Arts Leadership

Program Overview

The Arts Leadership Certificate is open to graduate students, currently enrolled in a graduate degree program at Virginia Tech, and area professionals interested in learning skills and gaining knowledge in arts management. The program offers courses in a variety of arts management areas, including arts leadership and management, arts marketing, development (fundraising), human resources in the arts, and arts advocacy. Courses are designed to be hands-on with capstone and field projects that provide opportunities for applied research and experience. 12 credit hours/4 courses are required to earn the Certificate in Arts Leadership.

What You'll Study

The program offers courses in a variety of arts management areas, including arts leadership and management, arts marketing, development (fundraising), human resources in the arts, and arts advocacy.

Courses are designed to be hands-on with capstone and field projects that provide opportunities for applied research and experience.

12 credit hours/4 courses are required to earn the Certificate in Arts Leadership.

"The Arts Leadership Certificate program was a great opportunity to expand my knowledge of specific areas of interest that I was able to directly relate to my work here at Virginia Tech. The selection of courses, readings, and guest speakers were well thought out and engaging and the program’s faculty members work hard to stay current on nationwide trends in the field. A highlight was working closely with Virginia Tech graduate students and faculty on projects that directly impact our local arts community. The Leadership Certificate program was professionally valuable and personally fulfilling." - Laine Goerner, Arts Leadership Certificate, May 2021

"I found the Arts Leadership certificate to be an integral part of my graduate education at Virginia Tech. As an MFA candidate in Creative Writing, I had experience in the arts world, its academics and its reception, but I did not yet have the organizational and programmatic knowledge I considered necessary for my future goals. The Arts Leadership certificate provided that knowledge across positions, always in great detail and depth, and offered field experiences to truly implement what I learned." -Makensi Ceriani, Arts Leadership Certificate, May 2020

Certificate Requirements

Students will be required to take one of the topics offered through the core course TA 5614: Topics in Arts Leadership I. Topics rotate and include arts management, arts leadership, or arts advocacy. Please refer to the timetable of classes for specific offerings each semester. Students will also select three electives from those listed below which cover a range of specialized topics in arts management, including financial management for the arts, arts marketing, development (fundraising), and human resources in the arts.

Topics courses are not sequential, and students may take elective courses prior to fulfilling the core course requirement.

Course Options

To download the Arts Leadership course list and descriptions, follow this link.

TA 5614 Topics in Arts Leadership I (3 credits; may be repeated for credit with different content)
Topic-centered investigation in arts management, leadership, or advocacy. Please refer to the timetable of classes for specific offerings each semester.

TA 5624 Topics in Arts Leadership II (3 credits; may be repeated for credit with different content)
Topic-centered investigation in specialized areas of arts management: arts marketing, development (fundraising), or grant writing. Please refer to the timetable of classes for specific offerings each semester.

TA 5634 Topics in Arts Leadership III (3 credits; may be repeated for credit with different content)
Topic-centered investigation in various areas of advanced arts management: human resources, financial management, or strategic management. Please refer to the timetable of classes for specific offerings each semester.

UAP 5574 Arts, Culture, and Society (3 credits)
Considers the role of the arts in society, including architecture, music companies, or theatre productions to heritage sites, science museums, and art galleries.

Students will need to successfully complete 12 credit hours/4 courses to earn the Certificate in Arts Leadership.