Effective business practices and principles underlie successful engineering products, services and companies. Understanding these practices is essential to developing effective engineering processes.
U of T Engineering offers a suite of courses designed and taught jointly with the Rotman School of Management to provide you with rich opportunities to explore the field of engineering through a business lens.
ISTEP faculty research and teach engineering business practices and support the integration of economics and business instruction in U of T Engineering curriculum.
Engineering business and entrepreneurship are closely intertwined.
Innovation is at the heart of every engineering success story. It all begins with an idea. For that idea to grow, it needs a collaborative network of diverse perspectives, experienced mentors and an environment that invests in entrepreneurial thinking.
Programming for Engineering Undergraduates
Engineering Business Minor
The Engineering Business Minor is designed specifically for engineering students interested in learning more about the business dimension of engineering — from finance and competitive strategy to human resources, organizational behaviour and marketing. Courses cover wealth production and creation, accounting, research and development, management, economics and entrepreneurship — all within a global context. This minor is administered by Faculty in ISTEP and the Cross-Disciplinary Programs Office in collaboration with the Rotman School of Management. Students in this minor must complete a minimum of six courses: follow the link for a full listing of the requirements and registration.
Certificate in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Small Business
This certificate will prepare you to lead in complex and changing business environments by developing your entrepreneurial talents. It includes a course in economics and two rigorous courses in entrepreneurship.
Required Engineering Economics Courses
Every U of T Engineering undergraduate student is required to take a course in engineering economics. By academic program, these economics courses include:
- Chemical Engineering: CHE 249H1F, CHE 374H1F
- Civil & Mineral Engineering: CME 368H1F
- Electrical & Computer Engineering: ECE 472H1F/S
- Mechanical & Industrial Engineering: MIE 258H1F, MIE 358H1
- Materials Science & Engineering: MIE 258H1F
- Engineering Science: CHE 374H1F
Engineering Business Complementary Studies (CS) and Humanities & Social Science (HSS) Electives
U of T Engineering offers numerous elective courses in business practice, all from an engineering perspective or within an engineering context. These include:
- JRE 300H – Foundations of Accounting & Finance (CS elective)
- JRE 410H – Markets & Competitive Strategy (CS elective)
- JRE 420H – People Management & Organizational Behaviour (HSS elective)
- APS 500H – Negotiation in an Engineering Context (HSS elective)
- TEP 234H (formerly APS 234H) – Entrepreneurship & Small Business (CS elective)
- TEP 343H (formerly APS 343H) – Engineering Leadership (CS elective)
- TEP 420H (formerly APS 420H) – Technology, Engineering & Global Development (HSS elective)
- TEP 432H (formerly APS 432H) – Entrepreneurship & Business Management (CS elective)
- TEP 442H (formerly APS 442H) – Cognitive and Psychological Foundations of Effective Leadership (CS elective)
- TEP 444H (formerly APS 444H) – Positive Psychology for Engineers (HSS elective)
- TEP 445H (formerly APS 445H) – The Power of Story: Discovering your Leadership Narrative (HSS elective)
- APS 446H – Leadership in Project Management (CS elective)
- APS 502H – Financial Engineering (Industrial Technical elective, or Free Elective for other programs)
- APS 510H – Innovative Technologies & Organizations in Global Energy Systems (CS elective)
- CHE 488H / CIV 488H / ECE 488H / MIE 488H / MSE 488H – Entrepreneurship & Business for Engineers (CS elective)
- MIE 354H – Business Process Engineering (Industrial Technical elective)
- MIE 540H – Product Design
Engineering Business Futures Program
Open to both undergraduate and graduate students, this faculty-led series is related to the core areas of business: finance and accounting, competitive strategy, marketing, people management and organizational behaviour. Through activities, events, sponsored case competitions and dynamic networking events, this program offers you the opportunity to learn more about the career paths within the broad field of business.
Skoll BASc/MBA Program
The first degree of its kind in Canada to combine engineering and an MBA, the Skoll BASc/MBA program at U of T provides a unique opportunity to gain advanced business skills and facility with emerging technologies. Follow the link for program and application details.
Programming for Engineering Graduate Students
MEng Emphasis in Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Innovation & Technology in Engineering (ELITE)
The MEng ELITE Emphasis is designed to enhance non-technical competencies that are vital to today’s engineer: leadership, finance and business, management, innovation and entrepreneurship.
APS 1020H – International Business for Engineers
Learn the basics of growing businesses and entering foreign markets. This course provides an introduction to global entrepreneurship, global strategy management and corporate social responsibility within a global context.
Engineering Business Futures Program
Open to both undergraduate and graduate students, this faculty-led series is related to the core areas of business: finance and accounting, competitive strategy, marketing, people management and organizational behaviour. Through activities, events, sponsored case competitions and dynamic networking events, this program offers you the opportunity to learn more about the career paths within the broad field of business.