Winthrop University
The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Arts Administration program prepares individuals interested in contributing to the creative industry as innovative leaders. Through in-depth preparation, these arts leaders learn how to inspire audiences and their organizations, sustain financial support, manage resources, and create innovative strategies that sustain organizations.
Goals and Objectives
1. To provide students a curriculum of best practices in governance, audience development, financial management, and legal principles pertaining to non-profit arts.
2. To prepare students for leadership roles in community engagement with the arts, arts advocacy, and arts policy development.
3. To explore evolving technologies, global issues, ethical questions, and leadership practices as they relate to non-profit arts.
4. To guide students to successful completion of an individual capstone research paper or project as a culminating experience
Curriculum
The 36-hour degree in-seat program consists of 18 weekend sessions (18 credit hours), research and practicum work (12 credit hours), and two one week-long summer institutes (6 credit hours) that are spread out over two years of half-time enrollment in the fall, spring, and summer terms. Classes meet on three weekends in each of the fall, spring, and summer semesters, along with one full week in July.
Like the in-seat program, the online curriculum includes 12 courses, for a total of 36 credit hours. The curriculum teaches the principles of arts administration leadership, management, grants, community engagement and advocacy.
Throughout the program, students will develop practical skills through written and oral assignments and through the hands-on creation of strategic plans, marketing plans and advocacy toolkits. Students will also tailor their learning to their career goals by collaborating with their dedicated faculty mentor on a professional development plan and by completing a field-based practicum and a culminating capstone project.
Admissions
In order to apply for this program, applicants should:
- Use the online Graduate School application with the non-refundable application fee.
- Submit official transcript(s) from all institutions attended for undergraduate and graduate coursework. Transcripts must be sent directly to Winthrop's Graduate School office from the issuing institution(s). We cannot accept transcripts (even sealed, official transcripts) from individuals.
- Hold a baccalaureate degree in an arts or business management discipline;
- Have an overall undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale;
- Have at least one year of work experience (professional or volunteer) in a non-profit arts/cultural environment;
- Submit an essay describing their background in a non-profit arts/cultural environment and their reasons for pursuing this degree program;
- Submit a current curriculum vitae; and
- Submit two letters of recommendation. Recommendations from arts and/or academic professionals who can speak about the applicant’s involvement in the non-profit arts field and the applicant’s academic research/writing skills are preferred.
- Interview with the Graduate Director of the program
- Review of applications begins 15 February. There is no "deadline" for applications.
The Master of Arts in Arts Administration program does NOT require applicants to take the GRE or any other standardized examination.
