University Learning Outcomes | Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics

University Learning Outcomes

The Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics is committed to high-quality student learning. Each of our programs has a well-developed set of learning outcomes that drive our intentions for student learning and development; in other words, what we want students to be able to do when they complete one of our programs. Our learning outcomes align to a broader set of program learning goals that provide more general statements of who a graduate from a given Lang program looks like. These program learning goals are further aligned with the University of Guelph’s learning outcomes, as well as with Lang's mission and vision.

Bachelor of Commerce Program


Program Learning Goal

By the end of the program, students:

Learning Outcome

By the end of the program, graduates will be able to:

1) Critical Thinking: Developing strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a business context.

Alignment with U of G's Learning Outcome: Critical and Creative Thinking

a) Demonstrate the ability to think critically by identifying, evaluating and integrating relevant information from a variety of sources to solve complex business problems

2) Teamwork: Collaboratively and effectively work on tasks in a team environment.

Alignment with U o G's Learning Outcome: Professional and Ethical Behaviour

a) Demonstrate an ability to work effectively in teams, through the application of appropriate knowledge and skills such as responsible decision-making and personal accountability

b) Identify and professionally respond to team issues and develop a new approach to enhance team performance

3) Responsible Business: Understand the importance of taking a responsible business approach across multiple perspectives.

Alignment with UoG Learning Outcome: Global Understanding

a) Discuss and apply principles of social corporate responsibility to business issues and operations.

4) Communication: Develop strong communication skills.

Alignment with UoG Learning Outcome: Communicating

a) Communicate effectively in a business context through written documents to a variety of audiences

b) Communicate effectively in a business context through oral communication to a variety of audiences

5) Core Business Knowledge: Develop competency in foundational business knowledge and principles.

Alignment with UoG Learning Outcome: Literacy

a) Demonstrate competency and understanding of core business knowledge and concepts.

6) Specialized Business Knowledge: Develop competency in specialized business knowledge and principles based on their major.

a) Demonstrate proficiency in the ability to integrate knowledge and understanding within specific majors through analysis and recommendation of solutions to ‘major specific’ business problems and business decision-making.

MA (Leadership) Program


Program Learning Goal

By the end of the program, students:

Learning Outcome

By the end of the program, graduates will be able to:

1) Develop enhanced insight into self and others.

a) Develop a strong sense of awareness as a leader and apply evidence-based strategies in developing both themselves and others.

2) Demonstrate critical thinking skills.

a) Interpret and integrate complex information from a variety of diverse sources when making leadership decisions

3) Develop transferable professional ethical skills and behaviours.

a) Understand the importance of being a role model in the workplace and apply key leadership principles in order to make ethical decisions and influence others.

4) Communicate ideas, issues, and conclusions clearly and effectively.

a) Communicate appropriate using plain language and knowledge mobilization principles to a variety of stakeholders, both orally and in writing.

5) Work effectively in a team environment as a member and/or leader.

a) Develop and manage a team using evidence-based approaches to effectively collaborate and work with others.

MBA Program


Program Learning Goal

By the end of the program, students:

Learning Outcome

By the end of the program, graduates will be able to:

1) Develop core knowledge in the field of business administration.

a) Demonstrate disciplinary competency by developing a capacity to identify and illustrate key concepts and ideas related to business administration. 

b) Apply specialization-specific knowledge to new business situations and contexts.

2) Make evidence-based decisions.

a) Prepare and propose business recommendations and solutions to support decision making through evidence-based professional research.

3) Develop transferable professional ethical skills and behaviours.

a) Develop as a business professional by demonstrating an ability to be adaptable and reflect on and manage their self-development.

4) Communicate ideas, issues, and conclusions clearly and effectively.

a) Communicate evidence-based ideas and information to various business stakeholders both orally and in writing.

5) Work effectively in a team environment as member and/or leader.

a) Demonstrate an ability to work in a team environment by effectively interpreting group dynamics and taking on different roles as appropriate in a group setting.

Graduate Diploma in Accounting


Program Learning Goal

By the end of the program, students:

Learning Outcome

By the end of the program, graduates will be able to:

1) Develop strong analytical and theoretical tools and apply them in their respective field of business.

a) Integrate and apply accounting knowledge and professional standards to problems in the field.

b) Develop specialized knowledge in two of four fields identified in the CPA elective modules: performance management, finance, assurance, or taxation.

2) Demonstrate critical thinking skills

a) Identify, select, and analyze accounting problems to propose evidence-based recommendations.

3) Critically evaluate research.

N/A

4) Develop transferable professional ethical skills and behaviours.

a) Develop an ethical and professional approach when working in an accounting context.

5) Communicate ideas, issues, and conclusions clearly and effectively

a) Communicate accounting analyses effectively to various stakeholders with reference to CPA standards, through well-written documents and presentations.

MA Economics Program

Program Learning Goal

By the end of the program, students:

Learning Outcome

By the end of the program, graduates will be able to:

1) Develop strong analytical and theoretical tools and apply them in their respective field of business.

a) Demonstrate an understanding of microeconomic and macroeconomic theory and econometrics through successful completion of core disciplinary courses.

2) Demonstrate critical thinking skills

a) Develop an ability to critically select models and information and apply them appropriately to a variety of economic areas.

3) Critically evaluate, design, and conduct research.

a) Respond to a research question in economics through appropriate application of empirical and/or theoretical techniques.

4) Develop transferable professional ethical skills and behaviours.

a) Acquire and adopt formal professional skills and behaviours expected of a practising economist.

5) Communicate ideas, issues, and conclusions clearly and effectively.

a) Demonstrate an ability to communicate an economic argument effectively in writing.

MA Management Program


Program Learning Goal

By the end of the program, students:

Learning Outcome

By the end of the program, graduates will be able to:

1) Develop strong analytical and theoretical tools and apply them in their respective field of business.

  • Accounting:

    a) Interpret and discuss information in financial accounting, managerial accounting, assurance, and tax accurately
    b) Fulfil the requirements of professional accounting standards defined by CPA Canada Competency Map for the first four modules of the Professional Education Program.
    c) Analyze and critique organizational financial performance to identify areas of efficiencies.

  • Management Research:

    a) Demonstrate a broad understanding of multi-stakeholder perspectives regarding managerial issues
    b) Evaluate organizational issues and apply a range of analytic methods to identify and recommend solutions for diverse organizational challenges
    c) Explain major concepts, principles, and research findings related to management and critically apply this knowledge

2) Demonstrate critical thinking skills

a) Critically analyze a body of relevant management literature using primary sources to synthesize perspectives and formulate research questions to address existing gaps, inconsistencies or transferability of knowledge.

3) Critically evaluate, design, and conduct research.

a) Develop and support a sustained argument in written form to further, communicate managerial ideas, issues, and, conclusions clearly.

b) Select and apply the appropriate research methods (quantitative and/or qualitative) to assess data with a pre-determined hypothesis, while incorporating statistical software.

4) Develop transferable professional and ethical skills and behaviours.

a) Identify and address ethical considerations within the context of their research project and critically apply these insights from a management perspective.

b) Possess the intellectual independence required for ethical behaviour consistent with academic integrity and in the professional code of ethics

5) Communicate ideas, issues, and conclusions clearly and effectively.

a) Demonstrate the ability to communicate arguments and relevant managerial information effectively both orally and in writing. 

MSc Marketing and Consumer Studies Program

Program Learning Goal

By the end of the program, students:

Learning Outcome

By the end of the program, graduates will be able to:

1) Develop strong analytical and theoretical tools and apply them in their respective field of business.

a) Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the main theories of marketing and consumer behaviour by identifying and analyzing current trends and topics within the field.

2) Demonstrate critical thinking skills

a) Identify opportunities to advance theories and methodologies in the area of marketing and consumer behaviour.

3) Critically evaluate, design, and conduct research.

a) Demonstrate the ability to analyze and apply various research methods and analysis techniques to respond a question in the field of marketing and consumer behaviour. Conceptualize, design, and implement a research study in the area of marketing and consumer behaviour.

4) Develop transferable professional ethical skills and behaviours.

a) Apply ethical standards when conducting and reporting academic and applied research in marketing and consumer behaviour.

5) Communicate ideas, issues, and conclusions clearly and effectively.

a) Communicate research findings to academic and professional audiences in the form of clear, well-organized documents and presentations.

Graduate Diploma in Market Research


Program Learning Goal

By the end of the program, students:

Learning Outcome

By the end of the program, graduates will be able to:

1) Develop strong analytical and theoretical tools and apply them in their respective field of business.

a) Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of the main theories of marketing and consumer behaviour by identifying and analyzing current trends and topics within the field.

2) Demonstrate critical thinking skills

a) Critically analyze both theories and empirical findings in a broad range of issues concerning consumer behaviour and marketing.

3) Critically evaluate, design, and conduct research.

a) Evaluate and interpret research findings and make connections to current issues in market research.

4) Develop transferable professional ethical skills and behaviours.

a) Develop an ethical and professional approach when working in a marketing research context.

5) Communicate ideas, issues, and conclusions clearly and effectively.

a) Communicate market research to professional audiences through well-written documents and presentations.

MSc in Tourism and Hospitality Program

Program Learning Goal

By the end of the program, students:

Learning Outcome

By the end of the program, graduates will be able to:

1) Develop strong analytical and theoretical tools and apply them in their respective field of business.

a) Demonstrate an understanding of the global nature of the tourism and hospitality sectors and their diverse constituents.

2) Demonstrate critical thinking skills

a) Critically analyze a body of relevant tourism and hospitality literature using primary sources to synthesize perspectives and formulate research questions to address existing gaps, inconsistencies or transferability of knowledge.

3) Critically evaluate, design, and conduct research.

a) Select and apply research methods (quantitative and/or qualitative) to primary and secondary data that are most appropriate for their research project.

b) Analyze, evaluate, and interpret research results and apply them to current issues in tourism and hospitality

4) Develop transferable professional ethical skills and behaviours.

a) Identify and address ethical considerations and act with integrity in professional and academic tourism and hospitality contexts.

5) Communicate ideas, issues, and conclusions clearly and effectively.

a) Communicate research findings to academic and professional audiences in the form of clear, well-organized documents and presentations.

Graduate Diploma in Tourism Research


Program Learning Goal

By the end of the program, students:

Learning Outcome

By the end of the program, graduates will be able to:

1. Develop strong analytical and theoretical tools and apply them in their respective field of business.

a) Demonstrate an understanding of the global nature of the tourism and hospitality sectors and their diverse constituents.

2. Demonstrate critical thinking skills

a) Critically analyze relevant literature and cases that bring a variety of perspectives (managerial, cultural and environmental) to the study of issues in hospitality and tourism.

3. Critically evaluate, design, and conduct research.

a) Evaluate, and interpret research and apply those findings to current issues in tourism research.

4. Develop transferable professional ethical skills and behaviours.

a) Identify and address ethical considerations and act with integrity in professional and academic tourism and hospitality contexts.

5. Communicate ideas, issues, and conclusions clearly and effectively.

a) Communicate tourism research to professional audiences through well-written documents and presentations.

PhD in Economics Program


Program Learning Goal

By the end of the program, students:

Learning Outcome

By the end of the program, graduates will be able to:

1) Develop strong analytical and theoretical tools and apply them in their respective field of business.

a) Demonstrate mastery of microeconomic and macroeconomic theory through the formulation and analysis of a variety of economics models.

b) Obtain a deep understanding and proficiency in econometrics through the application of mathematical and statistical techniques.

2) Demonstrate higher-level critical thinking skills

a) Demonstrate mastery of an applied field within the discipline of economics by critically surveying the literature and articulating a problem.

3) Critically evaluate, design, and conduct research.

a) Formulate, design, and analyze empirically and/or theoretically an original question in economics.

4) Develop transferable and independent professional ethical skills and behaviours.

a) Recognize, adapt to, and engage with disciplinary norms by developing professional behaviours specific to an economic environment.

5) Communicate ideas, issues, and conclusions clearly and effectively.

a) Demonstrate an ability to communicate complex economic arguments effectively both orally and in writing

PhD in Management Program


Program Learning Goal

By the end of the program, students:

Learning Outcome

By the end of the program, graduates will be able to:

1) Develop strong analytical and theoretical tools and apply them in their respective field of business.

a) Critically evaluate the literature in various approaches to management theory and practice synthesizing and articulating key themes and trends in the discipline.

2) Demonstrate higher-level critical thinking skills

a) Demonstrate a deep understanding of various aspects of management literature and models by applying them to current disciplinary issues and trends.

3) Critically evaluate, design, and conduct research.

a) Critically evaluate existing important research questions in the field of management and identify gaps and weaknesses in existing approaches and contributions to the literature.

b) Develop, design, and analyze an original research question ethically by contributing to the field of management literature.

4) Develop transferable and independent professional ethical skills and behaviours.

a) Understand and develop skills in instructional design, teaching pedagogies, classroom organization and management, and apply these skills in a teaching setting.

b) Develop an understanding of a diverse range of ethical issues, which arise in both management research and management practice.

5) Communicate ideas, issues, and conclusions clearly and effectively.

a) Demonstrate an ability communicate complex arguments and research findings effectively both orally and in writing.