Graduate Studies

In today's ever-changing environment, arts and nonprofit organizations face unprecedented opportunities alongside increased financial and competitive pressures, necessitating skilled and resourceful administrators, managers, and leaders. Southern Methodist University (SMU) meets these demands through its comprehensive arts management and nonprofit leadership programs: the MA/MBA in Business and Arts Management, the Master of Management in International Arts Management (MMIAM), and the Master of Arts in Arts and Nonprofit Leadership (MANPL).

MA/MBA in Business and Arts Management: This joint degree program with Cox School of Business offers in-person courses in both business and arts management, enriched with internships and intensive hands-on experiences with arts organizations.

Master of Management in International Arts Management (MMIAM): Tailored for those seeking leadership roles in an international context, this in-person program provides a global perspective on arts administration. Students engage in coursework and projects across campuses in Canada, Italy, Asia, and Colombia, preparing them for the challenges of managing arts organizations worldwide.

Master of Arts in Arts and Nonprofit Leadership (MANPL): Specifically designed for online learners, the MANPL offers coursework in nonprofit leadership and arts management. The program is designed to enable students to lead organizations that drive cultural impact and community development from anywhere in the world.

Discover a World of Resources

Global exchange opportunities provide students exposure to the world's diversity of arts models, trends, and challenges. Students gain an international perspective through the Global Leadership Program and through an exchange semester with Bocconi University in Milan during their second year of the program. In addition, hands-on learning complements the innovative MA/MBA academic program. Because preserving, producing and presenting quality arts experiences calls for skilled and strategic management, students acquire first-hand knowledge through participation in semester-long practica at leading Dallas-area arts organizations and in an intensive summer internship experience.

For more information or if you would like us to contact you, contact Melissa Keene at mkeene@smu.edu.

Organizations where SMU MA/MBA students have engaged in practica and internships include the following: