Dec 21, 2024  
2024-2025 Graduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

Arts Management/Business Administration, M.A./M.B.A.


Overview

The SMU Meadows School of the Arts , in conjunction with the Cox School of Business , offers to a limited number of highly qualified candidates America’s only concurrent dual-degree graduate program in business and arts management. Through the Division of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs, the M.A./M.B.A. program combines development of contemporary general-management skills with in-depth study of today’s professional arts world. This program is offered on a full-time basis only.

The program is five successive terms, including summer. The curricula include instruction from distinguished arts and business professors, continuing seminars with nationally recognized arts management administrators, and study abroad and internship components. During the first year, students take arts management seminars and the core required business curriculum, the basis on which to build for the variety of elective courses scheduled during mornings, afternoons and evenings of the second year. During the summer between the first and second year, students intern full time with a professional arts organization. In the first term of the second year, students have the opportunity to study abroad at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy.

Seminars and practica (part-time internships) in arts management organizations tailored to the individual student’s background, experience and career goals round out the education. The division office also assists graduates in their career objectives through guidance and assistance with their placement.

The Admissions Committee seeks candidates who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and potential, leadership qualities, and management potential. To assess these characteristics, the committee will look to the following elements to help identify a candidate’s potential to succeed in the program: previous academic records, references who can speak to the candidate’s professional performance, and self-evaluation essays. Test scores (GMAT management/business graduate school admission test) is optional, but all applicants are encouraged to submit them. The TOEFL or PTE English language proficiency test is also required for international applicants. (If a candidate has not earned a baccalaureate degree in an arts field, a degree in another field combined with significant academic, professional or personal experience in the arts is acceptable.) Personal interviews are conducted at the request of the Admissions Committee after a complete application has been received. Merit-based scholarships are available on a limited basis.

The applications for study in the M.A./M.B.A. program are accepted only for fall admission. Students must be accepted by both the Meadows arts management program and the Cox School of Business; however, candidates submit only the Cox M.B.A. online application and select M.A./M.B.A. as the degree choice. Students who matriculate into the M.A./M.B.A. dual program are required to complete concurrently both the M.A. and the M.B.A. requirements in order to graduate. Students cannot drop either part of the dual degree program.

Students must maintain a 3.000 GPA in each school, the Cox School of Business and the Meadows School of Arts, in order to remain in good standing. Students dropping below a 3.000 GPA in either school will be placed on probation with that school. To earn the dual degrees, students must achieve a minimum GPA of 3.000 (without rounding) in each school.

For more information from the Meadows School of the Arts, students should visit www.smu.edu/Meadows/AreasOfStudy/ArtsManagement or email amae@smu.edu. Additional information is also available from the Cox School of Business: website www.coxmba.com; email mbainfo@cox.smu.edu.

Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship Courses

Professor Gordon Law, Division Interim Chair

Professor: Zannie Giraud Voss
Professor of Practice: Doric Earle, Jim Hart, Megan Heber, Kim Lance
Lecturer: Alicia Schortgen
Adjunct Professors: Daniel Fonner, James Jillson, Maureen Mixtacki, Andrea Perez

The following courses for the M.A./M.B.A. program are taught in the Meadows School of the Arts: AMAE 6051 , AMAE 6053 , AMAE 6054 , AMAE 6201 , AMAE 6202 , AMAE 6205 , AMAE 6215 , AMAE 6221 , AMAE 6222 AMAE 6204 , AMAE 6331 , AMAE 6332 , AMAE 6333 , AMAE 6334 . AMAE course descriptions are available through my.SMU and in the Meadows School of the Arts graduate programs catalog. The business courses are listed in this catalog under the section Departments and Courses.

Curriculum


M.A./M.B.A. Class 2025: Entry Fall 2024, Graduate Spring 2026

Total Credit Hours: 77

(50 Business + 27 Arts Administration)

Year 1 – Fall Term


Term Total: 22 Credit Hours


Note: Students select the second accounting course based on their interest and anticipated concentration: either ACCT 6202 - Financial Accounting II  or ACCT 6205 - Strategic Cost Analysis . Students should consult the Concentrations and Minors  section for specific information on which second accounting course is required for each concentration.

Year 1 – Spring Term


Term Total: 20-28 Credit Hours


Note:

Term Total: 3 Credit Hours


Year 2 – Fall Term


International Study at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy

  • Arts and nonprofit leadership electives: four courses (12 credit hours)
  • Business electives: two courses (4 credit hours)

Term Total: 16 Credit Hours


Year 2 – Spring Term


Modules A and B Courses


  • Business electives: seven courses (14 credit hours)

Term Total: 18 Credit Hours


Cox Credit Hours Summary for M.A./M.B.A. Program


34 credit hours of required Cox courses
16 credit hours of elective Cox courses

50 credit hours total for Cox toward M.A./M.B.A. degree

Note: For the 16 credit hours of elective courses, students complete one concentration. Each concentration requires 12–16 specific credit hours. (Additional information is in the Concentrations and Minors section.)

Credit Hours Summary by School


Year Meadows Arts Cox Business
1 11 38-42
2 16 8-18
Total 27 50