Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Arts Management

The Master of Business Administration with a curricular concentraion in Arts Management at Illinois State University is a three-year program designed to prepare students for careers in upper level arts administration. The M.B.A. also serves as a terminal degree, a requirement for most university teaching positions.

Curriculum

The M.B.A./Arts Management curricular concentration is overseen by the College of Business which is accredited by the AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The School of Theatre provides both extensive instruction and practical opportunities.

Students take a traditional sequence of MBA courses in the College of Buisness, with electives in the School of Theatre. The program uses classes, seminars, practicums, and internships to help prepare students for entry-level and more-senior management positions in the non-profit performing arts arena as well as the for-profit and entertainment sectors. Topics covered in the four-seminar sequence in the School of Theatre are: 1. Marketing and Principles of General Management, 2. Fundraising and Grant Writing, 3. Public Policy for the Arts, and 4. Contemporary Topics in Arts Management (a capstone seminar).

More detailed information on program requirements and course descriptions can be found in the College of Business section of the Graduate Catalog (pdf).

Financial Aid

M.B.A. candidates are awarded Graduate Assistantships with a full tuition waiver and a monthly stipend to aid them in defraying a portion of their educational expenses. Graduate assistantships usually require a twenty-hour work week commitment to the School of Theatre. Graduate Assistantships are an integral part of the M.B.A. experience, providing M.B.A. students with the opportunity to take on management responsibilities in the production programs of the College of Fine Arts and at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. Graduate Assistants in the MBA/Arts Management program are generally employed in management positions with the Illiniois Shakespeare Festival during the summer months of their residencies.

Recruitment

The Master of Business Administration/Arts Management Program at Illinois State University accepts a very limited number of students every year. First consideration is given to prospective students who have significant work experience in the arts and/or business. Candidates are also expected to have a strong general knowledge in theatre or another art form. Students who have not had substantive exposure to the world of performing arts management are advised (but not required) to work for at least one year (in a paid or volunteer position) with a professional arts organization before enrolling.

Admission

Application to Illinois State University may be made on-line through the University Admissions Office. All students must be admitted to the Master of Business Administration Program in the College of Business.

Requirements for admission can be found in the Graduate Catalog (pdf) under College of Business. Specific questions about the M.B.A. in Arts Management Program should be directed to John Poole, Director of the School of Theatre.