BU MET > MET college programs > graduate school programs > graduate degree programs > arts administration > requirements

Master of Science in Arts Administration

Overview | Admissions | Requirements | Course Descriptions | Electives

Requirements

A total of 40 credits are required.

Concentration Core

Group A

16 required credits:

  • MET AR 690 The Art World
  • MET AR 750 Financial Management for Nonprofits
    or MET AD 731 Corporate Finance
  • MET AR 778 Legal Issues in Arts Administration
  • MET AR 802/803 Internship in Arts Administration I and II*
    (two credits each)

Group B

Choose at least 20 credits:

  • MET AR 550 Raising Funds and Grant Writing for Nonprofit Organizations
  • MET AR 650 Writing for the Arts
  • MET AR 700 Leadership and Career Development for Arts Administrators
  • MET AR 711 Capital Campaigns
  • MET AR 720 Marketing and Audience Development for the Arts
  • MET AR 722 Education in Cultural Institutions
  • MET AR 723 Individual Fundraising
  • MET AR 730 Political and Public Advocacy for the Arts
  • MET AR 740 Arts and the Internet
  • MET AR 766 Arts and the Community
  • MET AR 771 Managing Performing Arts Organizations
  • MET AR 774 Managing Visual Arts Organizations
  • MET AR 777 Comparative Cultural Policy and Administration
  • MET AR 779 Public Art Program Administration
  • MET AR 781 Special Topics in Arts Administration
  • MET AR 787 The Arts in Barcelona
  • MET AR 804 Advanced Management and Consulting for Arts Organizations*

Concentration Electives

Group C

4 credits may be taken from this group:

  • MET AD 603 Evaluating and Developing Markets for Cultural Tourism
  • MET AD 642 Project Management
  • MET AD 648 Introduction to Electronic Commerce, Systems, and Web Design
  • MET AD 725 Negotiations and Organizational Conflict Resolution
  • MET AD 731 Corporate Finance (in lieu of AR 750 only)
  • MET AD 733 Leadership in Management (May not also take AR 700)
  • MET AH 588 The Arts in Cuba
  • MET CM 708 Principles and Practices of Advertising
  • MET UA 515 History and Theory of Urban Planning
  • MET UA 805 The Boston Urban Symposium
  • CAS AH 520 The Museum and Historical Agency**
  • CAS AH 521 Curatorship: Exhibition Development**

Note: One additional course may be substituted from Group B.

*Six concentration courses must be completed before enrolling.

View course descriptions for Arts Administration.

Internship

Students matriculating in the Arts Administration program are required to have some direct work experience in arts organizations prior to degree conferral. A minimum of 36 of the 40 required credits must be completed before the student undertakes the actual fieldwork, although the planning phase may begin earlier. The program maintains a formal relationship with a core group of potential host organizations that have been selected for their willingness to work with interns, although it is possible to intern with other organizations as well. The student is expected to complete a total of 150 hours of work with the host agency, generally within a single semester.

Internship Waiver

Students with four or more years of professional arts organization work experience may waive the internship requirement with their advisor’s written consent. If the internship is waived, the student must enroll in a tenth classroom-based course. Also, with the permission of the advisor, MET AR 804 Advanced Management and Consulting for Arts Organizations may be substituted for the internship requirement if the student has had two years of full-time professional arts administration work experience.

International Study

The Arts Administration program is committed to providing its students with high quality international programs of study through the resources of Boston University. Coursework in London, Paris, Cuba, and Brussels has been offered in recent years.

Academic Standing

All students in the Arts Administration program must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 to remain in good standing and to graduate. No grade below B- in any course may be applied toward the degree. Students with a grade point average below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation and must achieve a cumulative 3.0 by the completion of the following semester or be subject to dismissal. Students who are placed on academic probation for two consecutive semesters are also subject to dismissal.