Online M.A. in Arts Administration Capstone

The MAAA online program requires students to complete a Capstone project which demonstrates knowledge of the arts field by bringing evidence of learned skills and applied scholarly theory directly into practice. A student's ARTA 695 Instructor and Program Director must approve the Capstone proposal, and one's Adviser and Program Director must approve the final Capstone.

The online Capstone project spans your second year in the MAAA program. It begins with the development of a Capstone proposal in your  ARTA 695 course, and ends with the submission of your final Capstone in your ARTA 696 course. Capstone progress also has to be continued between both classes as well. Below is an overview of each course, both of which are critical to your Capstone:

ARTA 695: Self-reflective and professional writing complemented by development of an individual research topic that will become the formal proposal for the Capstone research topic.

ARTA 696: Self-reflective and professional writing culminating in the completion of the Capstone individual research paper or applied research project.

Learning Outcomes

The Capstone Research Assignment will require students to:

  1. Demonstrate intellectual development expected at the graduate level of study.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of the literature of the discipline of arts administration.
  3. Demonstrate sustained engagement in academic research and/or professional practice skills.

Capstone Structures

Students have three options for their online Capstone Structure:

  • Capstone Research Paper: A substantial piece of academic writing, in which the author does independent research into a topic and writes a description of the findings of that research. The general outline of the Capstone Research Project uses MLA Guidelines, where an average submission is in the range of 20-25 pages excluding title page, table of contents, works cited, and appendices.
  • Capstone Research Project: An alternative format that presents a culminating experience/project that explores an issue in arts administration. The general outline of the Capstone Research Project presents an investigation or applied research project developed as an alternative, culminating experience using MLA Guidelines. An average submission is in the range of 20-25 pages excluding the title page, table of contents, works cited, and appendices.
  • Capstone Case Study: A detailed analysis of a person, group, or thing, grounded in research, that models a particular phenomenon in the field of arts administration. The general outline of the Capstone Case Study presents a detailed case analysis using MLA Guidelines, where an average submission is in the range of 20-25 pages excluding the title page, table of contents, works cited, and appendices.

Capstone Structure Examples

Below are examples of how the topic “Marketing Dance to Diverse Audiences” could be approached for each of the Capstone structure options:

  • Capstone Research Paper: Analysis of how a range of ballet companies have marketed, successfully or unsuccessfully, to a range of diverse audiences. This encompasses a broader range of analysis grounded in scholarly research.
  • Capstone Research Project: Develop a detailed marketing plan for a defined ballet company in a defined geographic area in an attempt to cultivate a more diverse audience base. This encompasses the development of a specific detailed project plan. Though implementation may not be logistically possible during the time frame of the Capstone project, the final project plan should be ready for implementation.
  • Capstone Case Study: In-depth analysis of how a specific ballet company has marketed to diverse audiences, successfully or unsuccessfully. This encompasses a greater degree of detailed analysis reflecting the challenges faced, how they were addressed, why decisions were made, and the impact they had on the organization. Case studies often utilize interviews, internal documents, or even site visits to gather information."

"I learned a lot of valuable research skills while completing the capstone and am very proud of the final product."

- Katherine Sam, Alumnus 

Capstone Advisers

The MAAA Capstone Advisers span from coast to coast and hold decades of collective experience, accolades, and awards. Each adviser is assigned based on the student's topic selection and serves as an invaluable resource. While your MAAA Capstone Advisor may come from within the MAAA program, they may also be recruited based on their particular experience, and are there to help students along their journey, ensuring every online Capstone project is a success.

Find Out More Now!

Be prepared with the professional skills, creative capabilities, and foundation in ethical leadership you need for success in nonprofit arts environments. For more information about our Arts Administration program, contact Program Director Robert Wildman at wildmanr@winthrop.edu, or Winthrop Graduate School Recruiter Hunter Huggins (MA in Arts Administration '22) at hugginsh@winthrop.edu. 

For admissions, speak with an enrollment counselor toll-free at 833-257-1704 or request more information today.