Master of Fine Arts - Arts Leadership

Program Description

The Theatre School’s graduate Arts Leadership Fellowship is a two-year Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program that combines full-time employment at Chicago Shakespeare Theater with full-time coursework at DePaul University. This rigorous program, distinct among competitive programs, is designed to prepare students to become highly skilled leaders in the complex and sophisticated world of the arts.

Learning Outcomes

​​Core Outcomes:

Students will be able to:

• Identify and describe the historical and theatrical significance of a range of theatrical artists, works, and artistic approaches from antiquity to the present, encompassing a broad range of periods, cultures, and styles.
• Identify and explain their theatrical work in the context of the cultural and social impact of the arts.​

​Program Specific Outcomes:

Students will be able to:

• ​Master the nature and dynamics of collaborative practice between and among artists, boards, personnel, and audience and work with collaborators within an organizational structure.
• Develop and master the skills of strategic planning and master the basic principles of finance (including budgeting and financial management).
• Develop a workable knowledge of law and legal procedures as they relate to the ethics of business practice, governance, and contracts, and a practical knowledge of relevant labor relations and issues.
• Develop specific proficiencies in marketing strategies as they relate to overall artistic programming and specific events.
• Understand the specifics of facility management and resource allocation.​