University of Cincinnati

The College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning offers a Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Curatorial Practice. The College-Conservatory of Music offers an MA in Arts Administration.

The Museum Studies program teaches students how museums are organized and operate, how they care for and interpret their collections, how they serve their audiences, and what issues they face in satisfying their diverse responsibilities.

Curatorial Practice is designed to train students in the practical and critical aspects of assembling exhibitions. Since the greater number of exhibitions take place outside institutions (in galleries and artist-run spaces), it is as important for Fine Artists to be engaged with these alternative venues as it is to be cognizant of Museum exhibitions. With two galleries on campus and with a faculty actively engaged in exhibiting and curating contemporary work, the University of Cincinnati is positioned well to offer this certificate. There are plentiful opportunities for internships in the city where artist-led curatorial initiatives are already practiced. Cincinnati also has several significant private collections of contemporary art whose owners are already engaged with our programs in various capacities.

The Graduate Arts Administration Program prepares and trains students to become successful CEOs and senior managers of nonprofit arts and cultural institutions. The philosophy and structure of the program reflects the understanding that sound business training and practical, real-world exposure to the field are both essential qualities of a successful arts administrator. The program further recognizes that the successful arts administrator has the leadership capacity to adapt classical theories and practices to the management of complex and changing arts environment. The College-Conservatory of Music also offers a dual degree with the nationally-recognized College of Business called the MA/MBA option. The two programs combine resources to train administrative leadership for professional performing arts and visual arts organizations.