Become an Arts Leader
The 100% Online Master of Arts in Arts Administration (MAAA) program prepares individuals interested in contributing to the creative industry as innovative leaders. Through in-depth preparation, these arts leaders learn how to inspire audiences and their organizations, sustain financial support, manage resources, and create innovative strategies that sustain organizations.
Graduate Program Director:
Robert Wildman
wildmanr@winthrop.edu
GA Positions
Students have the opportunity to work in their departments and around campus as graduate assistants.
Quality Program
Winthrop University is a member of the Association of Arts Administration Educators (AAAE), the international professional organization that promotes standards of education in arts administration.
Nationally-Regarded Faculty
Our faculty and professors are experienced and nationally-regarded in their respective subjects.
"The faculty in the MAAA program were kind, encouraging, and helpful. Their varied experiences and backgrounds brought a depth of knowledge to the program that expanded beyond the textbook and into real world applications."
Winthrop University’s 100% online MAAA program allows our students to benefit from the flexibility and convenience of being able to access your courses from any device while still having the same quality and resources of a campus-based program.
Time to completion: 2 years
Total Credits: 36 credit hours
Format: Online
Curriculum (MA - Arts Administration) - Click on "Requirements"
Graduates of the MAAA program will:
Master of Arts in Arts Administration Deadline: March 15 for summer admission, June 15 for fall admission
Note: All admission materials must be received by the Graduate Studies office before an application will be reviewed
Application requirements for the Master of Arts in Arts Administration program include:
Complete the online Graduate Studies application with the non-refundable application fee.
Request official transcript(s) from all institutions attended for undergraduate and graduate coursework. Transcripts must be sent directly to Winthrop's Graduate Studies office from the issuing institution(s). We cannot accept transcripts (even sealed, official transcripts) from individuals.
Hold a baccalaureate degree with an overall undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Have at least one year of professional or volunteer experience in a nonprofit arts/cultural environment or, if accepted, identify and complete volunteer opportunities with non-profit arts organizations in their communities.
Two letters of recommendation. Recommendations from arts and/or academic professionals who can speak about the applicant’s involvement in the nonprofit arts field and the applicant’s academic research/writing skills are preferred.
Current resume or curriculum vitae.
Submit a 600 - 900 word (est. 2-3 pages) personal statement explaining your interest in pursuing a Master of Arts in Arts Administration from Winthrop University. This should be inclusive of the following criteria:
Your career aspirations,
Your relevant work and volunteer experience, particularly in arts organizations or nonprofit organizations other than arts organizations,
Why you are a good candidate,
What kind of job do you see yourself in five years after completing this degree.
"The MAAA program provided invaluable insight into where a career in arts administration could take me, and was instrumental in helping me make connections and find the professional opportunities needed to take the next step in my journey."
This graduate degree program is for individuals with experience in arts organizations who seek to enhance their effectiveness and increase their career opportunities as arts administration professionals.
Graduates of the MAAA program have used their skills to build successful careers in areas such as:
MAAA program graduates are prepared for further advancement in organizations such as:
Graduates of Winthrop’s MAAA program have thrived in a variety of arts administration roles. Salaries vary by industry, location, organization size, and experience level:
| Role | Salary Range |
| Artistic Director | $78,000 - $135,000 |
| Community and Corporate Relations Manager | $95,000 - $165,000 |
| Development Director/Officer | $91,000 - $162,000 |
| Director of Marketing and Communications | $100,000 - $192,000 |
| Director of Operations | $61,000 - $152,000 |
| Education Coordinator | $50,000 - $81,000 |
| Executive Director | $111,000 - $234,000 |
| Exhibition Planner | $39,000 - $79,000 |
| Facility Manager | $75,000 - $126,000 |
| Financial Manager | $100,000 - $192,000 |
| Gallery Director | $47,000 - $77,000 |
| Grants Manager | $77,000 - $151,000 |
| Manager of Artistic Outreach | $49,000 - $82,000 |
| Program and Project Director | $51,000 - $129,000 |
| Special Events Coordinator | $38,000 - $67,000 |
Source: Lightcast™, accessed 12/21/2022.
Our Arts Administration graduates go on to careers in a wide variety of arts administration fields.
Here are some directions our students have gone in:
The Art Administration program provides students with the opportunity to venture into a wide array of career paths. A few examples include:
Theatre
Music
Visual Arts
Arts Councils
North Carolina
Dance
The MAAA program sends out a recurring newsletter where you can receive updates on student news, alumni highlights, and events to help you stay connected to the Winthrop art administration community. Sign up for the newsletter to join the MAAA community today!
Also, check out our exciting news of two Winthrop graduates who were chosen for fellowships in California.
Notice to International Applicants:
Per U.S. Immigration Regulation, international students who study in the U.S. in F-1 status may enroll in one, 3-hour online course per semester to fulfill the full-time enrollment requirement. This program requires more than one online class per semester to meet full-time enrollment and would not be approved for F-1 status. More information about visa status is available from our International Center.
