Students receive invaluable hands-on, practical work experience through a rotation of assistantships, including Assistant Business Manager, Box Office Manager, Marketing Manager, Marketing Coordinator, Education and Outreach Manager, and Education and Outreach Coordinator. These assistantships enhance the students’ professional experiences in all aspects of arts management, making them desirable to arts organizations and corporate employers. Students manage the many facets of UA theatre and dance programs that include 13 productions every year.

The MBA/MFA three-year dual program offers students the opportunity to earn two degrees simultaneously through the Department of Theatre & Dance and the Manderson Graduate School of Business. Consistently ranked in the top 50 programs for Best Value, Manderson prides itself on small class sizes and collaborative group exercises for students to learn about trends in the business world today. One of three in the country, this unique joint program provides students an opportunity to incorporate business skills in both corporate and nonprofit arts professions.

MFA -
Total of 60 credit hours: History of Theatre I and II; Advanced Practicum I – III; Capstone Project; Internship; and 45 credit hours from the following: Theatre Management; Teaching Practicum; Fundraising and Development; Leadership in the Arts; Venue and Event Management; Financial Management; Arts Advocacy, Policy, and Public Relations; Business and Legal Issues in the Arts; Marketing the Arts; Board Relations and Strategic Planning; Problems in Theatre Arts: Management; Independent Study; Persuasive Communication; APR Management; Advertising/ PR; Organizational Theory; New Venture Development; Small Business Consulting; Product Design Marketing Strategy; Marketing Management

MBA/MFA -
Total of 64 credit hours: History of Theatre I and II; Advanced Practicum I – III; Capstone Project; Internship; Leadership in the Arts; Business and Legal Issues on the Arts; Financial Management for the Arts; Public Policy in the Arts; Board Relations and Strategic Planning; Fundraising and Development; Event and Venue Management; Arts Marketing; Leadership/Ethics; Statistics for Business Application; Survey of Marketing; Operations Management; Managerial Accounting; Spreadsheet Analytics; Financial Management; Managerial Economics; Project and Process Management; Business Communications; Business Strategy; International Business Administration

Enrollment into this program is capped at six per year. Assistantship awards are limited. Admission to the program and assistantships are awarded based on a portfolio review, interview, and acceptance into The University of Alabama Graduate School. Portfolios may be uploaded as part of the University application process or sent directly to the program director. The application deadline is February 15 of each year. Students must be accepted to both programs to pursue the MBA/MFA. For more information about the MBA program and its admission requirements, please visit our website.