FCAD and the Ted Rogers School of Management launch concurrent MA/MBA pathway
Two leading Ryerson University faculties are teaming up to expand the educational possibilities for postgraduate studies. The Faculty of Communication and Design (FCAD) and Ted Rogers School of Management announce a groundbreaking concurrent MA/MBA that will provide students with an opportunity to earn a dual interdisciplinary degree with the potential to launch them into the highest levels of executive and leadership roles within the creative industries.
The innovative study pathway will bring together the best of FCAD’s Master of Media Production (MA), and The Ted Rogers School of Management’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) to prepare graduates with hybrid programming and combined skill sets, making them highly sought-after in the creative fields.
FCAD’s MA of Media Production students in the studio
Image courtesy of Ted Rogers School of Management
A pathway for the 21st Century
Launching Fall 2021, the MA/MBA was developed as “a response to a real need for this mix of talent by industry and a demand by students for an education that prepares them to lead in the media fields of tomorrow” says FCAD Dean, Charles Falzon. “The pathway is unique, innovative, and transformative, and could only come from a place like Ryerson. It is a profound collaboration between FCAD and the Ted Rogers School of Management.
The Ted Rogers MBA program has been growing in prominence in Canada and globally, and FCAD’s Master of Media Production has evolved towards a distinct focus on executive level production career pathways for which hard business skills are key assets. Together, the pathway will launch the next generation of industry leaders and innovators who will shape the multi-million dollar media and entertainment industries and reach audiences in new, inventive ways.
“Creativity and collaboration are in the shared DNA of FCAD and the Ted Rogers School,” says Dean of the Ted Rogers School, Daphne Taras. “A pathway like this, which leverages the coordinated strengths of two great faculties, will be a magnet for the best and brightest future leaders.”
Dr. Donna Smith, Graduate Program Director, MBA Program
Charles Falzon, Dean of FCAD
In an era of disruption within the media and entertainment industries, MBA Program Graduate Program Director, Dr. Donna Smith, says “the MA/MBA graduate will develop a strategic vision and bring it to audiences, achieving an impact in diverse ways. FCAD’s MA in Media Production is a globally-renowned discipline-specific program that focuses on broadcasting and media production,” says Dr. Smith, “as a one-year program, it incorporates some management and leadership principles. For MA candidates to move into leadership and executive positions, a more extensive, stronger business background is required. That’s where the Ted Rogers MBA program comes in. Our program is ranked #5 in Canada overall and #1 for teaching collaboration.”
The competitive advantage
With the MA/MBA, Ryerson graduates will develop capabilities in media production and management not currently met by either the MBA or MA programs alone. Building on the stand-alone strength of each credential, this structured pathway –– marked by an integrated Major Research Paper (MA) and Capstone Project (MBA), and a suite of cross-listed electives –– will provide students with a learning ecosystem that optimally integrates the learning outcomes of both graduate programs. Additionally, Ryerson offers students a competitive advantage with its placement in the city of Toronto, a UNESCO designated Creative City of Media Arts.
According to Ontario Creates (external link) , entertainment and creative fields are a high growth/high impact sector with 2020 being a record-breaking year for Ontario’s film and television industry, with more than 340 productions, bringing in $2.16 billion in production spending for the economy.
Ryerson’s MA/MBA takes a dual approach unlike any other existing Canadian institutional program or pathway offering a traditional MBA. The innovative MA/MBA will confer students with two graduate degrees that can be completed full-time in 24 months. The pathway also offers flexibility for students to take the Ted Rogers MBA portion part-time.
Ryerson University’s Ted Rogers School of Management
Ted Rogers MBA global standing
A unique foundation
The MA/MBA study pathway upholds the existing curricular objectives of each degree. In their first year, students will complete Media Production courses paired with business-focused electives preparing them for direct entry into the MBA program. In their second year, MBA courses will allow students to meld media production with a solid business plan resulting in a major capstone project that allows them to maximize their creative and entrepreneurial talent. This final deliverable will be jointly supervised by FCAD and the Ted Rogers School of Management faculty members and will be designed to meet the required program course work of both programs. Graduates of the joint pathway, Dr. Smith notes “will have a deep knowledge of their field and be able to lead organizations for performance, taking into consideration the challenges of our complex world.”
James Nadler, RTA associate professor and graduate program director in media production, holds an MBA and a degree in Theatre/Film Studies. “I personally saw how this particular combination of degrees gave me credibility and necessary skills when I was starting out in the industry as a TV writer/producer,” he shares. “The average one hour drama now costs around $4.5 million an hour. To be a successful content creator in television, you need to have a creative vision to be a spectacular manager. To be an effective manager for a network, streaming service, or production company, you need to understand the creative process. The MA/MBA pathway is an exciting first or second step in the journey to becoming a showrunner, media entrepreneur or broadcasting executive.”
FCAD’s MA in Media Production allows students to connect, interact, inform, and inspire while exploring the theoretical, economic, creative, and cultural structures that influence how media is produced and disseminated. “With an MBA in hand,” says Dr. Smith, “the MA/MBA graduate will develop a strategic vision and bring it to audiences, achieving an impact in diverse ways. This new graduate may spark creation through collaborative management, positively impacting the workplace and audiences.”
Students will be able to choose this pathway of study by way of their applications by including their preference within their statement of interest. Students starting the MA of Media Production in Fall 2021 will have the option of following the dual MA/MBA study pathway and must also apply for the Ted Rogers MBA program to do so. Students must meet the entrance requirements for both programs to be eligible.
The MA/MBA pathway was created for students eager to streamline their goals. The two-credential pathway is an ideal profile for a career path as a creative executive. Falzon notes that the joint pathway will offer students “a very strong practical and creative component with access to media studios and creative development.” This, he asserts, combined with an MBA, “will provide students with a unique foundation as creative business leaders of tomorrow.”
FCAD at Ryerson University
Entering its eighth decade, FCAD is a global centre of media and creative invention. As a disrupter in innovative education, FCAD is dedicated to developing creators with authentic voices who engage directly with creative industries around the world.
With 23 undergraduate and graduate programs that are shaping the future of their fields and tight-knit partnerships around the world, FCAD offers more opportunities to educate the next generation of creative leaders than anywhere else.