Develop Leadership Excellence in Arts and Cultural Organizations
The Master of Science in Arts & Cultural Management concentration in Organizational Leadership at Boston University’s Metropolitan College (MET) prepares you to effectively lead arts organizations through comprehensive training in organizational structure, strategic planning, marketing, and human resource management. Designed for professionals aiming to guide performing, visual, and multidisciplinary arts institutions, the Organizational Leadership master’s concentration emphasizes essential leadership skills such as contract negotiation, performance measurement, research, and program evaluation.
Students gain applied knowledge in best practices for managing arts organizations, creating strategic development plans, and fostering audience growth while understanding the nuances of responsible HR management and organizational marketing. BU MET’s Organizational Leadership curriculum is enriched with practical courses covering managing performing and visual arts organizations, leadership dynamics in creative environments, and arts-focused research methodologies. Through case studies, industry insights, and real-world applications, you will cultivate the competencies required to lead diverse teams and drive mission-aligned success in the cultural sector.
Program at a Glance
- On Campus
- Part-Time or Full-Time Study
- 36 Units
- 12–20 Months to Completion
- 25 Core Faculty
- No GRE/GMAT
- Tuition & Fees—Part-Time Study*: $30,335
*Based on 2026–2027 Boston University tuition and fees. Merit scholarship may reduce cost.
Take the Next Step
Get essential information and guidance for applying.
Advance Your Career in Arts & Cultural Management
BU MET’s Arts & Cultural Management master’s degree program is designed for students who wish to pursue professional careers in arts and cultural organizations in the public, nonprofit, and commercial sectors both domestically and internationally. We believe that the arts are a critical element in society and the role of arts managers is to nurture environments in which greatness can thrive.
The MS in Arts & Cultural Management degree provides a unique hands-on learning opportunity to develop professional experience in the field, positioning you for the realities of today’s cultural organizations. From renowned symphony orchestras and museums to inventive community theaters and upstart galleries, the organizations that bring culture to the public are crucial to a rich and diverse society—and Boston offers a wealth of possibilities for engagement.
The Arts & Cultural Management master’s program also emphasizes a global perspective through our international travel study courses, which enable students to engage with world-renowned cultural leaders, museums, arts organizations, and artists abroad.
See a list of positions held by BU MET Arts & Cultural Management alumni:
Advancing the Arts Scholarship
To foster greater inclusion in leadership of the arts and cultural sector, the Advancing the Arts Scholarship is an opportunity for applicants to the MS in Arts & Cultural Management program who have dealt with personal challenges or other barriers to their participation in the arts and are committed to making the arts accessible to all.
Learn More
Summer Arts Management Institute
July 20–30, 2026
Where Creativity Meets Strategy
Gain the essential skills to run a successful arts organization in this intensive two-week program. Learn from expert faculty, engage in hands-on exercises, and explore real-world case studies—all designed for early-career arts managers ready to take the next step.
What Is My Career Outlook as a Graduate of This Program?
+6%
Projected ten-year growth in jobs
(faster than average)
Common job titles include:
- Development Manager
- Communications Manager
- Marketing Manager
- Education Director
- Finance Manager
- Visitor Experience Manager
Employers seek expertise in:
- Public speaking
- Presentation technology
- Fundraising software
- Email marketing
- CRM software
- Excellent written and verbal communications
- Bookkeeping & accounting software
Speak with our Admissions Team
Schedule a 1:1 call to speak with an advisor directly or attend an admissions event alongside other future students.
Why Earn a Master’s in Arts & Cultural Management at BU?
- Practical Capstone Project: Students completing a master’s concentration in the Arts & Cultural Management degree program benefit from completing an intensive capstone project, either the Arts and Cultural Management Practicum (MET AR 795) or Advanced Management and Consulting for Arts and Cultural Organizations (MET AR 796).
- Active Learning Environment: BU’s Arts & Cultural Management courses ensure you get the attention you need through close interaction with faculty and visiting artists. Benefit from an interdisciplinary curriculum that encourages collaboration between students from multidisciplinary arts backgrounds and provides access to mentor programs, internships, project management activities, and opportunities to work with world-leading art institutions and practitioners in the field.
- Career Counseling: MET’s Career Development office and BU’s Center for Career Development offer a variety of job-hunting resources, including one-on-one career counseling by appointment for both online and on-campus students.
- Engaged Faculty: In BU’s MS in Arts & Cultural Management program, you will study with an international faculty of leading industry professionals working within the visual and performing arts worlds. Their expertise in the most current challenges, trends, and best practices in the field enables them to offer rich perspectives and insights that ensure a uniquely hands-on approach to study.
- Mentor4Arts Program: Connect to our lively alumni network of talented arts managers in organizations throughout Boston and beyond—Mentor4Arts fosters career development through one-on-one meetings, themed discussion topics, and Mentoring Circles.
- Extensive Network: Study alongside peers within the art world; consult and network with a wide range of national and international companies and nonprofit organizations within the art world; and benefit from a global alumni community with strong professional connections. Plus, you have access to the Boston University Arts Administration Student Association (AASA), formed in the spring of 1995 to provide opportunities for social interaction, educational enrichment, and career development.
- Student Support: Enjoy an exceptional student-to-instructor ratio, ensuring close interaction with faculty mentors and access to support.
- Valuable Resources: Make use of Boston University’s extensive resources, including the BU Art Galleries, BU Office for the Arts, Center for Career Development, Educational Resource Center, Fitness & Recreation Center, Innovate@BU, IT Help Centers, Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre, Mugar Memorial Library, Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground, George Sherman Union, Tsai Performance Center, Wheelock Family Theatre, and many others.
- Flexible Options: Study at the pace that works for you, evenings on campus with courses that begin fall, spring, and summer.
- Track Record: The Arts & Cultural Management program is part of a long tradition of arts management programs offered by Boston University Metropolitan College since 1993, which have produced professional leaders at a host of cultural institutions in Boston, throughout the United States, and abroad.
- Advancing the Arts Scholarship: US-based applicants to the Arts & Cultural Management program who have dealt with personal challenges or other barriers to their participation in the arts—and who are committed to making the arts accessible to all—may be eligible for the Advancing the Arts Scholarship and teaching assistantships.
- Merit Scholarships: All graduate students are automatically considered for merit scholarships during the application process and nominated based on eligibility. Learn more.
Succeed in the Management of Arts and Cultural Organizations
The Organizational Leadership concentration is part of BU MET’s MS in Arts & Cultural Management. Originating in 1993, the Arts & Cultural Management programs also include graduate-level certificate programs in Arts Management, Arts Marketing, Commercial Theater Development, and Fundraising Management. The Arts & Cultural Management programs at BU MET emphasize creativity, economic problem solving, entrepreneurial leadership, internationalism, innovation in the arts, and a commitment to technological proficiency. We are particularly concerned with helping arts organizations successfully achieve their missions. It is toward such an end that we sustain a deep conviction in the centrality of the role of the artist, and in the fundamental importance of artistic excellence, as issues central to all arts organizations in the twenty-first century.
We offer a flexible schedule to accommodate students who are working or have other responsibilities that prevent traditional full-time study. All coursework can be completed on a part-time, evening basis in approximately two calendar years. Students may also pursue their degree via full-time study.
Graduate with Expertise
Boston University’s Arts & Cultural Management master’s degree concentration in Organizational Leadership will equip you with:
- An understanding and applied knowledge of best practices in structuring arts organizations.
- An understanding of principles of responsible human resource management.
- The ability to create well-reasoned strategic development plans.
- The ability to understand and apply best practices in organizational marketing.
- The ability to understand and apply basic knowledge of contract law.
- The ability to understand and apply research methods for program evaluation.
Certificate-to-Degree Pathway
BU MET graduate certificate programs can serve as building blocks to a master’s degree. The Graduate Certificate in Arts Management shares specific courses with the Arts & Cultural Management degree program, giving you the option to take the certificate on your path to a master’s degree. Students currently enrolled in a graduate certificate who are interested in transitioning into a master’s degree should contact their academic advisor to declare their interest in this pathway. A new master’s degree application is not required. Connect with a graduate admissions advisor at artsad@bu.edu to learn more about this option.
Master’s in Arts & Cultural Management Curriculum
Organizational Leadership Concentration
A total of 36 units is required.
Students must complete the corequisite, core courses, and concentration requirements.
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
Concentration Requirements
(Five courses/20 units)
MET AR 540 Fundamentals of Arts Marketing
MET AR 700 Leadership in the Arts
MET AR 755 Arts and Cultural Research
Plus, one of the following:
MET AR 530 Managing Performing Arts Organizations
MET AR 535 Managing Visual Arts Organizations
Plus one capstone requirement chosen from the following:
MET AR 795 Arts and Cultural Management Practicum
MET AR 796 Advanced Management and Consulting for Arts and Cultural Organizations
International Travel Study Course
The Arts & Cultural Management program is committed to exposing its students to the growing impact of globalization on the art world. US students enrolled in the master’s program are required to take International Arts Practice and Policy (MET AR 525). This course involves short duration travel to a non-US country. Past travel destinations have included London, Dublin, Paris, Brussels, Barcelona, Bangkok, and Cuba. Future destinations will vary.
Arts & Cultural Management Faculty
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How Much Does This Program Cost?
BU MET Programs offer the flexibility of part-time or full-time study. Tuition, fees, and total program cost are determined by enrollment status. If you enroll in 1–2 courses (4–8 units) in a semester, you are charged the part-time per-unit rate. If you enroll in 3–4 courses (12–16 units) in a semester, you are charged the full-time semester rate.
MS in Arts & Cultural Management, Organizational Leadership Concentration (On Campus)
| Enrollment Status | Part Time | Full Time | |
| Courses per Semester | 2 courses (8 units) |
4 courses (16 units) |
3 courses (12 units) |
| Time to Degree | 5 semesters (20 months) |
3 semesters (12-16 months)*** |
3 semesters (12-16 months)*** |
| Tuition* | $585-$1,030 per unit** |
$36,512 per semester |
$36,512 per semester |
| Fees per Semester* | $75 | $524 | $524 |
| Total Degree Cost* | $30,335 | $78,267 | $82,387 |
*Based on 2026–2027 Boston University tuition and fee rates.
**Cost per unit is determined by course number (100–599 = $585/unit, 600–999 = $1,030/unit).
***Summer semester enrollment is not required for international students to maintain F-1 visa status. Enrollment in summer semester coursework will expedite completion of program and reduce total program cost.
International students seeking an F-1 visa for on-campus study must enroll full time and demonstrate availability of funds to cover the Estimated Cost of Graduate Study; those who wish to study online may enroll part-time but are not eligible for a visa. Learn more about International Student Tuition & Fees.
Questions? Please contact us to hear from an Admissions Advisor who can help you determine the best enrollment pathway. For information regarding financial aid, visit BU MET’s Financial Aid page.
What to Read Next: MET Arts & Cultural Management Knowledge Center
- Arts & Cultural Management Student Stories
- How Many Years for an MS in Arts & Cultural Management—and What is the Cost?
- Why Get a Master’s Degree in Arts & Cultural Management at Boston University’s Metropolitan College?
- What Are My Career Options with an Arts & Cultural Management Master’s Degree from Boston University’s Metropolitan College?
- Are There Different Specializations within the MS in Arts & Cultural Management?
