Frequently Asked Questions: Undergraduate Arts Administration Program

What is arts administration?
Arts administration is the business of managing nonprofit and for-profit arts organizations in order to facilitate day-to-day operations and fulfill the overall organizational mission.

What do arts administrators do?
The role of an arts administration is diverse and varied. Some of the duties which arts administrators are trained for include:

Where do arts administrators work?
Arts administrators typically work in arts organizations and art-related settings, including:

What is a nonprofit organization?
Arts organizations are often structured as nonprofits. These are mission-based organizations that are developed to pursue the good of the community. The financial structure, which operates under tax code 501(c)3, relies on a mix of earned and contributed income from governmental, foundational and individual sources. The profits earned by a nonprofit are invested back into the organization's programs and services.

What arts administration degrees are available from the University of Kentucky?
UK offers a B.A. in Arts Administration and a M.A. in Arts Administration. Additionally, B.A. students and pre-majors are required to pursue and obtain a minor in one of the arts disciplines of art, music, dance, or theatre.

What type of person is a good fit for the B.A. Arts Administration program?
The undergraduate Arts Administration Program is targeted at people who are looking to gain skills and knowledge in both arts and business. These students are not required to have a background in either of these areas, but must have a willingness to dedicate their time and energy to the study of these subjects and to be engaged in service to the arts community. Students in the undergraduate Arts Administration Program come from all walks of life.

What is the coursework like for a B.A. in Arts Administration?
Undergraduate Arts Administration students take a minimum of 120 credit hours. These credits consist of:

To view specific degree and program requirements, visit our undergraduate program page.

What are the class sizes for the undergraduate program?
The undergraduate program averages about 100 majors per year, creating the ideal class size of 20 - 30 students in our program courses. The resulting environment is intimate and familiar, yet large enough to create interesting, relevant dialogue among classmates and gives students the opportunity to provide meaningful contribution to the learning process. Class size in non- program-specific courses varies; in some cases the student has the option of signing up for larger or smaller classes.

How do I get into the undergraduate Arts Administration program?

Anyone accepted to UK as a student, or currently enrolled at UK, may enter the undergraduate Arts Administration Program by informing their academic advisor that they want to become a pre-major. To become a full major a student must:

  1. Complete 45 semester hours of course work;
  2. Have a minimum 2.8 cumulative grade-point average;
  3. Complete pre-major core requirements (AAD 150, AAD 200, AAD 202, ACC 201, ECO 201, and CIS/WRD 111 with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0); and
  4. Submit an application form.

Additionally, incoming Arts Administration majors are asked to declare a minor in either art, music, or theatre. Concerning minor requirements, check the pertinent departmental website.

School of Music
Department of Theatre
Department of Art

How much is tuition for the undergraduate Arts Administration Program?
The 2011-2012 tuition for incoming full-time, in-state student is $4,564, plus mandatory fees. The 2011-2012 tuition for incoming full-time, out-of-state students is $9,370, plus mandatory fees. Tuition varies according to a student's residential location, number of credit hours, scholarships, and which classes they sign up for. To view the current tuition costs, fees and tuition deadline, go to the Tuition and Mandatory Fees page on the University of Kentucky's Office of the Registrar site. To receive assistance with calculating tuition costs, contact Undergraduate Admissions at admissions@uky.edu. For financial aid information, visit our undergraduate financial aid page.

Is there any way of lowering the tuition costs for students who live outside of Kentucy?
Kentucky is one of the 16 participating states in the Academic Common Market (ACM). The Academic Common Market allows non-resident students to pay in-state tuition rates while studying selected academic programs that are not available in their home states. The 16 states that participate in the Academic Common Market are Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. To learn more about this program, visit the Academic Common Market page on the University of Kentucky's Office of the Registrar site.

Can I double major?
Double majors are always a possibility for UK students. In fact, if you begin your double major as a freshman, and both majors reside in the College of Fine Arts, you can still graduate within four years of entering UK. If you want to declare a double major, you should consult with your academic advisor.

Can I go on study abroad?
The Arts Administration Program has a strong commitment to making international educational opportunities available to students. In the past, faculty members have organized month-long trips to London, England where students have studied theatre and museum management. The program also has exchange agreements in place that allow students to study Arts Administration in similar programs in Germany and Finland. With the help of UK's Study Abroad office, many students in the program have also studied in countries such as Austria, Australia, France, Italy, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Spain.

What are my chances of getting an Arts Administration job once I graduate?
The 21st century has shown significant increase in the nonprofit arts and culture industry. According to the Americans for the Arts most recent economic impact study, the nonprofit arts sector generates $166.2 billion in economic activity each year. Thus, the demand for qualified arts administrators remains strong. In fact, the nonprofit arts industry employs approximately 1.3 million individuals annually. Students at UK who show dedication in their coursework, pursue arts administration internships, practicums, and volunteer opportunities, and are flexible about where they live after they graduate have a very good chance of finding employment in arts administration.

How do I go about finding an internship or practicum?
Students must complete 6-credits of internship to graduate, with each credit hour equaling approximately 50 hours of work at an internship site. The Arts Administration Program faculty member who supervises the internships assists students in identifying potential internship sites. The student is then responsible for contacting the individual sites, submitting their application materials, and ultimately obtaining the internship. The Arts Administration Program has long-standing relationships with many internship sites and the faculty provides ample support to students throughout the process. Additionally, some internship positions are regularly broadcasted on the Arts Administration listserv, an email announcement system accessible to Arts Administration majors. Speak with your faculty advisor or go to Room 109 Fine Arts to ask about joining the listserv.

Does the Arts Administration Program prepare me for graduate school?
Absolutely. Many students have gone on to get graduate degrees in Arts Administration from schools like American University, Boston College, Columbia College, Drexel University, Florida State University and the University of Wisconsin. Other students have received graduate degrees from equally impressive universities in Art Education, Business, Law, Library Sciences, Museum Management and Theatre Management.

Is there a minor in Arts Administration?
Currently there is no option to minor in arts administration.

If you have any questions that have not been answered here or in our other website sections, please contact the Arts Administration program at: artsadministration@uky.edu or 859.257.9616.