Simmons University

What you'll study

This undergraduate programme blends courses in the arts and media with core management training. You will study topics such as arts marketing, audience development, cultural policy, media production and project management alongside foundational business subjects including financial planning for nonprofit and for‑profit organisations, strategic management, and entrepreneurship.

• Core management modules: Principles of Management, Financial Fundamentals for the Arts, Strategic Planning, Project and Operations Management.
• Arts & media modules: Arts Marketing and Promotion, Entertainment Industry Studies, Media Production and Distribution, Cultural Policy and Ethics.
• Skill workshops and labs: Event and venue management, budgeting for productions, grantwriting and fundraising, digital media tools for promotion.
• Experiential learning: Supervised internships with museums, theatres, production companies, arts councils or media outlets; practicum placements managing real projects; and collaborative capstone projects where students develop and present a business plan or production proposal.
• Electives and concentrations: Students may choose electives in areas such as nonprofit leadership, music industry studies, film and television business, or digital media strategy to tailor the degree to specific career goals.

Programme structure

The degree typically combines liberal arts general education requirements with a set of core and elective modules in arts and business. A substantial experiential component — internships and a final-year capstone — connects classroom learning with industry practice. Class sizes are generally small, with seminars, project teams and faculty supervision for applied projects.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a secondary school diploma or equivalent and to demonstrate academic readiness for undergraduate study. Admissions will consider school transcripts, a personal statement outlining interest in arts and media management, and at least one academic or professional reference.

• Standard academic preparation in humanities, social sciences or business is appropriate; background in arts, media or creative practice is advantageous but not required.
• Standardised tests (where submitted) are considered in context of the whole application; many applicants are admitted with test scores optional.
• Applicants with relevant work, volunteer or creative experience should highlight this in their personal statement and may submit a short portfolio or examples of projects if relevant.
• International applicants must meet English language proficiency requirements and provide certified transcripts translated into English.

Career prospects

Graduates build careers across a broad range of cultural and media sectors. The combination of arts knowledge and management skills prepares students for roles in both nonprofit and commercial settings.

• Arts administrator, programme or development officer in museums, theatres and cultural centres
• Venue or events manager, production coordinator or stage manager in performing arts and live events
• Marketing and audience development roles, digital content strategist or social media manager for arts organisations and media companies
• Talent or artist management, booking agent, or roles in the music and entertainment industries
• Project manager, fundraising and grants specialist, or entrepreneurship in creative startups and cultural enterprises

Many graduates also pursue postgraduate study in arts administration, business, media studies or law, or take certificates and training in specialised production or digital media skills.

Why study at Simmons University

Simmons offers a liberal arts environment with a strong emphasis on experiential learning and close faculty mentorship. Its location in Boston provides direct access to a dense network of museums, theatres, media companies and cultural organisations, creating rich internship and partnership opportunities.

• Hands‑on learning through internships, practicum placements and a final capstone project that connect students to industry partners.
• Small classes and accessible faculty, enabling personalised academic advising and project supervision.
• Career services and campus networks that support placement in cultural institutions, media firms and creative enterprises in the city and beyond.
• A curriculum designed to combine creative practice with practical business and management skills, preparing students to lead and innovate in arts and media organisations.