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The Performing Arts Management Programs are comprehensive interdisciplinary programs designed to prepare students for careers in the multi-faceted and extensive industry embracing administration of not-for-profit arts organizations (symphony orchestra, opera, chamber music, dance, theatre), commercial music management (recording industry, artist representation, music publishing and distribution, product merchandising, concert promotion), music licensing, music entrepreneurship, music festival management, and related areas of cultural management and policy.

The programs have been designed to provide students a broad understanding of the performing arts management industry; insight into the theories and principles associated with arts management; and a proficiency in the practical application of necessary business skills. 

There are two distinct Performing Arts Management degrees, suited for students with specific backgrounds and career objectives. 

  • Bachelor of Music (BM) in Performing Arts Management, Minor in Business Administration 
  • Bachelor of Science (BS) in Performing Arts Management, Minor in Business Administration 

Bachelor of Music (BM) in Performing Arts Management, Minor in Business Administration 

Program Requirements Quarter Hours
Music Core Requirements​ 68
Liberal Studies Requirements 52
Specialization Requirements 66
Electives​ 6
Total hours required 192

Program Specific Outcomes

Students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the theories and principles associated with the performing arts industry such as issues facing arts managers in the areas of leadership, marketing, development, community engagement, arts advocacy and other skills particular to the area of specialization.
  • Understand current music business issues and their impact on artist representation, digital music, distribution, emerging technologies, and marketing.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in business skills related to accounting, finance, marketing, management, economics, and ethics.

Music Core Requirements

Course Requirements

All students in the School of Music are required to enroll in the following music courses:

Course Title Quarter Hours
First Year Core
MUS 110AMUSIC THEORY I2
MUS 120AMUSIC THEORY II2
MUS 130AMUSIC THEORY III2
MUS 111AURAL TRAINING I1
MUS 121AURAL TRAINING II1
MUS 131AURAL TRAINING III1
MUS 113GROUP PIANO I1
MUS 123GROUP PIANO II1
MUS 133GROUP PIANO III1
Second Year Core
MUS 212AMUSIC THEORY IV 12
MUS 222-AMUSIC THEORY V - A 22
or MUS 222-B MUSIC THEORY V - B
or MUS 222-C MUSIC THEORY V - C
MUS 232AMUSIC THEORY VI-A: CONCEPTS AND MATERIALS IN CONTEMPORARY MUSIC 32
or MUS 232B MUSIC THEORY VI-B: ANALYSIS OF MUSICAL FORM
MUS 211AURAL TRAINING IV 41
MUS 221AURAL TRAINING V 41
MUS 231AURAL TRAINING VI 41
MUS 213GROUP PIANO IV 51
MUS 223GROUP PIANO V 51
MUS 233GROUP PIANO VI 51
Choose three of the following musicology courses: 612
MUS 224MUSIC, HISTORY, AND CULTURE I
MUS 225MUSIC, HISTORY, AND CULTURE II
MUS 226GLOBAL MUSIC CULTURES
MUS 310INTRODUCTION TO ETHNOMUSICOLOGY
Upper Level Core
MUS 303BASIC CONDUCTING PRACTICUM0
MUS 304BASIC CONDUCTING4
MUS 323MUSICOLOGY SEMINAR2
1

Jazz Studies majors take JZZ 300 in place of MUS 212A.

2

Jazz Studies majors take JZZ 301 in place of MUS 222A/B/C.

3

Jazz Studies majors take JZZ 302 in place of MUS 232A/B.

4

Jazz Studies majors take JZZ 205, 206 and 207 in place of MUS 211, MUS 221 and MUS 231.

5

Jazz Studies majors take JZZ 202, 203 and 204 in place of MUST 213, MUS 223 and MUS 233.

6

Jazz Studies majors take one fewer musicology course. They supplement this missing credit in their major coursework.

Liberal Studies Requirements

Honors program requirements can be found in the individual Colleges & Schools section of the University Catalog. Select the appropriate college or school, followed by Undergraduate Academics and scroll down.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year ProgramHours
Chicago Quarter
LSP 110
DISCOVER CHICAGO
or EXPLORE CHICAGO
4
Focal Point
Not Required
Writing
WRD 103 COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC I 1 4
WRD 104 COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC II 1 4
Quantitative Reasoning
MAT 120 QUANTITATIVE REASONING 2 4
Sophomore Year
Race, Power, and Resistance
LSP 200 SEMINAR ON RACE, POWER, AND RESISTANCE 4
Junior Year
Experiential Learning
Not Required
Senior Year
Capstone
Not Required
1

Students must earn a C- or better in this course.

2

Readiness for MAT 120 is determined by the math placement test taken online after admission. Students may need to take developmental coursework prior to MAT 120. The MAT 120 requirement may be waived by passing a dedicated proficiency exam, or by credit earned for advanced math coursework at DePaul (MAT 135MAT 136MAT 147MAT 148MAT 149MAT 150MAT 151MAT 152MAT 155MAT 156MAT 160MAT 161MAT 162MAT 170MAT 171MAT 172, or equivalent) or any transfer, CLEP, IB, or AP Calculus credit. Calculus course(s) may be used to fulfil any of the three QR/MCD requirements.

Learning Domains

Arts and Literature (AL)

  • 2 Courses Required

Historical Inquiry (HI)

  • 2 Courses Required

Math and Computing (MC)

  • Not Required

Philosophical Inquiry (PI)

  • 1 Course Required

Religious Dimensions (RD)

  • 1 Course Required

Scientific Inquiry (SI)

  • 1 SWK Course or 1 Lab Course Required​​​

Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry (SCBI)

  • 1 Course Required

Notes

Courses offered in the student's primary major cannot be taken to fulfill LSP Domain requirements. If students double major, LSP Domain courses may double count for both LSP credit and the second major.

In meeting learning domain requirements, no more than one course that is outside the student’s major and is cross-listed with a course within the student’s major, can be applied to count for LSP domain credit. This policy does not apply to those who are pursuing a double major or earning BFA or BM degrees.

​Major Requirements

Program Checkpoints 

Students are admitted to a specialization at their initial enrollment. Students are then allowed to continue in specialization courses on the basis of program checkpoints. The program checkpoints differ for each specialization, and students should contact the department chairs or program directors/coordinators for more information. Students are not permitted to continue to enroll in specialization classes if they have not met the requirements of their program checkpoints. 

Course Requirements

Course Title Quarter Hours
PAM 200INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC BUSINESS2
Performing Arts Management Sequence:
PAM 301PERFORMING ARTS MANAGEMENT I: INTRODUCTION TO MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS IN THE PERFORMING ARTS4
PAM 302PERFORMING ARTS MANAGEMENT II: ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT4
PAM 303PERFORMING ARTS MANAGEMENT III: MARKETING FOR THE ARTS4
PAM 304PERFORMING ARTS MANAGEMENT IV: INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT4
PAM 398PERFORMING ARTS MANAGEMENT INTERNSHIP2
Performing Arts Management Specialization. Select four of the following:8
ARTIST MANAGEMENT IN COMMERCIAL MUSIC
TECHNOLOGICAL TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
LEGAL ISSUES IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
MUSIC PUBLISHING
MUSIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP
MUSIC FESTIVAL MANAGEMENT
Performing Arts Management Practicum (3 quarters):6
PERFORMING ARTS MANAGEMENT PRACTICUM
3 credits of Large Ensemble (1st year of program)3
5 credits of Any Ensemble (2nd, 3rd, 4th years of program)5
6 credits of Music & PAM Electives6
4 credits of Free Electives4
Business Courses:
ACC 101INTRODUCTION TO ACCOUNTING I4
ACC 102INTRODUCTION TO ACCOUNTING II4
MAT 242ELEMENTS OF STATISTICS (or equivalent)4
FIN 290FINANCE FOR NON-BUSINESS MAJORS4
MGT 300PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT4
BLW 201LEGAL & ETHICAL ASPECTS IN THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT4
MKT 301PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING4
ECO 105PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS4

Applied Music

Students are required to complete 18 credit hours. 

Liberal Studies Learning Domain Specifications

Performing arts management majors enroll in the following courses within the learning domains:

Course Title Quarter Hours
MAT 130FUNCTIONS AND MATHEMATICAL MODELS4
ECO 105PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS4