Specialization in Arts Administration

Through integrating management theory and practice, exposure to leading arts executives and thinkers, self-study, and academic research, the Arts Administration program prepares you for leadership in the field. 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 to build your professional network and provide hands-on learning experiences, while the online program draws upon some of the country’s brightest arts leaders as mentors, teachers, and guides. Each program shares the same curriculum, with the flexibility to take both on campus and online courses. You can also set your own plan of study and complete your degree in as little as 15 months or at your own pace while working full time.

Our curriculum addresses contemporary issues in the fields of arts and culture, connecting them to broader trends in business, research, and technology. At Drexel, you’ll develop skills in marketing, fundraising, entrepreneurship, leadership, public policy, and much more as we help you prepare for a career as a leader in arts and culture.

By interacting with your colleagues, faculty, and our extensive network of alumni, you'll also build a network that serves you throughout your career. All students are members of our Arts Administration Graduate Association (AAGA), an organization that complements your classroom experiences through coordinating social and professional events for the arts administration community. Each year, our first-year graduate students participate in the National Arts Action Summit in Washington, DC, where we join hundreds of arts advocates from across the country to meet with our elected officials to demonstrate the importance and impact of arts and culture in our society.

To support you in your studies, the campus program offers three graduate assistantships at the University each year, plus fellowships with local cultural organizations when possible. Because our classes meet in the evenings, many students work full- or part-time while in the program, further developing their expertise and professional networks. Students also have the opportunity to explore international study through a range of specialized courses and initiatives.

Our faculty represent leading thinkers and practitioners in the field, and our graduates work across the country and around the world in positions spanning development, marketing, cultural programming, executive leadership, and more, in cultural and civic organizations of all disciplines, sizes, and stripes. Together, we work to make communities better by building and leading strong, resilient, high-impact organizations.

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