Online MS in Arts Administration & Museum Leadership

As the art and museum world continues to grow in scope and vibrancy, there’s a need for professionals who understand the modern landscape and can ensure that their organization thrives. Drexel University’s online MS in Arts Administration & Museum Leadership combines business knowledge and an entrepreneurial spirit with art and museum industry insight to make you career-ready and give you an edge in a competitive job market. The program is ideal for those looking to stand out in the job market, start their own cultural enterprise or advance to the next stage of their career. 

What is a Master’s in Arts Administration & Museum Leadership?

A Master’s in Arts Administration & Museum Leadership equips you with the management practices, theory and hands-on experience that are essential for leadership positions in the arts or museum sectors. At Drexel, our goal is to help you emerge from the program workforce-ready. You can expect to take courses that are immediately applicable to your work, in areas such as:

• Management techniques
• Technology tools
• Legal and ethical issues
• Financial accounting
• Marketing and engagement

In addition, Drexel’s Master’s in Arts Administration & Museum Leadership program provides two concentration options to allow you to take a deeper dive into your area of interest. Your plan of study will be customized around your concentration.

Arts Administration Concentration:

Drexel’s Arts Administration program is one of the oldest in the nation. Designed for early and mid-career leaders in arts and culture, this concentration prepares you for work in non-profit and commercial enterprises. Many of our alumni also work in foundations and in government agencies. Courses are taught by professors who have a rich background and years of experience in the arts community. The concentration consists of 12 required courses and three electives, including a sequence that culminates in a research-based original thesis.

Learn more about the Arts Administration concentration: 

Museum Leadership Concentration:

With a nod to the changing face of museums worldwide, Drexel takes a broad view of the field to prepare you for a number of opportunities. This concentration is ideal for those looking to work in museums such as art, science, history and cultural; living collections (zoos, arboreta, and aquariums); and historical sites. The curriculum includes 12 required courses and three electives, including a practicum where students have the opportunity to gain practical, applied experience working at a museum or cultural institution.

View a recording of our recent MS in Arts Administration and Museum Leadership Online Open House.

Residency

The program admits students in the Fall and Spring terms. Students starting in the fall attend an on-campus residency which lets you meet your classmates, interact with the program director, and experience Philadelphia’s art and museum scene through lectures and group outings. An optional one-day on-campus orientation is available for students starting in the spring. The remaining coursework is all completed online.

MASTER’S OF ARTS ADMINISTRATION & MUSEUM LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FEATURES

• The program is designed for working professionals, including those already in the industry as well as those seeking to change careers. 
• Faculty at the Westphal College of Media Arts & Design are industry professionals who have served in leadership roles for organizations such as the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance and the Barnes Foundation.
• There are numerous opportunities to build contacts and you will gain access to an expansive network of alumni located throughout the country.

Archived Webinars

View recordings of webinars on topics related to arts administration and museum leadership:

• The Arts Respond to 21st Century Technology
• The Arts in Your Community
• Combining Forces: Performing Arts and Museums
• Cultural Equity in the Arts Administration Field
• Online Open House: Arts Administration & Museum Leadership

What Can You Do with a Master’s in Arts Administration & Museum Leadership?

Careers in the arts administration and museum leadership fields require a specific set of skills that are unique to these industries. Drexel’s program is designed to explore all aspects of both, preparing you for roles in marketing, collections and general management, development, community outreach, board relations, education and more. For those with an entrepreneurial spirit, the program will also provide you with the skills to start and run your own enterprise.

Recent graduates of Drexel’s Arts Administration and Museum Leadership programs have gone on to work in roles such as:

• President and CEO of the American Theatre Wing
• Artistic Director and CEO of Ballet Vero Beach
• Senior Director of Cultural Affairs at Montgomery County Community College
• Program Director at the NJ State Council of the Arts
• Development Coordinator for Donor Relations at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
• Executive Assistant at Grounds for Sculpture

Program Alliances

The Drexel Arts Administration & Museum Leadership Graduate Program is a proud member of various organizations, including the American Alliance of Museums, the Association of Arts Administration Educators, the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, and Americans for the Arts. The program regularly participates in national research projects, including the National and Local Profiles of Cultural Support project administered by Americans for the Arts and funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts.

In addition, Drexel University's Museum Leadership concentration has close ties with the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, the Leonard Pearlstein Gallery and the Robert and Penny Fox Historic Costume Collection.

Members of Americans for the Arts, National Guild for Community Arts Education, and other partner organizations receive a 20% tuition savings on the online MS in Arts Administration and Museum Leadership program.

Non-Matriculatd Option

Interested in applying as a non-matriculated student? Select "Non-Matriculated – College of Media Arts & Design (Online)" as your program of interest on the online application. Official transcripts are required. Non-matriculated students are not eligible for financial aid.

Drexel's 10,000 Hours Podcast: The Art of the Podcast

Drexel professor Derek Gillman’s resume is basically a tour through some of the world’s greatest museums. Here, he tells us about his favorite art in Philly, and how museums are changing to keep up with the times.

Related Program

• MS in Nonprofit Management: Public, Professional, and Social Sectors

Drexel University offers a variety of Graduate Minors that can be added to any master's degree program.
State restrictions may apply to some programs.