The College of Fine Arts offers the Master of Arts in arts leadership and management. The arts leadership and management degree is a business and career focused program for those students who wish to pursue or further a career in arts executive positions. Students enhance their current knowledge in two distinct areas: arts leadership and arts management. The leadership curriculum focuses on the techniques of adaptive leadership and its application to challenges facing the arts. The management curriculum focuses on the daily management skills all arts executives need such as strategic planning, fundraising and audience development. The degree is completed entirely online.
Admission
Admission to the MA in arts leadership and management degree program requires a minimum of a 3.000 GPA (on a 4.000 scale) on all previously completed undergraduate and graduate coursework. Prospective students must apply to the Graduate School. A completed Graduate School application packet includes:
- Graduate School application;
- Application fee;
- Official transcripts for all previously attended colleges/universities;
- Personal interview; and
- Contact information for two professional references.
International graduate students must meet the Graduate School requirements as outlined in the admissions section of the Graduate Catalog.
Upon receipt of a complete application packet, the College of Fine Arts will review and make an admission recommendation. Applicants will be admitted for fall and spring semesters only. Priority deadlines for submitting applications to the Graduate School are July 15 for consideration for fall admission and December 1 for spring admission. International applicants living outside the United States must submit their applications by April 1 for fall admission consideration and August 1 for spring admission consideration. Applicants who apply after these deadlines may be considered for admission in the selected semester or have their application deferred to the following semester.
Program Requirements
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| FA 815 | Contemporary Issues in American Arts Programs | 3 |
| FA 820 | Entrepreneurial Thinking in the Arts | 3 |
| FA 830 | Shaping Arts in the 21st Century | 3 |
| FA 835 | Reaching New Audiences - Arts Marketing in the 21st Century | 3 |
| FA 840 | Managing Arts Organizations | 3 |
| FA 760 | Introduction to Adaptive Leadership | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select three courses 500 level or above with advisor's approval. Suggested courses should come from public administration, business, museum studies (anthropology and history) or communications. Classes can be online or face to face. | 9 | |
| Final Project | ||
| FA 886 | Final Project | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
Students are expected to meet with their faculty advisor and create their plan of study following the completion of 12 graduate credit hours, as discussed in the Graduate School section of the Graduate Catalog.
Applied Learning
Students in the Master of Arts in arts leadership and management program are required to complete an applied learning or research experience to graduate from the program. This requirement can be met by taking FA 886 Final Project.