Frequently Asked Questions

Each year, we enroll one cohort of 15-20 students. We generally receive over 100 applications each year. 

Yes. Several of our current students come from academic and work experiences other than of the arts. We welcome students from all backgrounds and are particularly interested in applicants that have a diversity of experience in a variety of non-profit, for-profit and arts environments. 

Applicants in our program typically come with some experience in nonprofit organization or comparable work or volunteer experience but applicants with diverse industry experiences are encouraged to apply. Students who have a broad range of arts experiences in a variety of organizations generally do best in our program. If you have questions about how your professional or academic readiness for the program, feel free to contact us with your résumé. 

Not for all students. The MFA Arts Leadership program only requires the GRE General Test from students who have earned degrees from institutions issuing non-graded transcripts. For more information, please visit the  Graduate Admissions website. 

Incoming Fall MFA candidates will be invited to a Kickoff Event a week before classes start.

The MFA Arts Leadership program starts at the beginning of the Fall term each year. Please visit our Academic Calendar for the specific date. 

No. Because we are a cohort model, all students must start in the Fall term. If you are accepted to the MFA Arts Leadership program, but cannot start the following Fall, you can defer your enrollment for one year. 

Application deadline information can be found on our How to Apply page. Please make sure all of your application materials are submitted before that deadline for consideration. We accept applications after the priority deadline which are reviewed on a rolling basis, pending space in the cohort.

Yes. If you submit a complete application before the deadline, we will look at your application and make an acceptance decision as soon as possible. Application decisions are usually made within six weeks of the application deadline. 

We try to send our decisions within 6-8 weeks after we’ve received a complete application. Applications submitted around the priority deadline might take longer. 

Students are placed on the waitlist for a variety of reasons, including late submission, low GPA or less than two years organizational experience. Those on the waitlist will be notified of changes to their status as soon as possible. 

Please visit the Tuition and Fees website for the most up to date information about program costs. 

Yes. MFA Arts Leadership offers two types of scholarships for first-year students. The deadline to apply for these scholarships is the same as the priority application deadline. Please visit our Scholarships page for program-specific information.

No. You must submit all application materials as would any other applicant. The only part that will be different for you is submitting your transcript. Please see the Graduate Admissions website for more information. 

Though most Arts Leadership students choose to find their own housing, we do have some helpful information. Logan Court Townhomes and Murphy Apartments are both available through Seattle University Housing and Residence Life. While both are available for graduate and law students, they have limited space each year, and Murphy Apartments is also available to undergraduate students. Please visit the Housing website for more information about rates and applying. The Douglas Apartments is a privately owned and managed property located on campus for Seattle University students. About 30% of their renters are graduate and law students. Please visit their website for more information and rates. Seattle University has partnered with Places4Students.com, a company that specializes in providing off-campus housing solutions for post-secondary students. This service is free for all students to use as an effective method of finding a place to live off-campus or finding a roommate. There are other privately owned off-campus options near campus, including Anthem Apartments and Apodments. Other search tools for apartments are Padmapper and Zumper. 

The MFA in Arts Leadership is a two-year, 30-credit program. Students can take fewer courses or breaks, if needed, and complete the program in three-years.

During the first year, MFA Arts Leadership students take classes Fall, Spring and Summer semesters. The Summer Term is 12 weeks long, and students get a break of 2 weeks before starting the Fall Semester of their second year. Second year students take classes during the Fall and Spring Semesters.

A full-time course load is 6 credits per semester, which includes two classes. Classes generally meet once a week from 6-9pm. Classes can be scheduled Monday through Thursday, and occasionally on Saturday. The Graduate Management Practicum is an elective that can be taken in any term after the initial semester.

Rooted in the Pacific Northwest’s vibrant cultural sector, Seattle University’s Arts Leadership MFA connects you directly to a regional network of civic and cultural leaders. Learning alongside peers in the Public Administration (MPA) and Nonprofit Leadership (MA) programs, you share four core courses covering organizational leadership, financial management, applied research and public policy. Taught by faculty actively leading prominent arts organizations, this collaborative model bridges creative practice with civic infrastructure to ensure you graduate with an established, cross-sector professional network.

Every Arts Leadership MFA course offers students ways to build on their classroom learning, gain valuable practical experience, and develop relationships with the arts community through guest visits and field research.

Up to six credits of comparable coursework from an accredited program may be transferred, with registrar approval. 

Please look at the current Academic Calendar for quarter dates. 

Students take courses in the summer of year two, but there is a brief break between spring and summer term. View the academic calendar for exact dates.

Yes, if a life event prevents you from continuing full time, you may take one term off and resume your studies the following term, pending approval by the Program Director. 

Yes. Classes are held in the evenings so students can work while completing their coursework.

Please contact us for more information.

Full membership in AAAE (Association of Arts Administration Educators) means that the MFA Arts Leadership program has met their standards for curriculum, faculty expertise and student success. 

The MFA program is active in several national and international organizations including AAAE, TCG, ENCATC, STP&A, AIMAC, SAEE, ICCPR, and ACEI. In 2013, Seattle University and the Arts Leadership program hosted the 39th STP&A conference, “Arts & Culture: Creating Community in a High Tech World.”

Arts leadership programs prepare students to serve at the executive level or department head level of arts organizations or to create their own organization. Leadership involves setting a strategic direction for an organization, and we focus on the specifics of doing so for the arts.  

Seattle has a robust arts community and many of our alumni are serving at the leadership level of local and regional arts organizations. We regularly send out regional and national job listings exclusively to current students and alumni, hoping to give them an edge in the job search.

Our faculty actively support all students in their job searches while in the program and after graduation. Our students have access to ARTSearch  job listings, as well as career counseling and resume reviews by faculty members. 

Our alumni work throughout Seattle and the country, as you can see from our Alumni page. Organizations include the Pacific Northwest Ballet, MFA Boston, the Kirkland Performance Center and the Seattle Symphony.

This information can be found here. If it does not, please contact Graduate Admissions.

The CLB program is a Culture and Language Bridge program. More information on the CLB program can be found here.

Yes, all international transcripts need to be evaluated by an evaluation service before they are sent to Seattle University. Seattle University only accepts evaluations from Educational Credential Evaluators or Educational Perspectives. More information is available here.

Yes. Seattle University also needs an official (only considered official if they arrive in original envelope from the issuing institution or sent electronically via secured institution to institution system) set of transcripts, degree certificates and/or graduation certificates. 

International students have access to Optional Practical Training (OPT), which is a temporary work authorization for F-1 visa students. Through OPT, students can apply for jobs closely related to their field of study anywhere in the United States and work full time for up to 12 months after they graduate. For more information, visit the International Student Center website.