Arts Administration BA

Did you know college graduates with at least three internships are more likely to receive full-time job offers? Not only do internships and other experiential learning opportunities provide you college credit, experiential learning opportunities also help you to define specific career interests in arts administration while practicing what you’ve learned in your arts administration courses. As an arts administration student, you’re required to complete at least 6-credit hours of experiential learning to graduate. And because we want you to explore what interests you, you’ll have the flexibility to tailor your experiential learning requirements to your needs.

As an arts administration student, the experiential learning opportunities available to you are endless! Here are some of the awesome arts organizations that UK’s arts administration students have interned:

Theatre
Steppenwolf Theatre Company – Chicago, IL
Lexington Children’s Theatre – Lexington, KY
Women’s Theatre Festival – Raleigh, NC
San Francisco Playhouse – San Francisco, CA
Marathon Live Entertainment – New York, NY

Visual Art
Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center – Cincinnati, OH
Oceanside Museum of Art – Oceanside, CA
Kentucky Museum of Art & Craft – Louisville, KY

Music
Lexington Philharmonic – Lexington, KY
Houston Grand Opera – Houston, TX
Pittsburgh Festival Opera – Pittsburgh, PA
Jazz at Lincoln Center – New York, NY
Birthplace of Country Music – Bristol, TN

Dance
Orlando Ballet – Orlando, FL
Appalachian Ballet Company – Maryville, TN
Allegro Dance Project – Lexington, KY

Multi-Discipline
The Kennedy Center for the Arts – Washington, DC
Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts – Louisville, KY
Living Arts & Science Center – Lexington, KY
Hawaii Performing Arts Festival – Kamuela, HI
Tempe Arts Center – Tempe, AZ

As a student of arts administration at UK, you’ll study the fascinating field of emotional intelligence over the course of your academic study through a five-part course series focused on self-awareness, empathy, teamwork and collaboration, decision-making, and relationship management. Emotional Intelligence – or EI – refers to the ability to name, process, and manage one’s emotions and the emotions of others. Widely recognized by hiring managers as a valuable skill among employees, EI has been linked to increased job satisfaction and productivity as well as effective communication and leadership.

We believe these skills not only increase your ability to serve as an effective organizational citizen, but that they also support your efforts to build and sustain successful arts organizations to #MakeArtHappen. Our course series on emotional intelligence is just one of the many ways the BA in Arts Administration sets itself apart in curriculum and career preparation for students like you!

Rather than choosing one major and one minor, double-majoring allows you to gain a more in depth understanding of two majors! Double-majoring is a great way to gain a competitive advantage in the workforce, and complementing your degree in Arts Administration with a second major in your artistic discipline from UK’s College of Fine Arts will certainly enhance your ability to truly #MakeArtHappen!

Being a double-major doesn’t have to add any additional time to your degree completion. In fact, students who double-major in Arts Administration and their artistic discipline will work closely with the Chair of the Department of Arts Administration to develop an individualized course sequencing plan to make the most of your time with us!

Official up to date information on requirements and courses is listed in the UK Registrar Catalog, including archived sheets for any prior year of enrollment. The information here is presented for your convenience, please use the Registrar's listing in case of any discrepancy.

In order to satisfy the requirements to earn a BA in Arts Administration, students must complete the following:

UK Core Requirements

Please see the UK Core Requirements in the Undergraduate Bulletin.

Pre-Major Courses

Anyone who is accepted to, or currently enrolled in, the University of Kentucky as a student may enter the undergraduate program by declaring themselves as an Arts Administration Pre-Major.

As a pre-major, students must complete the following courses with a 3.0 GPA:

AAD 103 Emotional Intelligence for Arts Administrators I: Self-Awareness

Emotional intelligence (EI) is arguably the most important key to success in one's career and personal life. Emotional Intelligence for Arts Administrators I is the first course in a three-part series that allows students to explore the research and theories of EI, the various dimensions of EI, and EIs applications in the arts. Students will examine their own EI through a variety of self-assessment tools, activities, and exercises. In Part I, students will specifically consider their own self-awareness and explore ways to control their emotions.

Prerequisites
Pre-Major in Arts Administration 

AAD 150 Arts in Action

Arts in Action explores the everyday application of art around us. Students will consider how art communicates messages about community and culture, social issues, and societal change. Focusing on art outside the traditional exhibition and performance space setting, students consider how art helps society navigate personal and community concerns. Attention to the arts administrators who pursue these endeavors is also explored.

AAD 203 Emotional Intelligence for Arts Administrators II: Empathy

Emotional intelligence (EI) is arguably the most important key to success in one's career and personal life. Emotional Intelligence for Arts Administrators IIis the second course in a three part series that allows students to explore the research and theories of EI, the various dimensions of EI, and EIs applications in the arts. Students will examine their own EI through a variety of self-assessment tools, activities, and exercises. In Part II, students will specifically focus on motivation, focused listening and asking questions, and empathy.

Prerequisites
Pre-Major in Arts Administration and completion of AAD 103

AAD 240 Arts Administration Technologies

 

UK Core: CIS 111 Composition and Communication II or WRD 111 Composition and Communication II

 

UK Core: Quantitative Foundations

 

UK Core: Statistical/Inferential Reasoning

 

To become a full major, students must:

• Complete 30 semester hours of coursework;
• Have a minimum 2.8 cumulative grade-point average;
• Complete premajor core requirements (AAD 103, AAD 150, AAD 203, AAD 250, CIS/WRD 111, completion of Quantitative Foundations in UK Core, completion of Statistical/Inferential Reasoning in UK Core with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 in premajor courses)
• Submit an application form to the Department of Arts Administration Office and interview with the Department of Arts Administration Faculty. 

Students meeting these requirements will be accepted as majors in the program. Applications for full major status must be submitted prior to a student taking an upper division Arts Administration course.

Major Courses

AAD 299 Workplace Readiness and Career Planning

This course introduces the concepts, tools, and strategies used to explore and obtain arts administration-based internships and jobs. Students will build resumes, write cover letters, develop an online professional profile, and practice interviewing and job fair skills. Additionally, students will examine workplace skills including professionalism, networking, and managing workplace challenges.

Prerequisites
AAD 150, 203, 240, and CIS/WRD 111 or CIS/WRD 112

AAD 300 Management and Planning for the Arts

Arts organizations are inherently collaborative. Arts administration students need to understand the concepts and theories of leadership, management and followership in order to contribute effectively in the ever-changing and adaptive environment of arts organizations. AAD 300: Management and Planning for the Arts will explore the principles of arts management, management theory and practice, organizational structure, organizational culture and communication, decision-making and accountability, human resource management and volunteer administration, and ethics and social responsibility. Additionally, students will study the various approaches to conducting strategic planning, using SWOT analysis, as well as identification of strategic issues and the formulation of strategic plans.

Prerequisites
Completion of AAD 150, 203, 250 and CIS/WRD 111 or CIS/WRD 112.

AAD 303 Collaboration and Teamwork in Arts Administration

This course is designed to expand the competencies of students in order to work successfully in teams and build true collaborations. Through structured and unstructured team building, students will analyze and evaluate their own experiences in both leading and participating in teams. Special consideration will be placed on how teams function within arts organizations.

Prerequisites
Major status in Arts Administration and completion of all 100- and 200-level AAD courses and AAD 300

AAD 305 Arts Administration Business Communications

Arts Administration Business Communications introduces students to a variety of technical and business writing theories and practices as they apply in the field of arts administration. The course introduces students to different communication styles and dynamic processes through the application of a variety of communications techniques including verbal, nonverbal, written, visual, listening, and technological communications. Students will apply business communications principles in the creation of business documents and both oral and visual presentations.

Prerequisites
Completion of AAD 150, 203, 250 and CIS/WRD 111 or CIS/WRD 112.

AAD 310 Marketing the Arts

Connecting and communicating with current and prospective arts audiences is essential for ensuring a strong future for the arts. AAD 310 Marketing for the Arts offers an overview of marketing, advertising, and promotion for visual and performing arts institutions. Students will learn practical strategies and solutions for building audiences for the arts through market research, marketing principles, and communication techniques. Topics include audience development, market segmentation, positioning strategies, marketing plans, media coverage, and promotion techniques.

Prerequisites
Completion of AAD 250, 300, and 305

AAD 320 Fundraising for the Arts

In the United States, a significant amount of nonprofit arts organizations’ income comes from unearned revenue through fundraising. Without substantial knowledge and skills specific to fundraising in the nonprofit sector, arts organizations may not be able to sustain themselves long-term. This course prepares students to understand the function of fundraising in arts organizations and helps them pursue careers in fundraising and development within the nonprofit arts sector. Furthermore, this course will guide students through the key theories, principles, processes, and programs of fundraising.

Prerequisites
Completion of AAD 250, AAD 300, and AAD 310

AAD 350 Financial Management of Arts Organizations I

Financial management is a core function within the management of cultural and arts organizations.  It is the foundation upon which the resources (human, physical and financial) of any organization are maintained and monitored. In the nonprofit sector, the relationship of “mission to money” is an important conceptual framework, and must be understood by arts managers.  Financial analysis is an essential requisite for sound strategic planning and governance, and managers of nonprofit arts organizations are the source of financial information.

AAD 350: Financial Management for Arts Organizations I is the first of two courses that will guide students through the key conceptual areas of financial management. Part I includes understanding the basic principles of accounting, legal reporting requirements, reading financial statements and interpreting performance measurements.   

Prerequisites
Completion of AAD 300, 303, 310 and UK Core Quantitative and Statistical requirements

AAD 353 Emotional Intelligence for Arts Administrators III: Managing Social Relationships and Responsibilities

This course is designed to expand the competencies of students in order to work successfully in teams and build true collaborations. Through structured and unstructured team building, students will analyze and evaluate their own experiences in both leading and participating in teams. Special consideration will be placed on how teams function within arts organizations.

Prerequisites
Major status in Arts Administration and completion of all 100- and 200-level AAD courses and AAD 303.

AAD 370 Financial Management of Arts Organizations II

Financial management is a core function within the management of cultural and arts organizations. It is the foundation upon which the resources (human, physical, and financial) of any organization are maintained and monitored. In the nonprofit sector, the relationship of “mission to money” is an important conceptual framework, and must be understood by arts managers. Financial analysis is an essential requisite for sound strategic planning and governance, and managers of nonprofit arts organizations are the source of financial information.

AAD 370: Financial Management for Arts Organizations II is the second of the two financial management courses that will guide students through the key conceptual areas of financial management. Part II includes creating mission-driven budgets, developing cost-benefit analyses, managing cash flow, endowment and capital management, and understanding the use and purpose of economic impact studies.   
Prerequisites
Completion of AAD 320 and 350

AAD 380 Event Planning and Management for the Arts

 

AAD 403 Emotional Intelligence for Arts Administrators: Decision Making

People make hundreds of decisions each day. Many decisions are simple. Other decisions require thoughtful deliberation. Yet all decisions, whether simple or complex, involve cognitive processes which are reflected in a variety of different fields of study. In Decision Making in Arts Administration, students will explore the theories and concepts surrounding decision making, decision modes, and decision strategies. Students will use these concepts and apply them to real world arts administration scenarios.

Prerequisites
Major status in Arts Administration and completion of all 200- and 300-level AAD courses

AAD 410 Arts Entrepreneurship

Beginning at the point of invention, Arts Entrepreneurship will move from the sketch of a shared creative idea and create impact upon our community through original arts programming built upon a shared mission.

Driven by the shared belief that creativity is the seed of hope, "Art in Unlikely Places" connects inspiring artists to those most in need of the transformative powers of the arts – orphans, prisoners, the ailing, the impoverished, the elderly, and the distraught, sharing beauty with those whose lives might otherwise be absent of the hope experienced in the artistic moment.

Prerequisites
Major status in Arts Administration and completion all 200- and 300- level AAD courses. Students enrolled in the Certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurial Thinking may enroll without the prerequisite courses in their senior year.

AAD 420 Legal Environment of Arts Administration

Artists and arts administrators are required to work within current cultural, business and legal environments. Thus, students in AAD 420 Arts Administration: Practices, Policies and the Law will discuss cultural policy, management and legal issues that affect the arts, arts organizations and artists. Topics include cultural policy, funding, advocacy, arts and community, First Amendment rights, intellectual property, organizational structure, contracts, labor unions and employee relations. Students will analyze contemporary and historical case studies to expose the cultural, legal and business issues that frame the arts in today’s society.

Prerequisites
Major status in Arts Administration and completion all 200- and 300- level AAD courses.

AAD 450 Senior Seminar in Arts Administration

As an advanced seminar course, this course prepares students to enter the job market or pursue graduate studies. It builds upon the other courses in the curriculum as well as practicum and internship experiences. During the course, students will work to revise and prepare electronic portfolios based on written and graphic materials prepared throughout their degree program. Additionally, students will write and critique cover letters and resumes and prepare for job interviews and negotiations.

Prerequisites
Completion of all pre-major requirements, all 200 level AAD courses, AAD 300, AAD 310, AAD 320, AAD 350, Senior Status, Major status; 3.2 GPA overall/3.5 in major; consent of Department Chair. The course should be completed in the final year of a student’s BA program.

AAD 480 Arts Programming

 

AAD 499 Internship in Arts Administration

AAD 499: Internship in Arts Administration is designed to provide each student with the opportunity to utilize classroom knowledge in a practical/real-world setting with the support of both an on-site supervisor and a faculty advisor.  The internship experience allows students to develop skills and knowledge beyond the classroom.
May be repeatable for a maximum of 12 credit hours.

Prerequisites
Major status in Arts Administration and completion all 200- and 300- level AAD courses. The course should be completed in the final semester of a student’s BA program. This course is a Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR) course in certain programs, and hence is not likely to be eligible for transfer credit to UK.

Directed Electives

Option A

Twelve (12) credits of Directed Electives chosen in consultation with the student’s academic advisor from the following areas:

• AAD electives at the 300-level or above.
• AAD 500-level courses. At least 3 credit hours must be from 500-level AAD courses.
• AAD 395 - INDEPENDENT STUDY IN ARTS ADMINISTRATION. May complete up to 6 credit hours of an individually designed and approved project under the guidance of a faculty member.
• AAD 399. ARTS ADMINISTRATION PRACTICUM. Up to 2 credit hours of arts administration practicum may be used toward directed elective credit.
• AAD 402 - SPECIAL TOPICS IN ARTS ADMINISTRATION: SUBTITLE REQUIRED. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 credit hours when identified with different subtitles.
• AAD 499 - INTERNSHIP IN ARTS ADMINISTRATION. An additional 3 credit hours (above the required 6 credit hours) of arts administration internship may be used toward directed elective credit.
• Approved education abroad courses may apply to directed elective credit. Consult department chair for approval.
• Individual courses (up to 6 credit hours) from any of the approved minors listed in Option B. Students may not use College of Fine Arts courses from the approved minors.

Option B

Students may complete one of the following approved minors outside the College of Fine Arts:

• African American and Africana Studies
• Appalachian Studies
• Communication
• Community and Leadership Development
• Gender and Women’s Studies
• Information Studies
• International Studies
• Journalism Studies
• Media Arts and Studies
• Professional and Technical Writing
• Statistics
• Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies

We know college can be expensive, and Arts Administration pre-majors at UK are eligible for multi-year scholarships – with incoming freshmen always given priority! There are also financial awards and scholarships available for special projects and opportunities you wish to pursue. Interested in legislating for the arts in Washington, DC? There’s an award for that! Interested in studying arts administration abroad? There’s an award for that! Have an awesome internship lined up for the summer? There’s also an award for that! Awards and scholarship applications are distributed digitally to pre-majors and majors each semester.

 

 

 

 

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