Arts Management Curriculum

The curriculum in the arts management program is designed to provide a framework of essential questions arts managers need to pose in order to effectively create dialogues between artists, community and institutions. Students in this program will explore issues and implement practice relevant to cultural organizations in Visual Arts, Media Arts and Music.

Visual Arts

The Visual Arts prepares students to work as visual communicators and artists in a complex, rapidly changing global culture. Our mission is to empower students through the integration of technical applications, historical and critical theories, to provide students with marketable skills, to assume creative, scholarly, and leadership roles in the visual arts field, and to promote an understanding of the role that the visual arts play in all facets of contemporary life. Concentrations are available in: Studio Arts and Art History.

Media Arts

The Media Arts prepares students to develop creative, conceptual, and technical skills across coursework in film, photography and graphic designn – fostering a critical awareness of contemporary, convergent media practices. The major explores the creative tension between individual expression and the social and political forces that shape global, mediated networks within culture. Students are asked to become agents for change within the context of their discipline, asking critical questions of the impact of media in an increasingly global arena. Graduates will be prepared to assume leadership roles in media arts production industries or to pursue graduate programs in related fields.

Music

Students in the Music Program engage with music from myriad perspectives while developing critical thinking and effective communication skills through the undergraduate college’s liberal arts environment. All music students receive a strong foundation in music theory and history, and participate in private vocal or instrumental instruction with some of the region's best performers including members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

• Collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University
• Masters of Arts Management, Chatham University 4+1 Program
• Heinz College offers an Accelerated Master’s Program to qualified Chatham University students. The program–structured as four years at Chatham followed by one year at Heinz College–results in students receiving a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in less time than is normally required. Students apply in junior year of study and are eligible to enroll in senior year.

Art Museum Studies Minor

The Art Museum Studies minor provides students with the skills, experience, and specific professional knowledge necessary to work in the art museum field. The minor balances museum history and theory with practical experience designing and installing exhibitions, and planning of programming. It is an appropriate accompaniment to majors in Arts Management, and Visual Arts, and to double majors in Art History and other disciplines. Integral to coursework are field trips to local museums, museum professionals as adjunct faculty and guest speakers, and the use of the Chatham University Art Gallery and Chatham’s art collections.

Teaching Certification in Art

Talented students interested in sharing their curiosity about learning with others should explore Chatham’s art teacher certification program. For certification in art K-12, 42 credits in education coursework is required. Additionally, in accordance with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, students must satisfactorily complete PRAXIS I & II and required visual arts coursework.