Applications for the program open in fall 2026
The University of Guelph-Humber (U of GH) will offer a new four-year program starting fall 2027 called Business & Liberal Studies. Applications for the program will open this fall.
The Business & Liberal Studies program is designed for students who are interested in business, but who are also drawn to politics, culture, global affairs, or sustainability. The program combines core courses and learning outcomes from the Business Administration program, including finance, accounting, marketing, statistics, ethics, and more, with the cultural analysis, ethical communication, and systems thinking of Liberal Studies electives. The program’s first cohort will include approximately 30 students.
“The Business & Liberal Studies program gives our students a distinct edge by pairing core business drive with the sharp critical thinking and adaptability of the liberal arts. Today’s employers need problem-solvers who understand the numbers, but can also navigate complex social, ethical, and economic challenges. By blending these two fields, we are preparing our graduates, not just to land their first job, but to lead and innovate throughout their entire careers,” Business Administration Chair Dr. Karey Rowe said.
Business & Liberal Studies differs from the Business Administration program at U of GH because it “opens different doors,” Dr. Vasilis (Bill) Molos said, who will serve as the program’s chair and is also the chair of Liberal Studies. Emphasizing critical thinking, problem-solving from different perspectives, and communication, Business & Liberal Studies can take graduates to careers in policy analysis, global affairs, corporate social responsibility, sustainability strategy, and beyond.
The Liberal Studies side runs through three clusters: Cultures, Identities, and Expressions; Global Society and Leadership; and Futures, Technologies, and Sustainability. Every student takes at least one course from each, along with 12.50 credits of Business Administration courses, so business remains at its core.
There are three required Liberal Studies courses: Studio I in first year, Studio II in the second, and the Capstone Seminar in fourth year, each being a prerequisite for the next. A student meets their cohort in the opening weeks and finishes with the same people four years later.
The skills students develop during the program are tested during the final year major capstone project, which will be displayed at a public showcase. Dr. Molos said this could look like a 3,500-word research essay with a 300-word abstract, a portfolio of four to six pieces of work drawn from all four years, and a presentation at the showcase taking questions from instructors, classmates, and invited guests.
“Over four years, you move from foundations in markets and communication, to the discipline of evidence and ethical judgment, to the harder question of ‘What counts as value when environmental and social stakes are part of the ledger?’ to a public-facing capstone that asks you to take a stance,” Dr. Molos said.
Students will also gain built-in work experience, including 100 hours of placement, as well as research opportunities. The cornerstone of real-world experience will prepare students to be career ready upon graduation with an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Guelph and a diploma in General Arts & Science from Humber Polytechnic.
Students interested in pursuing graduate studies can apply for the U of GH admission pathway to the University of Guelph’s MBA program.
“I'm a historian, so I tend to ask where things came from. This program asks students to put that question to business from their first week, and then keeps asking it for four years,” Dr. Molos said.
To learn more about the new Business & Liberal Studies program, click here.