Online Master of Arts in Arts Administration Curriculum

The online Master of Arts in Arts Administration (MAAA) curriculum includes 12 courses, for a total of 36 credit hours.* The curriculum teaches the principles of arts administration leadership, management, finance, fundraising, legal principles, 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 can also tailor their learning to their career goals as their field-based practicum and culminating capstone project can tie to their professional development plan.

"Everything that I learned during the program was immediately useful in my day-to-day work in my career."

-Hunter Huggins, Alumnus 

M.A.A.A. Required Course Descriptions (36 credits)

ARTA 600 Principles and Practices of Arts Administration (3 credits)

This course explores the history, organizational theories and models behind decision-making in arts and cultural organizations today. Practical applications will focus on the various models for structuring arts and cultural organizations, including fundamental legal processes required for creating and maturing not-for-profit organizations.

ARTA 610 Effective Leadership and Management (3 credits)

This course surveys the human, structural and operational aspects of administration and leadership within arts and cultural organizations. Students explore the board/CEO relationship, organizational behavior, human resources management, strategic planning and the best practices for institutional leadership and governance.

ARTA 620 Marketing the Arts (3 credits)

This course examines the techniques for promoting and marketing arts organizations and arts events, including strategic marketing, public relations, advertising, social media and the current technologies involved. It also considers the concepts of branding and the tools and methods used to examine marketing environments (surveys, focus groups, etc.), understand consumer and organizational buying power, segment markets and position products, develop/manage new and existing programs and products, and promote and price programs and products.

ARTA 630 Financial Analysis, Budgeting, and Fiscal Management (3 credits)

An exploration of major areas of financial management in the arts, including budgeting, financial planning, grants management, contributed and earned income, and general administration. Students will learn the scope and importance of financial management responsibilities in arts organizations as well as the techniques of day-to-day financial management.

ARTA 640 Sustainability: Funding, Development and Grants (3 credits)

This course examines the factors that contribute to the financial health of nonprofit arts institutions and individual artists, including ways of obtaining and maintaining funding. Students will learn to apply assessment and management skills to improve organizational sustainability, analyze models and structures of actual arts organizations, and create a sample grant application and development plan.

ARTA 650 Arts Administration and the Law (3 credits)

The course covers basic legal principles and issues pertaining to the arts, entertainment and media industries in both for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. Students will develop an understanding of legal topics that include forms of business organization, intellectual property, copyright for performing and visual artists, rights of privacy and publicity, royalties and artists' economic rights, contracts, libel and first amendment rights.

ARTA 660 Community Engagement (3 credits)

This course focuses on issues that involve the engagement of cultural institutions with their immediate community. It includes an examination of local arts centers, arts councils, arts service organizations, agency/government relations, urban issues, multiculturalism and festivals.

ARTA 670 Policy and Advocacy (3 credits)

This course examines government and cultural systems and their influences on and in support of the arts. It includes coverage of federal, state and local support of the arts in the United States and the impact of government policy, technology and globalization on artists and arts organizations.

ARTA 685 Arts Administration Research (3 credits)

The use of research and writing in the field of arts administration and as tools in informed decision-making. 

ARTA 686 Field-Based Practicum (3 credits)

Mentoring and professional practice in an appropriate setting.

ARTA 695 Arts Administration Capstone (3 credits)

The development of a formal proposal for an individual research paper or applied research topic and the subsequent completion of, the arts administration capstone.  

ARTA 696 Research in Arts Administration II (3 credits)

Self-reflective and professional writing culminating in the completion of the capstone individual research paper or applied research project.

*Curriculum and course sequencing subject to change.

Get More Information Now!

Advance your career in arts administration with the specific knowledge and networking skills you need to succeed in this industry.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.