Arts Administration (Master of Arts)

The Master of Arts in Arts Administration provides students a wide range of advanced skills in skills required of the arts administrator in today’s competitive nonprofit environment. The program is designed for both individuals who already working for arts agencies who seek to augment their skills and those who seek to enter into an arts administration career. The program is the collaborative effort of four departments (Visual Arts, Music, Theatre and Dance, and Public Administration), which allows for a wide range of courses, in artistic traditions and aesthetic types, grant writing, personnel policies, fiscal management, marketing and other leadership skills. The curriculum allows students to focus on an area of special interest while procuring a solid foundation in basic methods and procedures in administration.

Program Mission

The mission of the Master of Arts in Arts Administration program is to engage students in the study of arts management methods, resources, organization, funding, and leadership models. The program focuses on preparing students for leadership positions in arts organizations through study in theory and practice of the arts and management, in both classroom and organizational settings.

Goals, Outcomes and Assessment

The program provides an opportunity for arts administrators or those embarking in these career areas to augment their skills and credentials. Core courses focus on areas essential for all arts administrators and specialized courses enable a student to examine in greater depth selected areas of study. All students synthesize their work with a leadership or management model for final review. The Program participates in the University-wide effort to assess its academic programs. Information on assessment plans, including goals, methods and outcomes is available at http://www.umflint.edu/assessment.

Admission Criteria

A bachelor’s degree in the arts (visual arts, theatre, dance or music) from an accredited university is required. Prospective students who are already working in arts administration may be admitted with the provisions that they demonstrate competence (through additional course work, programs, or catalogues from exhibits and/or performances) in at least one of the fine arts areas identified above.

Applications are only accepted for the Fall and Winter semesters.

Transfer Credits

Up to six (6) credit hours of graduate credit completed at an accredited institution may be accepted for transfer. Transfers of credit are subject to the approval of the program director. Transfers are made in accordance with the policies of the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies. Information on requesting transfer of credit is available at http://www.umflint.edu/resources/pdf/grad-programs/Rackham%20Transfer%20of%20Credit%20Form.pdf.

Time Limit on Degree

A full time student could complete the program within two academic years. A student who does not complete the degree in five (5) years will be disenrolled from the program. Readmittance is possible, but reapplication to the program is required.