MPA-MAAA Dual Degree

Earn a unique dual degree in Public Affairs and Arts Administration

At SPEA, you can pursue the unique opportunity of earning a Master of Arts in Arts Administration in combination with a Master of Public Affairs with a concentration in Nonprofit Management.

As an MPA-MAAA dual degree student you will develop skills in quantitative analysis, public sector management, budgeting, and public policy while gaining expertise in arts management, marketing, law, and cultural policy.

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You can complete two degrees in just five semesters

The course requirements for the dual MAAA-MPA can be completed in just five semesters, plus an internship usually carried out during one of the summers in which you’re enrolled in the program. This dual degree provides a combination of skills especially well-suited for you if you have an interest in doing applied research for arts organizations in the commercial, nonprofit, or public sector.

Explore the MPA-MAAA Curriculum

Course offerings vary each semester. View the current schedule of classes on the Office of the Registrar website.

MPA Core Courses (15 credits)

SPEA–V 502 Public Management
SPEA–V 506 Statistical Analysis for Effective Decision Making
SPEA–V 517 Public Management Economics
SPEA–V 540 Law and Public Affairs
SPEA–F 560 Public Finance and Budgeting

MAAA Core Courses (18 credits)

AADM-Y 502 Organizational Behavior and the Arts
AADM-Y 530 Audience Development and Marketing the Arts
AADM-Y 562 Legal Issues in the Arts

Performing Arts Management Course (3 credits)

Choose one:
AADM-Y 511 Performing Arts Center Management or
AADM-Y 508 Performing Arts Organization Management or
AADM-Y 505 Programming the Performing Arts

Visual Arts Management Course (3 credits)

Choose one:
AADM-Y 525 Museum Management or
AADM-Y 506 Curating for Museums and Galleries

Arts And Cultural Policy Course (3 credits)

Choose one:
AADM-Y 551 Cultural Planning and Urban Development or
AADM-Y 559 Public Policy in the Arts

Nonprofit Management (6 credits)

SPEA–N 521 The Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector
SPEA–Y 558 Fund Development for Nonprofits

Financial Management (3 credits)

Choose one of the following:

SPEA–F 526 Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations
AADM–Y 515 Financial Management for the Arts

Capstone/Additional Management Core (6 credits)

Choose one of the following combinations:

SPEA–V 600 Capstone in Public and Environmental Affairs
SPEA–N 525 Management in the Nonprofit Sector

-- OR --

AADM–Y 650 Seminar in Arts Administration
AADM–Y 504 Arts Administration in the Public and Private Sectors

Experiential Learning (6 credits)

AADM–Y 550 Practicum in Arts Administration
AADM–Y 750 Internship

Elective Courses (9 credits)

Any graduate-level elective; chosen in consultation with faculty advisor and/or MAAA Assistant Director, Ashley Hosseini (SPEA 260).

See Arts Administration elective options

View the current courses offered

Gain the tools you need for professional success through hands-on experience

As part of the experiential requirement in the MPA-MAAA Dual Degree Program, you will complete one 280-hour internship as well as three 50-hour practicum projects. You may register for internship credit and practicum credit at any time within the program.

See MAAA Experiential Requirements

community arts outreach coordinator Lisa Ahrendt

MPA-MAAA'13 alumna Lisa Ahrendt works as the community arts outreach coordinator for the City of Hillsboro, Oregon, managing their grant program and supporting their community arts events. Additionally, she works with the Public Art Program coordinating juries to select commissioned work, managing artist contracts, and handling installation logistics. In her positions, Ahrendt uses skills she learned in both the MPA and MAAA programs and benefits from a deep understanding of the relationship between the arts and government.

SPEA School of Public and Environmental Affairs

Masters