M.B.A.

Admission Requirements and Program Information
Program and Course Offerings

The DeGroote School of Business offers programs leading to the M.B.A. and Ph.D. in Business Administration. In collaboration with other faculties, the School offers an M.Sc. in eHealth, and a Master of Health Management. For more information on these collaborative programs, see the degree programs under those names. The DeGroote School also offers a Graduate Diploma in Professional Accountancy. The DeGroote School of Business also offers a Master of Finance Program (MFin). See the Master of Finance section of the calendar for more information.

Enquiries: 905 525-9140: M.B.A., Ext. 27024;
Ph.D., Ext. 23373
E-mail: M.B.A., mbainfo@mcmaster.ca Ph.D., phdinfo@mcmaster.ca
Website: http://www.degroote.mcmaster.ca

Faculty/ Fall 2024

Professors

Prakash L. Abad, B.Tech. (Indian Institute of Technology), M.S. M.B.A., Ph.D. (Cincinnati) / Operations Management
Vishwanath Baba, B.Eng. (Madras), M.B.A. (Western Illinois), Ph.D. (British Columbia) / Human Resources and Management
Ronald J. Balvers, B.A. (Tilburg), Ph.D. (Pittsburg) / Chair, Finance and Business Economics / Michael Lee-Chin and Family Chair in Investment and Portfolio Management
Yair Berson, B.A., M.A. (University of Haifa, Israel), Ph.D. (State University of New York at Binghamton) / Human Resources and Management
Trevor W. Chamberlain, B.Sc. (California, Berkeley), M.B.A., Dip. Acc. (McGill), Ph.D.(Toronto), C.P.A., C.A. / Finance and Business Economics
Narat Charupat, B.A. (Thammasat), M.B.A. (Drexel), Ph.D. (York) / Finance and Business Economics
C.S. Sherman Cheung, B.S. (Louisiana State), M.S., Ph.D. (Illinois) / Finance and Business Economics
Catherine Connelly, B.Com. (McMaster), M.Sc., Ph.D. (Queen’s) / Human Resources and Management / Business Research Chair
Brian Detlor, B.Sc. (Western), M.I.S., Ph.D. (Toronto) / Information Systems
Rick D. Hackett, B.Sc. (Toronto), M.A. (Windsor), Ph.D. (Bowling Green State) / Human Resources and Management
Khaled S. Hassanein, B.Sc. (Kuwait), M.A.Sc. (Toronto), M.B.A. (Wilfrid Laurier), Ph.D. (Waterloo), SM-IEEE, P.Eng. / Information Systems / Dean, DeGroote School of Business
Elkafi Hassini, B.Sc. (Bilkent), M.A.Sc., Ph.D. (Waterloo) / Operations Management / Associate Dean Research
Milena Head, B.Math (Waterloo), M.B.A., Ph.D. (McMaster) / Information Systems / Academic Director, E.M.B.A. Program / Director, McMaster Digital Transformation Research Centre
Benson L. Honig, B.A. (San Francisco State), Ph.D. (Stanford) / Human Resources and Management / Director, Centre for Research on Community Oriented Entrepreneurship (CRCE)
Kai Huang, B.Sc. (Huazhong Univ. of Science and Technology), M.Sc. (Tsinghua), Ph.D. (Georgia Institute of Technology) / Chair, Operations Management
Justin Jin, B.S. (Peking), M.B.A. (Oklahoma), Ph.D. (Toronto), C.A. / Accounting and Financial Management Services / Director of the CPA Ontario Centre for Accounting Research in Regulatory Reporting
Clarence C.Y. Kwan, M.B.A. (McMaster), Ph.D. (Toronto), Ph.D. (Ottawa), P.Eng. / Finance and Business Economics
Christopher Longo, B.A. (York), M.Sc. (Western), Ph.D. (Toronto) / Health Policy and Management
Rosemary Luo, B.Eng. (Beijing), M.A. (McMaster), Ph.D. (Western) / Finance and Business Economics
John Maheu, B.A. (McMaster), M.A., PhD. (Queen’s) / Finance and Business Economics / Distinguished Business Research Professor
Susan A. McCracken, B.Com, (Queen’s), Ph.D. Accounting (Waterloo), C.A. / Accounting and Financial Management Services
John W. Medcof, B.A. (New Brunswick), M.A., Ph.D. (Toronto) / Human Resources and Management / Acting Associate Dean (Faculty Affairs and Accreditation)
Peter C.P. Miu, B.Sc. (Hong Kong), M.B.A, Ph.D. (Toronto) / Finance and Business Economics
Ali R. Montazemi, H.N.D. (Teesside Polytechnic, U.K.), M.Sc. (Southampton), PhD. (Waterloo) / Information Systems
Gillian Mulvale, B.A. (Waterloo), M.A. (Western), Ph.D. (McMaster) / Health Policy and Management

S. M. Khalid Nainar, B.A., M.A. (Delhi), Ph.D. (Florida), C.G.A. / Accounting and Financial Management Services
Mahmut Parlar, B.Sc., M.Sc. (Middle East Tech.), Ph.D. (Waterloo) / Operations Management / Distinguished Business Research Professor / Distinguished University Professor
Devashish Pujari, B.Com., M.Com., M.Phil. (Kurukshetra), Ph.D. (Bradford) / Marketing
Jiaping Qiu, B.A. (Xiamen), M.Sc. (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology), Ph.D. (Toronto) / Finance and Business Economics / CIBC Chair in Financial Markets
Glen Randall, B.A., M.A., M.B.A. (McMaster), Ph.D. (Toronto) / Chair, Health Policy and Management / Co-Director, Masters in Health Management Program
Erin Reid, Hons. B.Com. (McMaster), M.Sc. (Queen’s), A.M., Sociology, Ph.D. (Harvard) / Human Resources and Management
Sudipto Sarkar, B.Tech. (Indian Institute of Technology), Ph.D. (Columbia) / Finance and Business Economics
Mohamed M. Shehata, B.Com. (Tanta), M.Sc. (Ain-Shams), M.B.A. (N. Texas State), Ph.D. (Florida) / Accounting and Financial Management Services
Joseph K. Tan, B.A. (Wartburg College), M.S. (Iowa), Ph.D. (U.B.C.) / Information Systems
Manish Verma, M.B.A., Ph.D. (McGill) / Operations Management / Associate Dean, Graduate Studies
Leonard Waverman, B.Com., M.A.Econ. (Toronto), Ph.D. (M.I.T.) / Finance and Business Economics
Yufei Yuan, B.S. (Fudan), Ph.D. (Michigan) / Information Systems

Associate Professors

Amir Akbari, B.Sc., M.B.A. (Sharif University of Technology, Iran), Ph.D. (McGill) / Finance and Business Economics
Meena Andiappan, B.Com. (Windsor), M.Sc. (Queen’s), M.Sc. (Pennsylvania State), Ph.D. (Boston College) / Human Resources and Management
Nick Bontis, B.A., Ph.D. (Western) / Chair, Strategic Management
Goran Calic, B.Com. (Ottawa), M.B.A., Ph.D. (Purdue) / Strategic Management / Director of the MBA Programs / Michael Lee-Chin & Family Professor in Strategic Business Studies
Anna Danielova, B.Sc. (Yerevan), M.E. (American University of Armenia), M.A., M.B.A., Ph.D. (Indiana) / Finance and Business Economics
Jenna Evans, B.Hs. (York), Ph.D. (Toronto) / Health Policy and Management
Maryam Ghasemaghaei, B.Sc., M.Sc. (Isfahan), Ph.D. (McMaster) / Information Systems
Maureen Hupfer, B.Com., M.A., Ph.D. (Alberta) / Health Policy and Management
Manish Kacker, B.A. (Delhi), P.G.D.M. (Indian Institute of Management), Ph.D. (Northwestern) / Marketing
Alfred Liu, B.S., M.S. (Tsinghua University), Ph.D. (University of California at Irvine) / Accounting and Financial Management Services
Mandeep Malik, B.A. (Panjab), M.A. (Canberra) / Chair, Marketing
Katya Malinova, B.Sc. (St. Petersburg), Ph.D.(Michigan) / Finance and Business Economics / Mackenzie Investments Chair in Evidence-Based Investment Management / Director, Master of Finance
Teal McAteer, B.Com. (Queen’s), M.I.R., Ph.D. (Toronto) / Human Resources and Management
Brent McKnight, B.Eng. Mgt., M.B.A. (McMaster), Ph.D. (Western) / Strategic Management / Director, Integrated Business and Humanities
Emad Mohammad, B.A. (Kuwait), M.B.A., Ph.D. (Georgia State) / Chair, Accounting and Financial Management Services
François Neville, B.Com., M.Sc. (Ottawa), Ph.D. (Georgia State) / Strategic Management
Trish Ruebottom, B.Sc., B.A. (Guelph), M.B.A. (Trinity College Dublin), Ph.D. (York) / Human Resources and Management
Marvin G. Ryder, B.A., B.Sc. (Carleton), M.B.A. (McMaster)/Marketing
Aaron Schat, B.A. (Redeemer), M.A., Ph.D. (Guelph) / Human Resources and Management / Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies
John Siam, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. (Concordia) / Accounting and Financial Management Services and Finance and Business Economics / Director, Allen H. Gould Trading Floor and Horizon Exchange Traded Funds Investment Decision Centre
S. Amy Sommer, B.A. (Western), M.I.R. (University of Toronto), Ph.D. (Western) / Health Policy and Management
Kevin Veenstra, B.A. (Honours), M.Acc. (Waterloo), Ph.D. (Toronto), C.P.A., C.A., C.M.A., C.F.A. / Accounting and Financial Management Services
Yan Wang, B.S. (Beijing), M.A., Ph.D. (McGill) / Finance and Business Economics
Ruhai Wu, B.A., M.S. (Tsinghua), M.S., Ph.D. (Texas) / Marketing
Hongjin Zhu, B.A. (Peking), Ph.D. (National University of Singapore) / Strategic Management
Abdolmanaf Zargoush, B.Sc. (Chamran University, Ahvaz), M.Sc. (SUT, Tehran), Ph.D. (ESSEC Business School, Paris), Ph.D. (McGill) / Health Policy and Management
Yun Zhou, B.Sc., Ph.D. (Tsinghua), Ph.D. (Toronto) / Operations Management
Baniyelme D. Zoogah, Dip. Ed., B.A. (Cape Coast University), M.B.A. (Xavier University), M.L.H.R., Ph.D. (Ohio State ) / Human Resources and Management

Assistant Professors

Waquar Ahmad, B.Com., M.Com. (University of Dhaka), M.B.A. (Ohio), Ph.D. (Drexel) / Finance and Business Economics
Behrouz Bakhtiari, B.Sc. (Iran University of Science and Technology), M.Sc. (Chalmers), Ph.D. (McMaster) / Operations Management / Director, Blended Learning Part-Time MBA Program
Pavithra Balaji, B.Eng. (Anna University), Ph.D. (University of Texas at Dallas) / Strategic Management
Neil Barr, B.A. (Western), M.Sc., Ph.D. (McMaster) / Health Policy and Management
Eric Bentzen-Bilkvist, B.Comm., M.B.A. (McMaster), C.A., F.C.P.A., F.C.A / Accounting and Financial Management Services
Candice Chow, B.Mech. (University of London), M.B.A. (Western), M.Sc., D.B.A. (University of Reading) / Strategic Management
Rui Duan, B.Com., M.Sc. (Queen’s), B.Math. (Carleton), Ph.D. (York) / Finance and Business Economics
Berk Görgülü, B.S., M.S. (Boğaziçi University), Ph.D. (Toronto) / Operations Management
Jukyeong Han, B.S., M.S. (KAIST), Ph.D. (Kansas) / Strategic Management
Yaqin Hu,Honors B.A. (Wilfrid Laurier), M.A. (Toronto), Ph.D. (University of Texas at Dallas)/ Accounting and Financial Management Services
William Huggins, B.Com., M.B.A. (Laurentian), M.Phil (Tilburg) / Finance and Business Economics
Yoontae Jeon, B.Sc., M.M.F., M.Sc., Ph.D. (University of Toronto) / Finance and Business Economics
Aadil Merali Juma, B.Eng. in Electrical Engineering, M.B.A. (McMaster) / Accounting and Financial Management Services / Director, Graduate Diploma in Professional Accountancy Program
Addisu Lashitew, M.Sc. (Wageningen University), Ph.D. (University of Groningen) / Strategic Management
Ken Li, B.Math., M.Acc. (Waterloo), Ph.D. (Stanford) / Accounting and Financial Management Services
Chris Ling, B.B.A. (Toronto), M.Sc. (Queen’s), Ph.D. (South Carolina) / Marketing
Ala Mokhtar, B.S. (American University of Sharjah), Ph.D. (Waterloo) / Accounting and Financial Management Services
Sean O’Brady, B.A. (Concordia), M.A. (Carleton), Ph.D. (University of Montreal) / Human Resources and Management
Yang Pan, B.Sc., M.Sc. (University of Science and Technology), Ph.D. (Iowa) / Marketing
Lingling Shi, B.S., M.B.A. (Boğaziçi University), Ph.D. (University of Science and Technology of China) / Operations Management
Paul Snowdon, B.A., B.A.Sc. (Waterloo), M.Sc., D.B.A. (University of Reading) / Strategic Management / Co-Director, Engineering and Management Program
Frances Tuer, B.A., M.B.A. (Western), Ph.D. (McMaster) / Human Resources and Management
Amir Taherizadeh, M.A. (University of Isfahan), M.B.A. (University of Malaysia), Ph.D. (Université du Québec à Montréal) / Strategic Management
Shashank Vaid, P.G. (IIM Cal), M.B.A. (Duke), Cert. (Penn State/ISBM), Ph.D. (Houston; Rice/Inter-institutional) / Marketing
Nicole Wagner, B.Math. (Waterloo), M.B.A., Ph.D. (McMaster) / Information Systems / Director, McMaster MSc. eHealth Program
Jin (Iris) Wang, B.Com. (UBC), M.Sc. (Queen’s), Ph.D. (UBC) / Finance and Business Economics
Yan Wang, B.S. (Beijing), M.A., Ph.D. (McGill) / Finance and Business Economics
Keiwan Wind, B.Eng. (Iran University of Science and Technology), M.B.A. (Sharif University of Technology), M.Sc. (McMaster), Ph.D. (Toronto) / Information Systems
Qian Yang, M.A. (Beijing Foreign Studies University), M.B.A., Ph.D. (Michigan State) / Finance and Business Economics

Professors Emeriti

Roy J. Adams, B.A. (Pennsylvania State), M.A., Ph.D. (Wisconsin)
Naresh C. Agarwal, B.A., M.A. (Delhi), Ph.D. (Minnesota)
Norman P. Archer, B.Sc. (Alberta), Ph.D. (McMaster), M.S. (New York) / Information Systems
Peter M. Banting, B.A., M.B.A. (McMaster), Ph.D. (Michigan State)
Min Basadur, B.A.Sc. (Toronto), M.B.A. (Xavier), Ph.D. (Cincinnati), P.Eng.
Y.C. Lilian Chan, B.B.A. (Chinese University of Hong Kong), Ph.D. (Virginia Tech), C.P.A., C.M.A., F.C.M.A. / Accounting and Financial Management Services
M. W. Luke Chan, B.Sc. (Prince Edward Island), M.A., Ph.D. (McMaster) / Finance and Business Economics
Kenneth R. Deal, B.S., M.B.A., Ph.D. (SUNY at Buffalo) / Marketing
Richard W. Deaves, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. (Toronto) / Finance and Business Economics
David Conrath, B.A. (Stanford), M.S. (Carnegie-Melon), M.A., Ph.D. (California-Berkley), P.Eng.
Robert G. Cooper, B.Eng., M.Eng. (McGill), M.B.A., Ph.D. (Western)
Elko J. Kleinschmidt, Dip.Ing. (Staatliche Ingenieurschule, Hanover), M.B.A., Ph.D. (McGill) / Marketing
G. John Miltenburg, B.Eng.Mgt., M.B.A. (McMaster), M.Eng. (Toronto), Ph.D. (Waterloo), P.Eng. / Operations Management
Joseph B. Rose, B.B.A. (Adelphi), M.B.A. (California, Berkeley), Ph.D. (SUNY at Buffalo) / Human Resources and Management
George Steiner, Diploma in Mathematics (“Summa Cum Laude”) (Budapest), Ph.D. (Waterloo)
George W. Torrance, B.A.Sc., M.B.A. (Toronto), Ph.D. (SUNY - Buffalo), P.Eng.
George O. Wesolowsky, B.A.Sc. (Toronto), M.B.A. (Western), Ph.D. (Wisconsin) / Information Systems
F. Isik Zeytinoglu, B.A., M.B.A. (Bogazici), M.A., Ph.D. (Pennsylvania) / Human Resources and Management

MBA Program

The MBA program at McMaster University was created in 1962, and boasts more than 8300 alumni around the world. The DeGroote School of Business is also AACSB accredited - less than 5% of business schools worldwide earn this distinction in management education.

Canada’s largest co-op MBA program was established at McMaster in 1973, and today is a premier choice for students who want to gain work experience while studying, and for employers who want to hire future business leaders.

The DeGroote School of Business offers two full-time programs - The DeGroote MBA and the DeGroote MBA with Co-op. In addition we offer a Blended Learning Part-Time program and an Accelerated program (which can be taken as a full-time or a part-time offering) to give students the flexibility they need to continue their education and become leaders in the business world and the community. Classes are held at the Ron Joyce Centre in Burlington, Ontario in a state-of-the-art building designed to enrich the student learning experience.

Admission Prior to September 2016

The MBA program consisted of 20 courses; ten in year one and ten in year two. Twelve of the 20 courses are core courses, which all students are required to take.

Admission Post September 2016

The DeGroote School of Business offers two full-time programs - the DeGroote MBA and the DeGroote MBA with Co-op. Students admitted in or after September 2016 will complete a redesigned Year 1 curriculum.This MBA program begins with Foundations 1 which provides students, regardless of undergraduate degree fundamental business knowledge and professional skills. In addition there are 5 required courses in Term I which integrate knowledge across disciplines. Term 2 begins with Foundations 2, focusing on professional competencies and the application of learning from the previous term. Students are required to complete A650 and F650 followed by a choice of 3 out of 5 core electives. The final 3 weeks of Term 2 students will complete an Integrating Project Course. In year two, students may pursue a General MBA or select from one of the available specializations.

Topics covered in the Selected Topics courses will vary depending on recent developments in the subject area and the research interests of the instructor(s).

There is no thesis requirement for graduation in the MBA program. However, a student in the second year may, with the prior approval of the appropriate instructor, Area Chair, and the Director of the MBA Program, undertake an original paper, research study or project in an area directly associated with his/her program of study. Credit for one second-year course will be granted upon satisfactory completion of the project.

General MBA Admission requirements/Required Documentation

Completed on-line application accompanied by the application fee ($150 Cdn). Further details can be found at https://mbarecruit.degroote.mcmaster.ca/admissions/
Official transcripts are to be sent by the school’s registrar (or equivalent officer) from each postsecondary institution attended. In the final 2 years of study, a B average is recommended. GPA will be calculated using the two most recent years of undergraduate or graduate study, 20 courses or the equivalent of 60 academic credits. A combination may be used and is determined on a case-by-case basis. GPA will be calculated based on degree either in progress or degree completed.
For MBA Programs requiring completion of the GMAT with a score of 600 (GMAT Classic) or 565 (GMAT Focus). Each application is processed on its own merits with higher scores on some criteria compensating for lower scores in other areas.
Two letters of recommendation are to be completed by individuals who can supply information relating to the applicant’s abilities. For more detail on requirements please see specific admissions requirements for each MBA program. https://mbarecruit.degroote.mcmaster.ca/admissions/
A full résumé must be supplied. For work experience requirements please see specific admissions requirements for each MBA program. https://mbarecruit.degroote.mcmaster.ca/admissions/
Applicants who did not complete their undergraduate degree in English must write the TOEFL or IELTS tests. TOEFL results (if applicable) are to be sent directly by the Educational Testing Service (www.toefl.org). Minimum required scores are 250 on the computer-based test or 100 on the internet-based test. IELTS (www.ielts.org) is also accepted with a minimum score of 7.0.
Applicants are required to complete an online interview prior to submission of their application. Applications will not be reviewed until all components are completed and received. Applicants may be invited to an additional one-on-one interview with a member of the Career and Professional Development team after the submission of their application (applicable only to applicants to the MBA with Co-op Program).

For students who have entered the program as of September, 2016 a new transfer credit and waiver policy is in place. The intention of this policy is to enhance DeGroote’s cohort-based, experiential curriculum model, which requires all MBA students to follow the same programming throughout their degree. To support this model, no transfer credits or waivers will be granted for MBA, MBA with Co-op or Blended Learning Part-time MBA students.

Applicants to the Accelerated program who have earned their degree within the last 10 years from a recognized Canadian or American University and have obtained a minimum B grade (B- for McMaster graduates) in the equivalent course will have their courses reviewed automatically for credit and will be admitted into Level 700 MBA courses (second year courses).

Specializations:

As of September 2018, areas of specialization that are available are as follows:

Accounting and Financial Management Services
Business Analytics
Finance
Health Services Management (certain restrictions may apply)
Strategic Business Valuation
Strategic Marketing
General

Students registered prior to September 2018 in any full-time, part-time and co-op programs will be grandfathered based on the specialization they registered for.

Due to the nature of the academic curriculum, specializations are not available to students enrolled in the BLPT MBA program.

Please note that starting September 2016 program minors will no longer be available in the MBA program.

Non-Degree Applicants

Each year, the DeGroote School of Business is prepared to admit to the MBA program a small number of highly qualified students who do not hold a bachelor’s degree. The Admissions Advisory Committee will consider applicants with a minimum of seven years of successful business experience along with a GMAT score that ranges upward from 600 (GMAT Classic) or 565 (GMAT Focus).

Programs

Master

Course Offerings

MBA Courses