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Art Business & Information Systems and Technology

MA in Art Business & Information Systems and Technology

Note: The MA in Art Business & Information Systems and Technology program is no longer accepting applications.

In response to the evolving relationship between technology and the arts, this transdisciplinary program is designed for students with an interest in the application of computer and data science to the arts and cultural fields.

Today, technology companies are increasingly interested in arts and cultural applications and partnerships. At the same time, arts and cultural organizations are increasingly working within the digital realm, not just on exhibition and program media and marketing, but on ways of using big data to increase cultural equity, or on proprietary software to run complex productions. This is the world that the arts and technology partnership between the Center for Business & Management of the Arts and the Center for Information Systems & Technology (CISAT) has been established to advance.

Over the course of three semesters, you will complete core courses from the MA in Art Business with CISAT’s MS in Information Systems and Technology. You will also enroll in a handful of specialized courses and take part in an entrepreneurship sequence that culminates with the Startup Studio, where you will develop and pitch your own arts & technology application or initiative.

Program Highlights
  • Gain core competencies in art business, from finance to strategy to marketing.
  • Learn from professionals in LA’s arts and cultural community.
  • Study IS&T topics such as big data, databases, software development, network design, and distributed information systems.
  • Gain a basic understanding of programming languages such as R, Python, C++, and Java.
  • Create and present a final capstone project of your own design.

Program At-a-glance

  • 45 units

    required units

  • MA in Art Business & Information Systems and Technology

    degree awarded

  • In Person

    modality

  • Fall

    program start

  • 1.5 years | full time*

    estimated completion time

Faculty

  • Wallace Chipidza

    Wallace Chipidza

    Assistant Professor of Information Systems & Technology

    Research Interests

    Dynamics of social networks, Quantum Computing and Applications, Internet Privacy, ICT4D

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  • Kibum Kim

    Kibum Kim

    Partner, Commonwealth and Council

    Research Interests

    Art Market Dynamics, Comparative Art Markets

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  • Jay Prag

    Jay Prag

    Clinical Full Professor
    Academic Director
    Faculty Coordinator, Center for Business & Management of the Arts

    Research Interests

    Corporate Finance, Investments, Economics of Strategy, Macroeconomics

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  • Portrait of Alma Ruiz

    Alma Ruiz

    Adjunct Professor

    Research Interests

    Contemporary Latin American Art, Exhibition Making & Managing​

    View profile

Curriculum

Semester 1: 16 units (12 CBMArts; 4 IS&T)
Finance & Accounting for Creative Industries (4)
Marketing Management (2)
Economics of Strategy (2)
Art Market Dynamics (4)
Creative Industries Colloquium (0)
Field Study (0)
Communications and Networking (4)

Semester 2: 16 units (8 CBMArts; 8 IS&T)
New Venture Creation (2)
Marketing Elective(s) (2)
Advanced Art Markets (4)
Databases and Big Data (4)
Leading Digital Business (4)

Semester 3: 16 units (8 CBMArts; 4 IS&T; 4 T-Studies)
Legal Foundations for Creative Industries (4)
Startup Studio (4)
Transdisciplinary Studies Course (4)
Software Development and Programming (4)

Field Study

Field study travel introduces you to emerging and established art markets, and provides behind the scenes access to artists, art businesses, arts organizations, and leaders in the field. The trips accelerate your formation of international networks and ensure familiarity with the complexity of the international arts landscape.

View recent international itineraries:

  • Singapore
  • Hong Kong
  • Shanghai
  • Beijing
  • Seoul
  • Tokyo
  • Taiwan (Itinerary)
  • Mexico City (Itinerary)

Past destinations within LA include:

  • YouTube
  • Institute of Contemporary Art, LA
  • Snap Inc.
  • Museum of Contemporary Art, LA
  • Los Angeles CleanTech Incubator
  • The Broad

Capstone Entrepreneurship Sequence

Every Art & Arts Management student completes a capstone sequence, which is the culmination of your degree, synthesizing everything that you have learned throughout the program. It is also designed as a bridge to your professional life, serving as a powerful demonstration of the skills you’ve developed at CGU as you enter or continue your work in the arts and cultural field.

Research, design, plan, and pitch a new venture for the arts and cultural sector.

Your venture can stand independently of existing arts institutions and businesses, or it can propose innovations for existing organizations. New ventures can be for-profit firms or nonprofit initiatives, or something in between (such as public benefit corporations). Develop comprehensive and persuasive arguments for why your new venture will positively impact the sector and attract the necessary resources and support to get it off the ground.

Cost & Aid

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