Baruch College is taking the first steps toward developing a master’s degree program for individuals in the arts who have the potential to succeed as managers and leaders in the arts industry. The degree will be offered by the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences with the participation of the Zicklin School of Business and the School of Public Affairs. Baruch holds a unique position within CUNY and New York City as the only public institution to house three distinct schools that offer graduate education in the arts and sciences, business, and public and not-for-profit administration. Jeffrey Peck, dean of the Weissman School, sees the new arts administration program as a high-quality and cost-effective alternative to the private-sector graduate programs in arts administration at NYU and Columbia University.

As John Elliott, dean of the Zicklin School explains, “Baruch has long been focused on taking advantage of its location in New York City to focus on areas that are important to the city. The arts fully belong in that arena. Zicklin is in the midst of a strategic planning effort and is looking for cross collaborations that make sense and add value. Serving the needs of the city and collaborating across schools are very important dimensions of our strategic plan.” David Birdsell, dean of the School of Public Affairs, points out that all three schools recognize that the program’s natural home is in the Weissman School. Weissman will develop a core curriculum that will be taught by experienced faculty and practitioners, including faculty from Weissman’s long-standing department of fine and performing arts. The goal is to avoid replication and draw on each school’s expertise. Students will pursue specialized courses in the School of Public Affairs and the Zicklin School, depending upon whether they are interested in not-for-profit or for-profit arts administration.

Dean Peck notes that the program approval process is in its early stages. The plan is to admit an entering class of about twenty students in fall 2014, and to keep the program small, with a cap of approximately thirty students. The director of the program will be recruited from the arts field. The program will require approximately 36 credits of course work and students will be able to study part-time. The objective is to meet the needs of the arts industry in all its forms. This includes performance art (music, dance, and theatre), museums, galleries, and functions such as set and costume design, production, marketing, advertising, and finance. Weissman students will take relevant courses in management, fund-raising, philanthropy, finance, budgeting, marketing, and law through Zicklin and Public Affairs. MBA and MPA students will be able to take appropriate elective courses in Weissman.

According to Dean Elliott, “Education is a great way to learn things you need to know in a systematic and orderly manner.” To Dean Peck, this involves classroom learning coupled with hands-on experience. He is excited about the prospect of developing a four-week internship exchange program with the City University of London, and possibly other cities as part of CUNY’s global cities initiative. Also, just a few steps away is the well-respected Baruch Performing Arts Center and Mishkin Gallery where students will be able to gain practical experience and insight into the workings of the arts industry.

The Zicklin School has a number of MBA students with backgrounds in the arts who will want to take advantage of new electives in the Weissman School (see Spring 2011 Dean’s E-Newsletter). The new degree program in arts administration will be a significant way for many other students to benefit from Baruch’s commitment to quality public education and collaboration.