Theatre

Image

B.A. in Arts Administration

As an arts administrator, you’ll be the driving force behind the scenes, ensuring performances thrive. At Western, our Arts Administration program prepares you with the expertise to shape the future of the arts—combining business skills, community engagement, and visionary leadership. Whether your dream is to manage world-class productions, support emerging artists, or reimagine how the arts connect with audiences, this is where your journey begins. Explore how you can turn your love for the arts into a career that makes an impact.

Department of Theatre
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5360 USA
(269) 387-3220

What will I do in the B.A. Arts Administration degree program at Western?

core curriculum provides students with foundational courses in performing and/or visual arts, and courses specific to the management of arts and cultural organizations that develop skills in arts programming, marketing, communication, fundraising, finance, venue management, and audience engagement. The curriculum is flexible and customized for each students based on their career goals. Practical application is heavily emphasized through hands-on experiences within the local arts industry. 

Whatever WMU is doing to prepare their students for a future in the professional arena … it works!”

——Dale AJ Rose, director of performance studies/MFA acting program and associate chair, interim artistic director for Connecticut Repertory Theatre

Beyond the classroom

As an arts administration student at WMU, you will receive hands-on experiences in programming across the College of Fine Arts each year. You will have opportunities to engage in various administrative and management roles within other arts organizations on campus and throughout the Kalamazoo community as well. 

Candidates will interview with the Director of Arts Management either virtually or in person. The interview will allow potential students the opportunity to show their work and share any information about themselves and their interest in the management of theatre. 

Applicants should bring to the interview any applicable work they may have including documents that show administrative skills using various software programs, any graphic design or layout work on such things as programs, show posters, etc. Applicants also must provide two writing samples. Writing samples can be anything you have written for school, including papers or essays you have done for class. 

All students will complete 21 credits in a chosen Fine Arts discipline (Art, Dance, Music, or Theatre). At least 15 credits must be in a single department. At least 2 different departments must be represented. All of this course work will be selected in collaboration with and approved by the advisors in each discipline and the Director of Theatre Arts Management.

Additionally, all students will complete the following 12 credits:

THEA 2900 – Practicum Credits: 1

THEA 2900 – Practicum Credits: 1

THEA 2900 – Practicum Credits: 1

THEA 2600 – Intro to Theatre Arts Management Credits: 3

THEA 3820 – Job Preparation and Promotion Credits: 3

THEA 3900 – Professional Theatre Internship Credits: 3

Professional internship placement can be in a chosen arts discipline.

In addition to the 33 hours of required core courses in an arts discipline, Arts Administration students must select 24 credit hours from recommended courses from the College of Business, the School of Public Affairs and Administration, and/or the School of Communication. Relevant courses from other departments may be chosen, but require approval.

Curriculum Catalog
For more information on the interview process, email or call us at (269) 387-3220.
Email us

Alumni Success

Alumni in theatre arts management are working with Brooklyn Academy of Music, Serino Coyne Marketing in NY, Hamilton National Tour (Baseline Theatrical), 321 Theatrical Management (Wicked/FunHome), the Williamstown Theatre Festival, The Cort Theatre of Chicago, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Milwaukee Youth Arts Center and more.