The University of Kentucky prepares the next generation of arts leaders through its innovative online MA in Arts Administration. This degree is designed to serve a vibrant nonprofit arts and cultural industry that attracts more than 78 million Americans each year and generates $135 billion in economic activity annually that support 4.1 million jobs.
Ideal candidates for the M.A. include individuals who have experience in the arts or arts management and have the desire to supplement this experience with more in-depth training in the form of an advanced business and nonprofit arts-focused degree. These include persons who have graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Arts Administration, the arts, or a related field and professionals with experience in the arts or arts management.
UK offers its M.A. in Arts Administration as a completely online program. This provides several benefits to UK graduate students:
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Flexibility - For working professionals, an online program is ideal to provide the flexibility needed to balance work, school and personal obligations.
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Time and location - There is no residency requirement. The program is designed for students to have equal access no matter where they are located
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Affordability - All students accepted into the Arts Administration M.A. program pay the in-state tuition rate regardless of residential location. Additionally, there are a number of financial aid options available to students who meet the requirements.
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Quality instruction - Students who attend online classes will receive the same quality instruction as those who would attend class on-campus.
Admission Requirements
The MA in Arts Administration is open to qualified applicants who have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or abroad. All candidates for admission are selected on the basis of undergraduate transcripts, academic and personal references, and related work experience. Applicants are expected to have a demonstrable commitment to the arts in at least one art form. This requirement can be satisfied in several ways including an undergraduate degree in an art form or arts-related field; professional experience in the arts; or extra-curricular activity in the arts.
All applicants whose native language is not English will be required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. The minimum acceptable TOEFL score is 79 (internet-based). The minimum IELTS score is 6.5. Submitted scores must be no more than two years old.
Applications for admission to the M.A. in Arts Administration program are reviewed by the department’s Graduate Admissions Committee. The criteria for admission and the materials evaluated in making admission decisions are listed below. Please keep in mind that applicants are evaluated individually and also in terms of the overall quality of the pool of applications.
To apply for admission to the program, your application should include the following items:
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A statement of purpose (one page, single-spaced) indicating the reasons for your interest in graduate study in Arts Administration at UK and what they hope to accomplish with their degree. Please also discuss your personal or professional skills that will aid you in successfully completing classes online.
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Writing samples (10-15 pages) that preferably would include at least one sample of research writing (college-level or above) but may also include professional writing samples that demonstrate critical and analytical thinking. Professional writing samples may include researched essays, marketing or fundraising materials, planning documents or journalistic work. If you do not have an academic or professional writing sample that you wish to submit, you may opt to write a new paper. The research paper should address one of the following topics and should include appropriate citation and references:
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Discuss an issue in the arts or arts administration that you believe is of particular concern locally, regionally, nationally or internationally.
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Select a person who has had a significant influence in an artistic field. Describe and analyze the person’s contributions to the arts.
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Write an essay responding to and providing compelling examples of this quote: “Art is a nation’s most precious heritage. For it is in our works of art that we reveal to ourselves and to others the inner vision which guides us as a nation. And where there is no vision, the people perish.” -Lyndon Johnson, on signing into existence the National Endowment on the Arts
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Two letters of recommendation addressing the applicant’s qualifications for graduate work and proclivity for the field of arts administration. Preferably one letter should come from an academic reference and one from a professional reference. When completing your online application, you will be asked to enter in the contact information of your references including their email addresses. Your references will then receive a notification email asking them to complete a recommendation on your behalf. You can check on the status of your online recommendations by logging in to your online application.
To apply for admission to the MA in Arts Administration, applications must be submitted online to the UK Graduate School. New graduate students are accepted in the fall, spring, and summer semesters.
Degree Requirements
Required Courses:
AAD 510: ADVANCED EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATIONS
AAD 620: MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP IN THE ARTS
AAD 625: FINANCIAL MGMT FOR ARTS ORGANIZATIONS
AAD 630: MARKETING THE ARTS: RESEARCH AND PRACTICES
AAD 640: PRINCIPLES OF FUNDRAISING AND PHILANTHROPY
AAD 651: ARTS ADVOCACY, POLICY, AND ACTIVISM
AAD 670: ARTS AND EQUALITY
AAD 690: CREATING & EVALUATING NEW ARTS PROGRAMS
AAD 750: SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY IN THE ARTS
Graduate Exam - Required for completion of the MA in Arts Administration
Degree Options
AAD 699 INTERNSHIP IN ARTS ADMINISTRATION ** (3 credit hours)
AAD Electives* (3 credit hours)
*Students must complete 3 credits of electives.
**Students are required to take AAD 699 (unless they are exempt) in which case they will take a 3-credit elective course to be determined in consultation with a faculty advisor.
Please visit the program website for more information (https://finearts.uky.edu/arts-administration/online-ma-degree).