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Courses

Rotman offers PhD level courses specifically created to provide you with the methodological and theoretical training required for exceptional research in your field. Required courses are chosen to provide the maximum benefit to your academic development.

Not all courses are offered each year/ each semester. Check with the PhD Office at phdprog@rotman.utoronto.ca for courses schedule information.

For a listing of courses across all areas please see here.


Theory fundamenta
ls

RSM 3002: Strategy and Organizations 
RSM 3003: Strategy and Economics 
RSM 3005: Economic Sociology
ECO 1200: Microeconomics (MA)
ECO 2030: Microeconomics II (PhD)

 

Other required courses in Strategy 

In addition to RSM 3002 and RSM 3003, the strategy area offers a variety of required "topics" courses that focus on some relevant issues in Strategic Management research (RSM 3091), on a rotating basis. Examples of these courses include 

International Strategy 
Networks And Alliances  
Economic Institutions of Strategy
Technology Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Geography and Strategy
Foundations of the Strategy Process
Strategy Process and Practice
Strategy and Stakeholder Theory
Behavioural Economics of Strategy and Organizations



Methodological training

A distinctive element of the Strategic Management PhD Program at Rotman is the rigorous training in empirical research methods. Our philosophy is that research in any strategy-related field should rely on state-of-the-art data collection and analysis techniques. The required training includes basic and advanced topics in statistical and econometric theory, as well as applied courses in research methods, with a focus on large-sample, quantitative analyses, such as retrospective empirical studies and laboratory and field experiments. Students interested in qualitative research methods as well as in formal mathematical theory can select additional “depth” courses in these areas (see below). These are the required methodology courses (click on each course to view the most recent syllabus):

ECO 1010: Math & Stat Review 
RSM 3001: Research Methods in Strategic Management
RSM 3090: Models and Methods (Applied econometrics and research design)
ECO 1400: Econometrics (MA)

 

Two additional methods courses to be chosen from:

 

 

Depth courses

Together with their sponsors and the Ph.D. coordinator, students select two courses tailored to their specific research interests.  Relevant depth courses include (click on each course to view the most recent syllabus or outline):
 
Economic Sociology / Organization Theory
SOC 6008: Network Analysis I 
SOC 6108: Network Analysis II 
SOC 6012:  Sociology of Work I
SOC 6112: Sociology of Work II
SOC 6518: Culture Industries
SOC 6516: Sociology of Culture I
SOC 6517: Culture & Cognition

 

Economics
ECO 2900:  Industrial Organization I
ECO 2901:  Industrial Organization II
ECO 2300: International Trade
ECO 3504: International Trade Regulations
ECO 3100: Behavioural Economics
ECO3800: Labour Economics I
ECO3801: Labour Economics II 
RSM 3010: Economics of Technology and Innovation
RSM 3090: Experimental Economics
RSM 3012: Advanced Topics in Urban and Real Estate Economics

Other disciplines
RSM 3058: Psychology of Judgment and Decision Making       
POL 2578: Computational Text Analysis
POL 2505:
Qualitative Methods in Political Research
LAW 2431: Law, Institutions and Development

RSM 3005: Strategy workshop
Every other week, the Strategy area invites world-class scholars to present their research to the Rotman faculty and students. Doctoral students should attend the seminars throughout their tenure in the PhD program and are also expected to present in the student workshop once per year. First year students audit the workshop; after their first year, they must enroll in the workshop for credit.

 

Examples of study plans (Examples of depth courses are in bold types)

Economic Sociology / Organization Theory focus

Year 1: Fall Semester

ECO 1010: Math & Stat Review (pre-term, late summer)
RSM 3001: Research Methods in Strategic Management
RSM 3003: Strategy and Economics
ECO 1200: Microeconomics (Masters)
ECO 1400: Econometrics (Masters)
RSM 3005: Strategy Workshop (audit)

Year 2: Fall Semester

RSM 3002: Strategy and Organizations
RSM 3019: Behavioral Economics of Strategy and Organizations
POL 2578: Computational Text Analysis
SOC 6008: Network Analysis
RSM 3005: Strategy Workshop

Year 1: Winter/Spring Semester

RSM 3091: Foundations of Strategy
ECO 2030: Microeconomics II
SOC 6712: Qualitative Methods

RSM 3005: Strategy Workshop (audit)

Year 2: Winter/Spring Semester

 RSM 3090: Models and Methods
RSM 3005: Economic Sociology 
RSM 3005: Strategy Workshop

 

Economics focus

Year 1: Fall Semester

ECO 1011: Math & Stat Review (pre-term)
RSM 3001: Research Methods in Strategic Management
RSM 3003: Strategy and Economics
ECO 1200: Microeconomics (Masters)
ECO 1400: Econometrics (Masters)
RSM 3005: Strategy Workshop (audit)

 

Year 2: Fall Semester

RSM 3002: Strategy and Organizations
RSM 3091: Behavioral Economics of Strategy and Organizations
POL 2578: Computational Text Analysis
RSM 3010: Economics of Technology and Innovation
RSM 3005: Strategy Workshop 
 
 

 

Year 1: Winter/Spring Semester

ECO 2030: Microeconomics II
RSM 3080: Research Methods in Business 
RSM 3091: Strategy & Economic Sociology
ECO 2401: Econometrics II (PhD) 
RSM 3005: Strategy Workshop (audit)

Year 2: Winter/Spring Semester

RSM 3090: Models and Methods
RSM 3005: Economic Sociology 
RSM 3005: Strategy Workshop