Arts Administration
The Arts Administration program provides academic preparation for leadership positions with creative enterprises, museums, foundations, corporations, and government agencies involved in the arts and culture sector. Students interested in the management of arts and cultural organizations, including museums of all types, will find a curriculum that provides them with a broad foundation of understanding the history and current trends of the sector, as well as opportunities to explore specific areas of practice in more depth.
Students will choose either an Arts Administration or a Museum Leadership concentration to complete their degree. All AADM students will complete several introductory courses appropriate to their concentration, along with seven shared core AADM courses, followed by a thesis sequence for the Arts Administration concentration, and a practicum sequence for Museum Leadership.
Students may enroll in the program on a full- or part-time basis. The program is designed to accommodate working students, so all classes are offered in the evening or online. Students must matriculate in either the campus or online program, but students in either program may take some courses in the other program.
Students should plan to enter the program at the start of either the fall or spring term. Full-time students may complete the degree in five consecutive terms when beginning in the fall term, and part-time students typically take seven to eight terms to complete the degree.
Goals and Objectives
Drexel’s Arts Administration program will prepare the cultural workforce of the future to fulfill their missions of stewardship and education. These leaders will develop a knowledge and skill base to steer tomorrow’s museums, cultural organizations, and cultural enterprises.
Graduates of the program will:
- Demonstrate awareness of the changing environment of the sector and use critical thinking skills to identify issues and broad-based policy solutions.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the administrative theories and practices of arts and cultural organizations, including corporate structures, business models, governance, leadership, management, planning, capitalization, evaluation, marketing, audience and community engagement, legal issues, and fund development.
- Understand the particular requirements of managing artistic and cultural disciplines and distinguish among the needs and requirements embedded in the management and leadership of various disciplines in the profession.
- Demonstrate capacity for leadership in the cultural community, having an awareness of their own leadership strengths, ethical standards, and ability to motivate and engage others.
- Identify strategies to implement the mission and vision of an organization.
- Work effectively in teams, demonstrating competence in interpersonal communication and collaboration that can be applied in a leadership role or from any position within a team or an organization.
Additional Information
For more information, please visit the Westphal College Graduate webpage.
| Degree | Availability | Location |
|---|---|---|
|
MS |
Full-Time |
Philadelphia |
Application Requirements
On-Campus Program
Winter admission available only upon receipt of special permission by department prior to application.
Please view our academic calendar for term start dates.
| Fall (Sept) | Winter (Jan) | Spring (March) | Summer (June) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Applicants | Priority: Jan. 15 Regular: Sept. 1 |
N/A | N/A | N/A |
| International Applicants | Priority: Jan. 15 Regular: June 1 |
N/A | N/A | N/A |
Applicants who apply by January 15 will be given priority consideration for graduate assistantships. Applications received beyond this date will be considered for graduate assistantships if funds remain available. Applications are continually reviewed throughout the cycle.
For details regarding the items below, please review the Admission Application Instructions.
How to Submit Application Materials
Drexel Admissions is currently processing application documents received through the U.S. Postal Service and courier services (DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc.), although there is a slight delay in processing these documents. We strongly recommend that you submit all official transcripts and supporting documentation electronically to enroll@drexel.edu. If your school is not able to send official transcripts electronically, please request that official documents be sent by mail or courier service. Please allow 3–4 weeks for transcripts and supporting documents sent by mail or courier to be processed. We appreciate your patience during this unprecedented time at Drexel and around the world. We will process all documents as soon as we receive them, but please expect some delays.Graduate Admission Application
Applicants may only apply to one program. All documents submitted by you or on your behalf in support of this application for admission to Drexel University become the property of the University, and will under no circumstances be released to you or any other party. Please note, an application fee of $65 U.S. is required.
Transcripts
Official transcripts must be sent directly to Drexel from all of the colleges and universities that you have attended. Please note that transcripts are required regardless of number of credits taken or if the credits were transferred to another school. An admission decision may be delayed if you do not send transcripts from all colleges and universities that you have attended.
Transcripts must show course-by-course grades and degree conferrals. If your school does not notate degree conferrals on the official transcripts, you must provide copies of any graduate or degree certificates.
If your school issues only one transcript for life, you are required to have a course-by-course evaluation completed by an approved transcript evaluation agency.
Precise, word-for-word English translations of all non-English language documents are required along with official documents in the original language. All translations must be completed by the issuing institution or an ATA-certified translator. Visit the American Translators Association website to search for an ATA-certified translator.
International students: If you have already graduated from your previous institution at the time of your application, please email your graduation certificate(s) attached as PDF or Microsoft Word documents to enroll@drexel.edu. Note: Any international applicant, regardless of program, may be required to provide a transcript evaluation should the Admissions Committee determine it is needed for the application to be reviewed. If your transcripts are selected for a course-by-course evaluation by an external agency, you will be responsible for supplying all necessary documentation and paying all necessary fees to have your transcripts evaluated.
If you have questions regarding what documents you must submit to fulfill the transcript requirements, contact the Office of Graduate Admissions.
Standardized Test Scores
GRE test scores are not required.
Test of English as a Foreign Language
International applicants are required to demonstrate English language proficiency by submitting scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL minimum scores: 90/577/233), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS minimum Overall Band Score: 6.5), the Pearson Test of English (PTE minimum score: 61), or the Duolingo Test (Duolingo minimum score: 110) unless they meet the criteria for a waiver.
Essay
Please write approximately 500 words explaining your reasons for pursuing a degree from Drexel; your short-term and long-term career plans; and how your background, experience, interest, and/or values, when combined with a Drexel degree, will enable you to pursue these goals successfully.
Submit your essay with your application or through the Discover Drexel portal after you submit your application.
Résumé
Upload your résumé as part of your admission application or through the Discover Drexel Portal after you submit your application.
Letters of Recommendation
Two letters of recommendation are required. To electronically request recommendations, you must list your recommenders and their contact information on your application. We advise that you follow up with your recommenders to ensure they received your recommendation request — they may need to check their junk mail folder. Additionally, it is your responsibility to confirm that your recommenders will submit letters by your application deadline and follow up with recommenders who have not completed their recommendations.
Request recommendations with your application or through the Discover Drexel portal after you submit your application.
Alternatively, you may submit your recommendation letters by mail. Letters must include the address, phone number, and signature of the recommender. The recommendation envelope must be submitted unopened to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
Interview
Virtual, in-person, or telephone interview required for qualified applicants.
Academic Experience
A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0, but special consideration will be given if you have relevant work experience.
Mailing Addresses
By Postal Mail
Drexel University
Application Processing
PO Box 34789
Philadelphia, PA 19101-4789
By Express Courier
(DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc.)
Drexel University
Application Processing
3141 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2876
Online Program
Please refer to Drexel University Online for application requirements and deadlines.