Founded at Boston University’s Metropolitan College in 1993, the Arts Administration master’s degree and graduate certificates emphasize excellence, creativity, economic problem solving, internationalism, and a commitment to the technologies of our age as core values in its curriculum.

The socioeconomic and political challenges of the day bring a renewed importance to the work of cultural entrepreneurs, artists, producers, curators, policy-makers, and administrators who embrace the challenge of re-thinking and re-shaping the fundamentals of contemporary society. Our students are prepared for the global responsibilities of the arts in the twenty-first century, and are eager to play leadership roles within visual arts, performing arts, and arts service organizations in public, private, and nonprofit sectors worldwide.

A total of 40 credits is required. Courses are 4 credits each unless indicated otherwise.

Group A: Required courses (16 credits)
MET AR 690 The Art World (should be completed in the first semester)
MET AR 750 Financial Management for Nonprofits
MET AR 778 Legal Issues in Arts Administration
MET AR 802 Internship in Arts Administration I(2 cr)
MET AR 803 Internship in Arts Administration II (2 cr)

Group B: At least five courses (20 credits) from this group, including an International Travel Study Course (indicated by ◊)
MET AR 510 Arts Leaders Forum
MET AR 550 Raising Funds and Grant Writing for Nonprofit Organizations
MET AR 577 Comparative Cultural Policy and Administration (London/Dublin)◊
MET AR 587 The Arts in Barcelona (Barcelona)◊
MET AR 711 Capital Campaigns
MET AR 720 Marketing and Audience Development for the Arts
MET AR 722 Educational Programming in Cultural Institutions
MET AR 723 Individual Fundraising
MET AR 730 Political and Public Advocacy for the Arts
MET AR 740 Technology and Arts Administration
MET AR 749 Research and Program Evaluation in Arts Administration
MET AR 751 Commercial Production: The Broadway Model
MET AR 752 Leadership and Entrepreneurship in the Commercial Performing Arts
MET AR 753 Current Trends in the Performing Arts Industry
MET AR 754 Global Performing Arts Presenting
MET AR 766 Arts and the Community
MET AR 771 Managing Performing Arts Organizations
MET AR 774 Managing Visual Arts Organizations
MET AR 779 Public Art Program Administration
MET AR 780 Arts in Cuba
MET AR 781 Special Topics in Arts Administration
MET AR 789 Cultural Entrepreneurship
MET AR 802 Internship in Arts Administration I
MET AR 803 Internship in Arts Administration II
MET AR 804 Advanced Management and Consulting for Arts Organizations*
MET AR 810 Thesis I
MET AR 811 Thesis II

Group C: Optional—no more than one course (4 credits) from this group
MET AD 603 Evaluating and Developing Markets for Cultural Tourism
MET AD 642 Project Management
MET AD 648 Ecommerce
MET AD 725 Negotiations and Organizational Conflict Resolution
MET AD 728 Understanding and Managing Heritage Tourism
MET AD 733 Leadership in Management (may not also take AR 700)
MET AD 769 Cultural Tourism and the Art and Festival Industries
MET AD 780 Ethics in Management
MET CM 708 Principles and Practices of Advertising
MET UA 515 History, Theory and Planning Practice
MET UA 805 Urban Studies Capstone
MET UA 515 History, Theory and Planning Practice
CAS AH 520 The Museum and Historical Agency
CAS AH 521 Curatorship
COM CM 701 Contemporary Public Relations
CFA FA 540 Arts and Culture in Mexico: Revolution to the Present

For information about pre-requisities, international study courses, internships and academic standing please visit our website.

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 minimum score of 95.