Arts Administration

What is Arts Administration?

The study of arts administration prepares students for leadership positions within creative enterprises, museums, foundations, corporations, not-for-profit organizations and government agencies. Arts administration students will find a curriculum that focuses on management for arts, science and cultural organizations as well as opportunities to explore specific areas of practice.

Why study Arts Administration at Drexel?

For more than 50 years, Drexel’s M.S. in Arts Administration – one of the oldest and most established in the nation – has been at the forefront of our field. Our comprehensive curriculum combines a broad foundation with contemporary issues, connecting management in arts, culture and humanities to broader trends in business, research and technology. Our program is flexible, designed for the modern graduate student (no GRE required), so students our can:

• complete their degree in as little as 15 months
• complete their degree on campus, online or by a hybrid model
• complete their degree as a full-time or part-time student

Our program at Drexel University is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – the 5th largest city in the nation – home to hundreds of regional, national and internationally-known nonprofits, museums, and cultural institutions. Drexel’s Robert and Penny Fox Historic Costume Collection, Leonard Pearlstein Gallery, The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University and the many world-class museums in the region are hands-on laboratories for our arts administration students. Philly is also a short train ride to New York and to Washington D.C., where students can participate in national and international conferences and events like the National Arts Action Summit and Museum Advocacy Day.

Arts administration students at Drexel have a unique advantage to grow their network, leverage opportunities and engage with a vibrant creative culture. Our 12:1 student to faculty ratio reinforces individualized instruction from our industry-leading faculty. Our global alumni community provides students an opportunity to build a network that will serve them throughout their career.

What Will You Learn in the Arts Administration Program?

Our program is designed to help students develop a knowledge and skill base to lead tomorrow’s arts organizations and cultural enterprises. Arts administration students complete a series of foundation courses and choose several elective courses to concentrate their interests (e.g. museum leadership). Students then take a thesis sequence to complete their degree. Visit the Drexel catalogue to review a sample plan of study.

At Drexel, arts administration students learn to integrate theory into practice. Students learn and develop skills in marketing, fundraising, entrepreneurship, leadership, technology, education, partnerships, collaboration, public policy, financial management, resource development, digital media, public programming and navigating legal and ethical issues. Students also learn and develop skills through experiential education and engagement with the region’s diverse arts, cultural and humanities community.

Arts administration students also can pursue The Post-Bachelorette Certificate in Responsible Cultural Leadership while completing their M.S. degree. Created and taught by pioneers of the cultural field, this sequence of four elective courses is designed to equip cultural leaders with the necessary skills to manage and advocate for changes within the cultural industry and society. Students learn the history and theory behind Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA), Decolonization, Anti-Racist Practices, Climate Justice, Activism, Advocacy, and Community Responsiveness and the best practices on tackling these societal challenges. Visit the Drexel catalogue to learn more.

Paths of Study

On-Campus

• Full-time or Part-time, synchronous or asynchronous, hybrid
• The on-campus program, one of the oldest and most established in the nation, draws on the city and region’s rich tapestry of arts and culture organizations and museums to build student’s professional network and provide hands-on learning experiences. The on-campus program shares the same curriculum as the online program with the flexibility to take both on campus and online courses.

Online

• Full-time or Part-time, synchronous or asynchronous, hybrid
• The online program draws upon some of the world’s brightest arts and museum leaders as mentors, teachers, and guides. The online program shares the same curriculum as the on-campus program with the flexibility to take both on campus and online courses.

Post-Bachelorette Certificate (non-degree)

• The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Responsible Cultural Leadership consists of four courses (AADM 757, MUSL 630, MUSL 690, AADM 690) created and taught by pioneers of the cultural field.
• Degree seeking arts administration students can earn the certificate by completing the sequence of electives toward their M.S. degree.
• Non-degree seeking student can earn the Online Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Responsible Cultural Leadership by completing the four-course sequence. Visit our Drexel Online page to learn more.

Career Opportunities with a M.S. in Arts Administration

• Artistic Director
• Audience Development Manager
• Company Manager
• Development Director
• Donor Relations Specialist
• Education Director
• Events Operation Coordinator
• Executive Director
• Gallery Manager
• Grant Writer
• Major Gifts Officer
• Managing Director
• Marketing Director
• Policy Writer
• Public Relations Specialist