MBA - Master of Business Administration in Executive Management

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Executive Management at Royal Roads offers distinct advantages to those who seek to take their career and expertise to a greater degree.

Royal Roads has 20 years of experience delivering a blended MBA program that combines structured online courses with two short on-campus residencies. Whether you choose to complete the program in 18-months, or at a more relaxed pace over 31-months, the program allows you to complete your MBA without putting your career on hold. Starting fall 2021, you will have the option to complete your MBA full-time, on campus. Also, our unique MBA model allows you to earn both your MBA and a professional credential through our specialization options, giving you a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Designed to recognize your work experience and training in addition to formal education, our flexible admissions policy creates professional pathways for those who may lack a 4-year undergraduate degree.

Royal Roads MBA students come from across Canada and around the world and are employed in industry, small business, government, education, non-profits, or as independent consultants. This rich diversity of backgrounds and experiences creates a cohort that is welcoming and mutually supportive.

The unique RRU MBA model allows you to earn both your MBA and a professional credential through our specialization options, giving you a competitive advantage in the marketplace. The wide range of specialization options lets you create an individualized learning experience that is intrinsically aligned with your personal career goals. The specialization options align with professional certifications and equip you with the skills and experience that will advance your career, whether that is advancing in your current organization, moving to a new job, or setting yourself up as an independent consultant.

Program Description

Royal Roads University Master of Business Administration in Executive Management

The MBA in Executive Management at Royal Roads University is designed for working professionals, by working professionals. Royal Roads MBA gives you a solid foundation and broader perspectives required to advance both your professional and personal life.

You can choose to complete this program in one of two ways: full-time on-campus (starting Fall 2021) or through a blend of online learning with short on-campus residencies, to allow you to gain your MBA while maintaining your professional career. Whether you opt for the 18-or 31-month program, our MBA will equip you with the key skills necessary to be a successful manager and leader in any setting, including critical thinking, analysis, and communications.

In our MBA program, you’ll join a cohort of 30 to 40 mid-career learners from business, government, education, and non-profits. Our cohort model allows you to develop your professional networks and exposure, gain a broader understanding of key issues and see new opportunities that will expand your personal and professional horizons. Throughout the program, you’ll share knowledge and tackle real-world problems through live case studies and team exercises. You’ll gain new skills and knowledge that you can apply immediately to your organization. You’ll gain the confidence and networks necessary to move your career forward.

Working together ensures that everyone contributes to and benefits from the program. The connections you create through our cohort environment form a powerful network of support you can turn to during your program and after graduation.

Who It's For

Royal Roads MBA program is designed for experienced professionals with a wide range of backgrounds in terms of education and employment. Our admissions process recognizes that your formal educational background is only one part of your story. If you have not completed an undergraduate degree or do not meet standard admissions criteria, our flexible admissions policy recognizes your years of work experience and training.

Our program is designed to help you successfully transition back to school and achieve academic success. For all students, we offer optional preparatory classes in academic writing and accounting before our regular program, allowing you to build your confidence and skills as you prepare to embark on your MBA journey.

In the MBA program, you’ll meet students from across Canada, and around the world, who work for large corporations, family businesses, government, the military, non-profits, and independent consultants. You’ll meet professionals who are just like you, juggling work, family life, and other commitments.

While there is a vast diversity of educational and work backgrounds, one common characteristic of all our MBA students is that they all have significant work experience. Students are required to have at least seven years of work experience, and most have much more. The average age is 40, and our balanced cohort of male and female participants has on average 15 years of work experience. This depth of knowledge and experience of our cohorts enhances the learning environment, facilitating deeper discussion and analysis and application of course materials to issues faced on the job.

Building your network

The rich diversity of participants allows you to build a wide network and develop new perspectives. The network you build in the MBA program will support you to advance within your current field or discover new opportunities. Ultimately, you’ll expand your existing network around the country and the globe, gaining access to a wide range of new resources and contacts which are invaluable for your career growth.

The relationships developed within the cohort are a key reason why we have very high completion rates for the program. While external pressures may test your commitment to the program, the tight bonds and mutual support network you experience within the cohort will help you overcome your challenges and keep you moving forward to achieve success in the program and in your career. Learn more about Royal Roads MBA program design.

Customize your program

In Royal Roads' MBA program, you can customize your program to create an individualized learning experience that is tailored to your professional goals. The program gives you the opportunity to select from more than 20 specializations, and earn a dual credential of Royal Roads MBA plus a professional graduate certificate.

Royal Roads MBA specializations are offered through Graduate Certificates in various fields such as the ones in the list below:

• Management Consulting
• Executive Coaching
• Project Management
• Human Resources
• Change Management
• Leadership
• Social Innovation
• Sustainability
• International Business

Obtain Professional Credentials

The practical and applied nature of the Graduate Certificates allows us to provide academic qualification in partnership with professional affiliations such as the Canadian Association of Management Consultants (CMC-Canada), the Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR), Association of Change Management Professionals®, International Coaching Federation (ICF), Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Association of Change Management Professionals®. By completing the specialization program, you’ll also earn education hours toward a highly regarded professional certification in the field.

If you have already completed a Graduate Certificate at Royal Roads, you can transfer all 9 credits towards the RRU MBA program. Learn more about the specialization options within the MBA program.

Applied business experience

The RRU MBA is designed to allow you to apply your learning immediately to your work and organization, while also gaining new skills, tools, and knowledge to address new challenges.

Live cases

You’ll work with your classmates to identify, analyze and address key issues of invited company clients. You’ll gain exposure to new industries and new problem-solving perspectives that you can bring back and apply immediately in your profession.

Business analysis

Our Organizational Management Project allows you to examine a management problem for a chosen client organization, conduct academic and best-case research, analyze options, and provide recommendations and a high-level implementation plan in a final report.

MBA + MGM Dual Degree

Combine the MBA and the Master of Global Management at Royal Roads University.

Doing both master's degrees will give you the advantage you're looking for in your career. You'll gain executive leadership knowledge and gain the experience, skills and perspective to lead a global business.

New applicants

For students who have not completed an MBA or MGM at Royal Roads

You'll spend the first year of your studies taking required courses in either the MBA or MGM. In the second year, you'll cross over to the other program and take its required courses.

You'll choose a specialization (graduate certificate or MITx Micro Masters®) and complete an applied research project.

You can take time off in between the two degrees to gain work experience before completing the second master's.

To be accepted to do the dual degree, you'll need to meet the admission requirements for both the MBA and the MGM.

MBA and MGM alumni

If you've already completed your MBA or MGM at Royal Roads, you can return to the university at any time to do the second master's degree.

To complete the second degree, you'll take its required courses. You won't need to retake core courses that are common between both degrees (e.g., corporate finance).

You'll also need to complete a specialization (graduate certificate or MITx Micro Masters®) and an applied research project.

To be accepted into the second program, either the MBA or MGM you'll need to meet its admission requirements.

MBA specializations

Royal Roads MBA program allows you to complete your program with a specialization.

Coaching

• Graduate Certificate in Advanced Coaching Practices
• Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching

Management consulting, change management, and innovation

• Graduate Certificate in Management Consulting
• Graduate Certificate in Change Management
• Graduate Certificate in Workplace Innovation

International business

• Graduate Certificate in Asia Pacific Trade and Investment
• Graduate Certificate in International Business and Innovation

Social innovation

• Graduate Certificate in Corporate Social Innovation

Organizational design

• Graduate Certificate in Organization Design and Development

Leadership

• Graduate Certificate in Personal and Professional Leadership
• Graduate Certificate in Management and Leadership
• Graduate Certificate in Global Leadership
• Graduate Certificate in Leadership
• Graduate Certificate in Values-Based Leadership

Project management

• Graduate Certificate in Project Management

Human resources

• Graduate Certificate in Strategic Human Resources Management

Environment and sustainability

• Graduate Certificate in Environmental Education and Communication
• Graduate Certificate in Science and Policy of Climate Change

Communication and culture

• Graduate Certificate in Professional Communication Management
• Graduate Certificate in Strategic Global Communication

Education and technology

• Graduate Certificate in Business Development in International Education
• Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design
• Graduate Certificate in Systems Leadership in Higher Education
• Graduate Certificate in Strategic Enrolment Management

Interdisciplinary studies

• Graduate Certificate in Interdisciplinary Studies

Tourism and hospitality

• Graduate Certificate in Tourism Management

Courses

• GDB: Getting Down to Business
• ITAI: Introduction to Academic Integrity
• BUSA502: Constructing and Communicating Effective Arguments
• BUSA506: Strategy
• BUSA507: Foundations of Strategic Leadership
• BUSA508: Accounting for Strategic Business Decisions
• BUSA513: Delivering Customer Value
• BUSA514: Organizational Behaviour
• BUSA522: Creating Customer Value
• BUSA523: Corporate Finance
• BUSA531: Environment of Management
• BUSA632: Understanding Economic Decision Making
• BUSA608: Change Management
• BUSA650: Advanced Strategic Integrative Practice
• BUSA696A: Organizational Management Project - Introduction and Company Background, Literature Review, and (Limited) Research Methods
• BUSA696B: Organizational Management Project - Research Methods, Findings, Analysis, Discussion, and Recommendations
• EXMN601: European Union Business Environment
• EXMN602: Innovation Management
• EXMN655: Leading a Global Workforce - A Human Resources Perspective
• EXMN658: Leading with Emotional Intelligence
• EXMN661: Management Consulting - Best Practices
• EXMN665: Asia Pacific Business Environment
• EXMN668: Management Consulting - Essentials
• EXMN669: Asia Pacific Management and Strategy

As a graduate, you’ll have the confidence, abilities, and credentials that will help you to get recognized and achieve a higher position in your organization.

For example, Ben Chung of Toronto, who took part in the Asia Pacific Trade and Investment Specialization, was successful in being chosen for a highly selective IBM program in international consulting. Sergio Sabatini moved up from Chief Operating Officer to President of a private North American railroad and transportation management company in Denver. Former NHL player Jim Kite entered the MBA program through the flexible admissions process and was able to supercharge his post sports career through the MBA by being named the Dean of Algonquin College’s School of Hospitality & Tourism in Ontario.

If you are interested in exploring a new position in a different organization or industry, the RRU MBA offers you in-depth knowledge of new industries and settings and key contacts through the new network you develop within your cohort and among our 2500 MBA alumni. MBA alumni James McGrath successfully pivoted from a position in communications to the investment business in Calgary after getting his MBA degree. Wendy Rock fellow transitioned from the private sector to the public sector to become the Chief Administrative Officer in Clinton, BC.

Many Royal Roads MBA graduates are interested in building on their years of experience and knowledge to become part- or full-time independent consultants. Our MBA specializations are designed to build your skills and credentials to launch your consulting career. Through the RRU MBA, James Grieve achieved his Certified Management Consultant credential and established a successful consulting business in Kelowna, BC.