(Pending approval by SACSCOC)
The MA in Arts Leadership and Nonprofit Management is a 30 credit degree program available in an online asynchronous format that is designed to prepare students for engaging careers in arts and nonprofit administration by giving them an understanding of the foundational principles of leadership and management while applying that theory in practical situations with leading arts and nonprofit organizations. The program is well-suited for students who are already employed in the nonprofit arts organizations and students who aspire to professional careers in arts administration. The program will help students expand their skills and understanding of ethical, effective, and dynamic leadership and the application of those skills in professional arts organizations.
Students will develop a deep understanding of the core functions of arts leadership as it affects audience/artist engagement, curation, operations, and governance. Students will observe through research and hands-on experiences, first-hand how those core functions guide the work of arts organizations. Students will analyze trends in the arts and their effect on non-profit organizations, preparing them to be leaders in the arts as they work to develop sustainable and meaningful cultural experiences for audiences.
COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE |
SEMESTER HOURS |
Take each of the following courses: |
15 hours |
Take four of the following courses: |
12 hours |
Complete 3 Credits of: |
3 hours |
TOTAL HOURS REQUIRED: |
30 hours |
Arts Leadership and Nonprofit Management
ALNM 510: Leadership and Governance in the Arts
This course provides a foundation for understanding the role of an arts leader and the role of arts organizations and nonprofit organizations in the community that they serve. Major trends will be identified and discussed.
ALNM 520: Nonprofit Organizations and Management
This course explores the connection between an organization’s values, mission, and product and the community. Topics of discussion will include understanding the values of the organization, developing a mission, values-based management, identifying community needs, developing strategic plans, and developing strategies to achieve those plans.
ALNM 530: Fundraising and Donor Management
Students will develop a broad understanding of the common fundraising methods and donor development processes used by nonprofit arts organizations to generate funds. Topics of discussion will include grant writing, direct mail, developing relationships with donors, expanding donor giving, and budgeting with donors and fundraising in mind. Students will practice and establish facility with developing fundraising events and grant proposals.
ALNM 540: Contemporary Issues in Audience Development
Students will develop a broad understanding of factors that influence the audiences of nonprofit and arts organizations. Students will explore through theory and case studies how to develop strategies and programming to address issues in communities. Topics covered include: data and demographic analysis; the arts as advocates for social justice; responding to issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion; educational programming for arts and social equity.
ALNM 550: Human Resources and Venue Management
This course helps students understand the various competing interests and principles that are necessary to be successful as leaders in the arts and nonprofit organizations. Students will understand and articulate all of the roles of successful arts leaders, from mission and principles, to managing human resources and financial resources.
ALNM 660: Nonprofit Management Practicum
This course provides an overview of the direct methods of leadership, project management, and nonprofit management through opportunities to observe and practice discipline specific methods using experiential learning, video recorded interviews, and written assignments. The practicum experience is the experiential component of the Master’s in Arts Leadership and Nonprofit Management.
Management, Business, And Economics Courses
MBE 500 Accounting Information and Management Decisions
Examines the ways managers use accounting information to improve performance. Topics include accounting reports for management, alternative approaches to ascertaining costs, alternate approaches to setting prices, and performance evaluations.
MBE 520 Ethical Management in a Global Environment
Explores management responses to globalization trends that are reshaping political, economic, and sociocultural values. Examines potential ethical dilemmas managers may face and uses tools such as the Balanced Report Card, Triple Bottom Line Accounting, and case studies to provide practical solutions that promote human rights, improve labor conditions, and reduce negative environmental impacts as well as promote profitable business operations.
MBE 530 Marketing Management
Applies fundamental principles to managerial decision-making in marketing contexts reflecting constantly evolving marketplaces. Topics include brand equity, customer value analysis, database marketing, e-commerce, value networks,supply chain management, segmentation, targeting, positioning, and integrated marketing communications.
MBE 561 Applied Leadership Theory
This course provides students with concepts, theories, tools, and skills relating to the central theme of leadership. The basic objective of the course is to bridge gaps between conceptual theories, popular approaches to leadership, and practical application to real-world business situations through the integral use of advanced case studies.
MBE 570 Organizational Behavior and Leadership
Explores how people operate in organizations and how the structure of the organization can affect their performance. Case studies illustrating concepts of human behavior and development in individual, group, and complex organizational settings are used. Different leadership styles and approaches as well as their impact on organizational behavior are examined.
MBE 581 Negotiations
This course provides students with concepts, tools, and skills necessary for successfully managing interpersonal, intragroup/intergroup, and higher-order organizational negotiations. It examines conflict and associated multi-level organizational dynamics. Frameworks in diagnosing, assessing, and developing interventions/counteractions in various negotiation situations are presented. The course considers concepts of negotiation in terms of leadershipdevelopment.
Education Courses
EDUC 681 Professional Collaboration for Enhanced Leadership
Candidates explore models of mentoring, instructional coaching, and collaboration to strengthen their skills as instructional leaders in their buildings, districts and in the greater profession. Candidates reflect on and develop their communication and leadership skills through practical application and collaboration in their schools and communities. Focus is on enhancing instruction in their classrooms and schools through collaboration and leadership.
EDUC 682 Educational Leaders as Change Agents
Candidates develop their leadership within professional and community organizations to innovate and impact the field. Principles of adult learning and motivation will be explored for designing professional development workshops and conference presentations. Candidates will participate in professional organizations and collaborate across community organizations to strengthen student learning.