Prepare for creative leadership with the Program in Arts Administration’s (ARAD) comprehensive, two-year, 48-credit master’s degree that is informed by both research and professional practice. Our program welcomes students training to work in all artistic traditions and aesthetic styles, in the for-profit and non-profit sectors, both in the U.S. and abroad. In our program you will find:
An exceptional and renowned full-time faculty with active research projects and influence in the arts;
Accomplished arts professionals and highly successful instructors who offer courses on marketing, fundraising, accounting, and business planning;
A data-driven approach to arts administration that will uniquely position ARAD graduates as competitive in the field;
A partnership with the Columbia University School of Business enabling preferential registration;
Opportunities for hands-on learning with leading arts organizations in New York and beyond;
Individualized student advising and mentorship from faculty, fellow students, and alumni;
An academic internship program, supported by an in-house professional development coordinator;
A robust and global alumni network;
A supportive, dynamic, exciting group of peers—part of our “cohort experience;”
Opportunities for professional development, including an annual internship fair, networking opportunities, career and interviewing workshops, and microgrants.
Points/Credits: 48
Entry Terms: Fall Only
Degree Requirements
The M.A. degree consists of 48 points of coursework:
The 48 required points are comprised of: 30 points taken from the core program offerings, which includes 3 points of coursework through the Columbia University Business School, 1 point for the Practicum, 2 points for an internship, and 3 points for the capstone thesis or project; 6 points of Arts Administration Program (ARAD) electives; 6 points of coursework outside of the Arts Administration Program to fulfill the breadth requirement through Teachers College courses; and 6 points taken as electives at Teachers College or Columbia University.
The core curriculum represents a unique alliance among the faculties of Teachers College and Columbia’s Graduate School of Business, and access to diverse academic offerings across Columbia’s many graduate programs and schools. Included in the core requirements are training in cultural data and analysis, policy, fundraising, DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility), accounting, financial planning, marketing, entrepreneurship, labor relations, contracts, and copyright law. Each student is evaluated in the first year to ensure that satisfactory progress is maintained. Please note: tuition rates may vary for non-TC courses, depending on the offering school.