Specialist requirements
Rotman Commerce offers three specialist programs. You choose your specialist at the end of your first year provided you have successfully completed your Guaranteed Admission (GA) requirements. Complete program details are available in the Faculty of Arts & Science Calendar
Our three specialist programs:
The Management specialist includes studies across all areas of business. This broad specialist allows you the flexibility to focus your studies in the areas of business that interest you most and offers seven optional Focuses in the following areas:
- Data Science in Business
- Finance
- Financial Statement Analysis
- International Business (U of T Global Scholar)
- Leadership in Organizations
- Marketing
- Strategy and Innovation
- Managing in Diverse Economies (UofT Global Scholar)
Focuses are noted on official University of Toronto transcripts. Most are open only to students in the Management specialist. Each focus requires students to complete a combination of courses that help develop expertise in a particular area. Focuses complement and enhance your broader understanding of the core areas of business (finance, accounting, marketing, organizational behaviour, operations and strategy) that comprise the foundation of the Management specialist.
For students entering the management specialist in 2019 or later:
>> Management Specialist Program Overview, including Sample Course Progression and Focus requirements (updated March 2025)
The Rotman Commerce specialist in Finance & Economics offers a rigorous education in the related fields of finance and economics. If you choose this specialist, you’ll complete advanced courses in both fields and graduate with a high degree of expertise in both the theoretical and practical aspects of finance. This specialist has been designed for students with a strong aptitude and deep interest in both finance and economics.
If you’re interested in pursuing studies in finance but do not wish to obtain or require an extensive foundation in economics, you can consider completing the Specialist in Management with a Focus in Finance.
Finance and Economics students have the option to complete Focuses such as Data Science in Business, Managing in Diverse Economies (UofT Global Scholar) and International Business. Focuses require students to complete a combination of courses that help develop expertise in a particular area. They are noted on official University of Toronto transcripts.
For students entering the Finance & Economics specialist in 2019 or later:
>> Finance & Economics specialist Program Overview, including Sample Course Progression (updated March 2025).
If you intend to take the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) examinations and/or wish to pursue a career or graduate studies in accounting, you will want to opt for our specialist in Accounting. In this specialist, you’ll gain a broad education in the full range of business sub-disciplines – finance, accounting, marketing, organizational behaviour, operations and strategy – while developing deep expertise in the core accounting areas of financial and managerial accounting, taxation and audit. This specialist program provides all the requirements to continue into the Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting or the CPA PEP Education program and to ultimately obtain the CPA designation.
Accounting students have the option to complete Focuses such as Data Science in Business, Managing in Diverse Economies (UofT Global Scholar) and International Business. Focuses require students to complete a combination of courses that help develop expertise in a particular area. They are noted on official University of Toronto transcripts.
For students entering the Accounting specialist in 2019 or later:
>> Accounting Specialist Program Overview, including Sample Course Progression (updated March 2025).
