Boston University

Arts Administration Program

Metropolitan College
808 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
United States
Main Phone: 617-353-4064
Main E-Mail: artsad@bu.edu

Degree/Credential: Graduate (MS in Arts Administration)
Web Site: http://www.bu.edu/artsadmin/

Program Director: DRanalli [link available to AAAE members only]

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Program Goals and Objectives

The Boston University Arts Administration program is designed for students who wish to pursue careers in visual arts, performing arts, and arts service organizations in both the public and private sectors. Boston University’s program emphasizes excellence, creativity, economic problem solving, internationalism, and a commitment to the new technologies of our age. We are particularly concerned with helping arts organizations place the achievement of their missions ahead of any blind devotion to maximizing revenues. It is toward that end that we sustain a deep conviction in the centrality of the role of the artist, and in the fundamental importance of the artistic excellence of the art presented, as central issues in the health of all arts organizations in the 21st century.

The program is designed specifically to accommodate the schedules of working adults. Students will generally be able to complete all coursework on a part-time, evening basis in approximately two calendar years. Full-time study toward the degree is also possible, although scheduling problems may sometimes arise, as not every course will appear in any one-year cycle.

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Administration of the Program

Professor Daniel Ranalli is the Program Director. The MS in Arts Administration is an independent degree program located within the Metropolitan College division of Boston University. Metropolitan College offers part-time and full-time degree programs in an evening delivery system. The Program maintains relationships with the Museum Studies Graduate Certificate Program (College of Arts and Sciences), and Administrative Studies (Metropolitan College), within the University.

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Curriculum

Master's students must successfully complete 40 credit hours (10 courses). The curriculum consists of an eight course Concentration Core (four from Group A plus four from Group B), and two Concentration Electives selected from Group C.

Group A
Seminar: The Art World
Financial Management in Non-profits
Legal Issues in Arts Administration
*Internship in Arts Administration I & II

Group B
Raising Funds for Non-Profit Organizations
Arts and The Internet
Managing Performing Arts Organizations
Managing Visual Arts Organizations
Public Art Program Administration
Special Topics in Arts Administration
Writing for the Arts
Marketing and Audience Development for the Arts
Education in Cultural Institutions
Arts and the Community
**Advanced Management & Consulting for Arts Organizations

Group C
The Arts in Cuba
Economic Development and Tourism Management
Evaluating & Developing Markets for Cultural Tourism
Financial Analysis
Introduction to E-Commerce
Principles and Practices of Advertising
Communication Research
Negotiations & Organizational Conflict Resolution
Leadership in Management
Curatorship: Exhibition Development
The Museum and Historical Agency
Art and Popular Culture

Note: The Internship course is usually taken in the next-to-last semester of study and the final study. The student must have completed six courses before taking Internship. The internship may be waived for students with four or more years of full-time, professional arts organization work experience by petitioning the program director and submitting appropriate supporting materials. In that event, an additional (4 credit) elective must be taken.

Note: Advanced Management & Consulting for Arts Organizations may be substituted for Internship I & II with advisor’s permission. Six (6) courses must be completed before taking Advanced Management & Consulting for Arts Organizations.

Arts Administration Graduate Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in Arts Administration is designed to serve the many practicing and aspiring arts professionals who do not have the time or resources to commit to a full program of graduate study at this time, or may already possess a graduate degree in another field. This Certificate may be of particular interest to experienced professionals in related fields who are considering a career change.

Certificate students will take the same classes as the regular graduate students and must follow all prerequisite requirements as outlined for the M.S. degree program. The Certificate will consist of four (4) graduate courses. Three courses will be required and one may be selected from the list below.

Upon completion, interested students may apply for admission to the M.S. in Arts Administration degree program. If accepted, all completed credits earned towards the Certificate will be applied to the degree program. Certificate students will have access to all the resources of the department and the University, including: our extensive network of visual and performing arts organizations that have employed BU graduates; and internship and job placement services.

Program Requirements: Graduate Certificate in Arts Administration: 16 credits:

Required Courses:
The Art World
Legal Issues in Arts Administration
Financial Management for Non-profits

Select One Additional Course:
Raising Funds for Non-profit Organizations
Marketing and Audience Development for the Arts
Managing Performing Arts
Managing Visual Arts Organizations
Arts and the Community
Public Art Program Administration
Special Topics in Arts Administration

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Admissions

All students must have a baccalaureate degree; students are also expected to have a demonstrable, discipline-based expertise in one art area, usually satisfied by an undergraduate degree in the arts but it is possible to document expertise by alternative means. Candidates are selected on the basis of undergraduate transcripts, academic and personal references, and interviews; international students must have a TOEFL score of at least 243 (computer-based).

Application materials are available from:

Metropolitan College
Boston University
808 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02215
Telephone: (617) 353-4064
Facsimile: (617) 358-1230
E-Mail Address: artsad@bu.edu
Web Site: www.bu.edu/artsadmin