American University
Arts Management Program
4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20016
United States
Main Phone: (202) 885-1000
Main E-Mail: dpa@american.edu
Degree/Credential: Graduate (MA in Arts Administration)
Web Site: http://www.american.edu/perf_arts/academics/artsmgt_study.htm
Program Director: slaughlin [link available to AAAE members only]
Program Goals and Objectives
Since 1974, the graduate Arts Management Program has trained students for careers in nonprofit performing and visual arts organizations, as well as government organizations on the front lines of national and international cultural policy. The goals of this program are to train students for success in a wide range of administrative, managerial and leadership positions and to help them become effective advocates for the arts. After graduation, our students (who enjoy a 100% job placement rate) become leaders in arts organizations all over the country, as well as internationally.In addition to the Master of Arts Management degree (45 credit hours), the program offers a Graduate Certificate in Arts Management—the only one in Washington, DC. It provides specialized training for those who have been involved in any area of arts organizations--marketing, fundraising, audience development, arts in education, or presenting or programming in arts organizations. The required 15 credit hours of course work may be applied toward the master’s degree upon admission.
Areas of specialization among faculty include artists’ support systems, artist residency programs, the dynamics of small organizations, literary organizations, governance, strategic planning, fundraising, organizational development and cultural policy.
Administration of the Program
The MA in Arts Management is a graduate program of the Department of Performing Arts within the College of Arts and Sciences. This is for administrative purposes only. Students come from all disciplines, including studio art, art history, theater, dance, music and multi media. The program also maintains close programmatic ties with the Kogod School of Business, the School of Communication, the School of Public Affairs, the Department of Education, etc. Students are encouraged to take courses in these schools, as well as those throughout a consortium of universities in the DC area (Georgetown, George Washington University, George Mason, University of Maryland, etc).Curriculum
Master’s students must successfully complete 45 credit hours of approved graduate-level study. A Certificate of Arts Management is available upon completion of the core requirements or an equivalent (15 credit hours). Completion of the degree typically takes 2-2 ½ years (full-time in the first year or so) however, students may enroll on a part-time basis. Many students begin full-time work while completing capstone requirements in their final semester.Required courses include:
Survey of Arts Management
Marketing for the Arts
Fundraising for the Arts
Cultural Policy
Financial Management for the Arts
Required to take two arts-related courses, students continue to pursue their artistic paths, ranging from auditioning for the University Chorus or various music ensembles to taking art history, studio art, dance, theater, or photography courses.
The remainder of the coursework may be selected from Rotating Topics, or outside the academic unit, such as Public Administration, Business or Communications. Examples of rotating topics include:
Governance and Board Development
Strategic Planning
Arts in Education
Grantwriting
Arts Programming
Legal Issues in the Arts
Arts in Education
Each course counts for three credit hours. Candidates must also pass a four-hour comprehensive examination covering arts management and an area of specialization in the arts as well as complete a thesis or equivalent Master’s capstone.
The Thesis Option is written in conjunction with the Master’s Thesis Seminar. The other capstone options involve an analytical case study, an original creative work, specified research, or other such effort as the teaching unit may designate. Master’s capstone projects are approved by the advisor, committee, and the department graduate studies committee before work begins.
Finally, a six-credit hour internship (see below for examples of current and former internship organizations) is an integral component of the program. Practical experience within an academic context affords students the opportunity to explore a variety of areas within the arts management field, form valuable working relationships with arts management professionals, and test and develop skills introduced in a classroom setting. Students may fulfill their required six credits of internship full-time over one semester, or do two half-time internships (recommended) at two different organizations for three credits each. Three credit hours of the internship can be waived upon request for those who are working or who have worked in the arts management field.
The faculty of the Arts Management Program is actively engaged in comprehensive exams, thesis and other capstone advising and independent studies.
INTERNSHIPS
Internships are an important component of our program, providing critical learning experiences for students. As we are a 30-year-old program, interns have worked in a wide variety of settings. The Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts, the Smithsonian Institution, Wolftrap, the Phillips Collection, the Corcoran, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Music Center at Strathmore, Jacob’s Pillow, the Shakespeare Theatre, Arena Stage, the Harmon Center for the Arts and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Americans for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, International Arts and Artists, and the Washington Opera are but a handful of the hundreds of organizations who have hosted our student interns.
Admissions
In addition to meeting the minimum university requirements for graduate study (minimum grade point average of 3.00), applicants must have completed nine or more undergraduate courses in dance, theatre, music, or visual arts, one-third of which must be advanced work or it's equivalent. Equivalent training is understood to be four or more years' experience in a professional company or organization. An interview is strongly encouraged and required for those not meeting academic requirements. Two letters of recommendation are required. Provisional admission may be granted and is removed at the completion of 12 credit hours of work in the department with a grade point average of 3.00. Fall admission is strongly encouraged due to the structure of the curriculum, although applicants for spring admission will be considered.A GRE score is required by the university. The program has no minimum score requirement. The DPA simply must have a score on file. Individuals with 8 years or greater professional experience may request to have the GRE requirement waived.
Financial aid and merit awards are available through the University. Fellowships and assistanceships are awarded on a competitive basis through the Arts Management Program. Please refer to http://www.american.edu/cas/admissions/financial_aid.cfm for information on financing your graduate education.
Admission to the program is competitive, and enrollment is limited to 18-20 students per academic year.
For an application and information, please complete the online form for CAS Graduate Admissions: https://my.american.edu/cgi/mvi.exe/A26.CAS.PROSPORT.INQUIRY. For specific questions, please contact the Director of the Arts Management Program (see above).