The primary constituency the program seeks to serve are current and future arts administrators in all aspects of the arts industry who desire graduate study and professional practice expertise in arts-oriented administration and management. The Arts Administration Department is led by the Chair, Anne W. Smith, who has been active in the arts management profession for more than 20 years. Arts Administration courses are taught by Smith and adjunct faculty members who are practicing arts administrators drawn from San Francisco Bay Area arts organizations. The accounting, organizational behavior courses are taught by other faculty from the University. A further source of arts management expertise is provided by the Arts Administration Advisory Board, comprised of local and national arts organization professionals who are actively involved in setting department objectives and keeping the course offerings current.
Alumni are also active in providing advice and feedback.
Alums oversee the Arts Managers Network events and a listserv for program students, alums and arts professionals. The final degree program requirement is the research and writing of a thesis in which the student analyzes in depth an actual problem or issue relating to the management of an existing arts organization. It serves as a summational experience of the Arts Administration curriculum. The thesis is the cornerstone of this program. It is a way for students to contribute to the growth of arts administration research and development activity.