MS in Arts & Cultural Management

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Boston University’s Master of Science (MS) in Arts & Cultural Management degree program is designed for students pursuing professional careers in the cultural sector, as well as creative jobs in all sectors, both domestically and internationally.

Comprising advanced career practitioners who are experts in their respective areas, the Arts & Cultural Management master’s program faculty serve as mentors to emerging leaders in the field. We cultivate both practical professional skills and intellectual curiosity in our students, while encouraging active engagement among our students and alumni across arts disciplines. Our students are diverse and international, and benefit from numerous opportunities to engage and network with a range of national and international companies and nonprofit organizations within the art world.

The MS in Arts & Cultural Management program at Boston University is specifically designed to accommodate the schedules of working adults. Students will generally be able to complete all coursework on a part-time, evening basis. For part-time students, the master’s program can be completed in one-to-two calendar years. Full-time study toward the degree is also possible. International students are required to attend full-time and should be able to complete the program in 12 months. Please note that not every course will appear in any twelve-month cycle.

The program emphasizes a global perspective. An International Arts Practice and Policy Travel Study Course is required for all students in the program. This course enables students to engage with world-renowned cultural leaders, museums, cultural organizations, and practitioners. Using the resources of Boston University and its partnerships with other institutions abroad, recent courses have been offered in cultural destinations such as Barcelona, Spain; Dublin, Ireland; Brussels, Belgium; London, England; Edinburgh, Scotland; and Bangkok, Thailand.

Students in the master’s program have the option to earn the degree with a specialized concentration in Fundraising, Marketing, Commercial Theater Development, or Organizational Leadership. To be eligible for the degree, you must apply for admission and be accepted into the degree program. Consult with a graduate admissions advisor to learn more about these options.

View our full list of Arts & Cultural Management courses.

Arts & Cultural Management Master’s Degree Requirements

A total of 32 units is required. Courses are 4 units each unless indicated otherwise. One general elective may be taken outside of the program with program approval..

Corequisite

All students are required to complete the following complimentary lab, which can be taken while enrolled in the Arts & Cultural Management program:

• MET AR 110 Laboratory in Professional Practice

Core Courses (Four courses,16 units)

• MET AR 520 Introduction to the Art World
• MET AR 525 International Arts Practice and Policy
• MET AR 610 Financial Management for Cultural Organizations
• MET AR 615 Legal Issues in Arts and Cultural Management

General Electives (Four courses, 16 units)

• MET AR 530 Managing Performing Arts Organizations
• MET AR 535 Managing Visual Arts Organizations
• MET AR 540 Fundamentals of Arts Marketing
• MET AR 550 Raising Funds and Grant Writing for Nonprofit Organizations
• MET AR 560 Fundamentals of Individual Fundraising
• MET AR 565 Capital Campaigns
• MET AR 570 Commercial Theater Production: The Broadway Model
• MET AR 600 Special Topics in Arts and Cultural Management
• MET AR 640 Technology in Arts and Cultural Management
• MET AR 650 Public Art Project Management
• MET AR 660 Curating in Multidisciplinary Contexts: Theory and Practice
• MET AR 670 Creative Startups: The Entrepreneurial Process
• MET AR 675 Strategies for Performing Arts Businesses
• MET AR 680 Marketing for Commercial Theater and the Performing Arts
• MET AR 685 Global Commercial Theater Producing and Presenting
• MET AR 700 Leadership in the Arts
• MET AR 725 Educational Programming in Cultural Institutions
• MET AR 730 Political and Public Advocacy for the Arts
• MET AR 735 Arts and the Community
• MET AR 745 Data Analytics for Arts Marketing
• MET AR 755 Arts and Cultural Research
• MET AR 795 Arts and Cultural Management Practicum
• MET AR 796 Advanced Management and Consulting for Arts and Cultural Organizations
• MET AR 810 Master's Thesis 1
  *
• MET AR 811 Master's Thesis 2
  *

*Six courses must be completed before enrolling in this course.

Academic Standing

All students in the Arts & Cultural Management program must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 to remain in good standing and to graduate. No grade below B– in any course may be applied toward the degree. Students with a grade point average below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation and must achieve a cumulative 3.0 by the completion of the following semester or be subject to dismissal. Students who are placed on academic probation for two consecutive semesters are also subject to dismissal.