this.” 

And on the days when Gini didn't believe in herself, her family, her friends, and Josh have been there to help her cross the finish line. 

“Both Gini and I were unique students,” Josh said. “Texas Tech does an amazing job catering to individuals who are in nontraditional situations.

“Gini has displayed such tenacity while finishing her degree, especially this past year. She doesn't let anything define or limit her. At no point has she looked at her circumstances and let them be a reason not to do something.” 

The Horizon

After graduation, Gini hopes to work in public relations as a social media manager; particularly for brands geared toward mothers and children. 

As proud as Gini is of finishing her degree, she is even prouder of being a mom. She wants to share that passion in an industry that has plenty of need for good public relations practitioners. 

“In my experience, juggling the demands of being a fulltime public relations major and a mother of three, I've come to realize the critical importance of authenticity and connection,” she said. “Especially when it comes to brands marketing to mothers.” 

The demographic Gini hopes to appeal to is focused on quality and safety, just as she is. Gini has found that parents do not just want to buy products, they want guidance and support. That's why it's important for a public relations campaign to educate and engage that demographic, she says. 

Gini does not hide the fact she is a non-traditional student. Rather, she plays to her strengths. 

“As a mom entering the PR world, I bring a unique perspective to the table,” she said. “I know firsthand the challenges and joys of parenting, and I believe our experience as mothers enriches the work we do. 

“By sharing our stories and collaborating with influencers who share our values, we can create genuine connection with audiences.” 

Gini has been in a campaign course this semester, which serves as a capstone for her degree program. To her delight, most of her team members also turned out to be parents. While she may have started out on campus as the older student in class, her online experience has partnered her up with colleagues who are on similar paths. 

Gini hopes even more parents will consider going back to school and finishing their degrees. 

“As fulltime parents and students, it's OK to take your time. School will still be there. The job market will still be there. But time with your kids, that's valuable,” she said. 

Even though Gini knows it's not a race, it doesn't make commencement any less sweet. If anything, walking the stage this spring will be that much more special, as it marks her incredible perseverance over the last 11 years. 

“There have been a lot of ups and downs,” Gini said. “But I can finally see the horizon, and it's a great view.” 

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Brad rogers traveled a demanding path to the nfl, texas tech launches $10k degree completion program, texas tech dfw features $10k degree completion & ios lab.

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Accomplished graduate student earns dual JD, MD degrees

By Catharine Skipp [email protected] 05-06-2024

Growing up, Jordan Adonis Brooks, a 32-year-old from rural Mount Vernon, Ohio, witnessed firsthand the adverse impact the lack of health care access can cause and vowed to join the fight to fix. 

In May, Brooks will graduate with a J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law and an M.D. from the Miller School of Medicine. 

“Rural towns have a lot of health disparities compared to cities,” he said. “And being Black can worsen those disparities. Watching my parents, who had chronic diseases, struggle to get the appropriate specialist care they needed for their conditions was very difficult. 

“They had to drive an hour-and-a-half for care and many times to visit medical specialists who often did not have the means of curing their health issues. Watching their struggles and the struggles of many families, while working at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, definitely made me want to really understand how to improve the health care system for families like our own.” 

Even in high school, Brooks thought a lot about positively influencing the world. He went to nearby Kenyon College to be close to home and his family after his mother passed and to prepare himself for law school. He earned a degree in neuroscience, an interest that, in part, grew from her multiple sclerosis diagnosis. 

“I had never really understood what the nervous system was,” he said, “and I was blown away when I learned of the incredible things that it does. That's what made me want to go to med school. Then I did a Master of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh, and then I wanted to do both.” 

Brooks said that learning about all the social determinants of health outcomes and how businesses significantly influence how health care is delivered has steered his educational path. 

“Ultimately, health care delivery is largely dictated by laws that regulate health care entities and public health by policies that aren’t traditionally associated with health care, like access to food, housing, and transportation,” Brooks said. “So, understanding public health and health law has revolutionized my understanding of medicine and paved the way for me to serve as a bridge between health care providers, attorneys, and administration in the health management and policy space.” 

Brooks hopes to use this understanding to help the most marginalized populations attain health equity at the national and international level. Upon graduating, Brooks will start his career working at Boston Consulting Group, where he will focus on health care and life science and social impact management consulting. 

At the School of Law, Brooks wrote a paper on the harmonization of regulation of and integration of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine with associate professor Gabriel Scheffler, previously a staff economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisers working on health care and labor market policy. 

Brooks was a Steven Chaykin Fellow for the Health Equity Project at the Center for Ethics and Public Service, where he helped to embed health equity into their affordable housing initiatives. He was also a fellow at the Human Rights Clinic, where he played a leading role in the clinic's work on maternal and infant health, developing an in-depth report with the Florida Health Justice Project, engaging in U.N. advocacy, and facilitating a film screening and multidisciplinary panel discussion on movements in Black midwifery. 

This spring, Brooks also worked with his Human Rights Clinic colleagues planning a town hall for Miami-Dade County for the U.N. Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.

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Master of Science Programs

Dean of the graduate school : carlo salvato.

Bocconi offers a wide range of  2-year Master of Science programs , coordinated by the Graduate School, in the fields of Economics, Management, Finance, Political Science, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.

Program structures with an international focus, flexible study plans, interactive teaching and faculty with international exposure are the driving forces behind our MSc degrees.  

All programs offer advanced skills and knowledge building, preparing you for a future career as a leader in multi-cultural environments, all while promoting an attitude of responsible entrepreneurship. 

Choosing a Bocconi Master of Science is a  smart move  for several reasons: 

• You can benefit from a complete  learning experience  
• You can study at a university placed highly on  international rankings  
• You can get inspired by our internationally-renowned faculty   
• You can take advantage of our preferential relations with  top employers worldwide  
• You can apply for one of the  international opportunities  offered by our network of partner schools 
• You can spend time in  Milan , the Italian capital of finance, fashion and design  

Our Programs

If you are you currently enrolled or already graduated from a University abroad, you can apply to the Visiting students/Free-movers program .   

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Bocconi is about more than just classes

Your years on campus are about more than just the classes you attend: Bocconi and Milan also promote activities focused on culture, sports, art and sharing ideas. They help make your Bocconi experience an exciting time that is key to personal and professional growth.

A Sustainable Campus 

Our campus is a safe, multicultural and lively place, located in downtown Milan. Both its historic buildings and new spaces are integrated into the urban fabric to create an active environment, reverberating with university life. The campus includes a recreational sports center, a large park and a new student residence hall.

A European and cosmopolitan city

Milan is an open, international and multicultural city, a European metropolis full of events and public services with an unparalleled nightlife. It is a renowned symbol of fashion and design, as well as an important financial, economic and business hub.

Once a Bocconian, always a Bocconian!

You become a member of the Bocconi community when you start your program, joining other students, faculty, staff, Alumnae and Alumni. But Bocconi is not only a real community where you spend your days on campus, but also – and increasingly more so – a community you can get to know through our online social networks.