The Master's in Arts Administration at UNO offers a finely tuned balance of academic theory and real-world exposure to the arts industry with emphases on career preparedness, best practices, and trends in the changing business environment.

YOUR PLACE IN THE FIELD. The Arts Administration profession is unique in the range of interests and aptitudes it requires and accommodates:

• outgoing social connectors and those who prefer leading from behind the scenes
• those who enjoy working with numbers ,and those more comfortable in production, writing, and other areas
• those with an innate passion for the arts and those more drawn to the processes and practices whereby art is created and brought to the public’s attention
• those who enjoy working in larger institutions and those preferring a more intimate atmosphere
• those interested in arts practice versus arts education.

The UNO Arts Administration Master’s curriculum recognizes and celebrates this breadth and seeks to prepare and support qualified students from a diversity of interests and backgrounds for productive and satisfying careers.

The curriculum design also recognizes that while incoming students have a desire to work in the field, they may enter the Program not knowing their precise area of interest. Through mentoring, coursework, and field experience, students are guided towards the right career choices.

PROGRAM FOCUS. The Program examines many crucial elements of the business that underlies artistic creation and public delivery, including:

• The generation and management of public cultural activity such as exhibits, performances, arts education, and community ­programs
• The commercial and non-profit sides of the business of culture, including organizational structures and staff roles
• The critical stakeholders in the business of culture, their relationships to one another, and their roles in the process, including artists, managers, agents, producers, presenters, boards of directors, donors, and audiences
• The relationship of money to culture, including production budgeting, earned revenue generation, and fundraising;
• Marketing the arts
• Legal issues such as copyrights, licensing, and contracts

STUDENT COURSE LOAD.

• A core set of required overview courses in performing and visual arts management, marketing, law and business, and fundraising.
• A range of elective classes in various departments within UNO tailored in consultation with a faculty adviser to respond to the student’s special interests.
• A required semester long internship within New Orleans or elsewhere in the country or internationally. Established internship relations exist with leading area visual and performing arts institutions and new opportunities are continually developed.
• An optional practicum in place of an elective provides additional hands-on experience.
• Depending on a student’s undergraduate coursework, foundation classes may be required.

PROGRAM DURATION. A degree is often obtained within two years of study plus a final internship and written report, although many students choose to extend their study over a longer period to accommodate jobs and other commitments.

PROGRAM COSTS. The costs of the Program are comparatively low as UNO is part of the University of Louisiana system. Additionally, opportunities exist for scholarships, graduate assistantships, and loans to assist with costs. Click here for tuition information. Click here for Financial Aid information.

STUDENTS. The Program draws local, national, and international students. Students have a varied range of backgrounds from visual arts to performing arts to business and education.

NETWORKING. Networking and building relationships in the industry are recognized at UNO as important facets of career development. Students gain exposure to professionals through classroom guest speakers, site visits, and opportunities such as volunteering efforts, practicums, and the Program’s required internship, as well as subsidized opportunities to attend regional and national industry conferences.

START DATES. Study may begin in August, for which the deadline for application is July 1, or in January, for which the deadline is November 15.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION. Students must apply to both the Program and UNO Graduate School. The Graduate School requires GRE scores and undergraduate transcripts for consideration. A GRE composite score of 300 or a minimum composite score of 400 on the GMAT is required. In addition, an undergraduate grade point average of 2.5, and 3.0 for post-baccalaureate work, on a 4.0 scale is required. For the program, students must submit a resume, three letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose.

Please contact us to discuss the suitability of a UNO Master’s of Arts Administration degree to your interests or proceed to the university's online application!