Unlike traditional business schools that expect students to choose a specialization early on, the 2+2 program structure of the Ivey Honours of Business Administration (HBA) offers students the freedom to explore their academic interests before choosing their career options. In the first two years, students can study in any faculty or program. This opportunity to gain new life experiences ensures that HBA students and their classmates bring diverse and more seasoned perspectives to their business education. The combination of a deep knowledge of business and another academic or professional field makes for a strong career foundation. Students can apply their first two years of university study at Western to two degrees.

Students in this program will have the option to complete a four year Honours Bachelor of Business Administration or to complete a combined degree with an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (HBA) or to study for five years and combine the HBA with an Honours Bachelor of Arts. While in their first year at Ivey (HBA 1), students will apply for one of the combined degree programs. If admitted, they will spend their fourth and fifth years of university studying a combination of business courses and required courses in their second degree area. In five years, they will have completed two degrees.

The Bachelor of Arts, Specialization in Music Administrative Studies (MAS) program is jointly offered by the Department of Music Research and Composition and the Management and Organizational Studies (MOS) program of the Faculty of Social Science. Studio lessons are not a part of this program, but may be elected for an additional fee.

This program, the only one of its kind in Canada, prepares students for management positions in various fields within the music industry, such as, music publishing, instrument manufacturing, music/arts management, production and distribution of recorded music, manufacturing of electronic music equipment, and the marketing of music products. Scholarships for the MAS program have been generously donated by Universal Music Canada, Warner Music Canada, and the Music Industries Association of Canada.

The degree, jointly offered by the Department of Music Research and Composition and the Management and Organizational Studies (MOS) program of the Faculty of Social Science, combines central elements of both programs to create an interdisciplinary atmosphere for the study of music management. A core of 8.5 courses from the MOS program and 7.5 courses from Music forms the backbone of the degree, and a further 4.0 courses of electives (usually taken as 8 separate one-term courses) allows students the opportunity to customize the degree so that they may gain further expertise in one or more areas.

Applications from people with both ‘classical’ and ‘pop’ backgrounds are welcome. Through electives, students may customize the program to concentrate on either popular music or classical music or they may blend the two areas together.

MOS core: Economics, statistics, organizational behaviour, accounting, business analysis, finance, marketing, operations.

Music core: Music theory, sight singing and ear training, music history, plus various options.

Electives: Create a ‘mini’ specialization in popular music, classical music, film, writing, etc., or broaden expertise in a number of areas.

Even though the Music Administrative Studies program includes no performance requirements, a background in either classical or popular music idioms is expected.