Master of Arts in Arts Management

Make art work: Arts Management is the professional practice that helps artists share their voice, audiences find their bliss, organizations build their funding, and communities thrive as creative places.

Our master's degree and graduate certificates in Arts Management will give you the skills, experience, connections, and community you need for a successful career in the business of arts and culture. Our 34-credit Master of Arts program has been crafted and refined over four decades to provide a solid foundation in arts-management essentials along with flexibility to fit your career goals.

You will take 21 credits of strategy-level core requirements in arts management, marketing, fundraising, financial management, governance and leadership, cultural policy, and legal issues. Six elective credits allow you to focus your studies on a particular discipline, role, or topic area – within arts management or across any relevant graduate courses at American University or the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area. Finally, seven capstone credits result in a significant research or portfolio project that integrates and demonstrates your specialized expertise to peers and prospective employers.

All applications require transcripts from degree-seeking college institutions. A bachelor's degree (or its equivalent) earned at an accredited college or university is required. AU standards ask for a minimum 3.0 GPA for undergraduate work. IELTS, minimum score of 7.0 TOEFL, minimum score of 100