Arts - Policy, Advocacy, and Stewardship (Arts - PAS)

The Visual Arts & Media Studies (VAMS) Division at Pasadena City College will offer a Bachelor of Arts degree in Arts - Policy, Advocacy, & Stewardship (Arts - PAS). The curriculum is designed to prepare a student for a productive career as an effective leader of an arts organization or enterprise in the public, private, or nonprofit sector. Course work covers aspects of:  entrepreneurism; finance, grants, and fundraising; organizational model development; performance management; media writing and communications; intellectual property law; public relations and community engagement; and public policy and legislation.

The Arts - PAS program emphasizes creative problem solving, leadership, globalism, and effective use of current technologies to prepare students for careers in helping arts entrepreneurs and organizations achieve and sustain their missions in an ever-changing world. The Arts - PAS program is based on the deep conviction that the arts are a critical element in a healthy society, and that an essential role of arts leaders is to nurture environments in which artistic excellence can thrive.

The socioeconomic and political challenges of the day bring renewed importance to the work of cultural entrepreneurs, artists, producers, curators, and policymakers. Effective arts leadership through Arts - PAS embraces the challenge of re-thinking and re-shaping the role of the arts in contemporary society.

With a fall semester, 2027, start for the program, we anticipate the first students will graduate in fall semester, 2029. By spring of 2031 we expect to graduate 20 students and will do so each spring semester from that point on.

The Bachelor of Arts in Arts - Policy, Advocacy & Stewardship (Arts - PAS) offers a dynamic and interdisciplinary education for students interested in careers that combine their passion for the arts with the practical skills needed to manage and lead arts organizations. This program equips students with a comprehensive understanding of the cultural sector, covering essential areas such as nonprofit management, marketing, financial management, legal and ethical issues, and audience engagement.

Students will explore the intersections of the arts and business, developing occupational competencies in areas such as event planning, fundraising, strategic planning, and public relations. They will also engage with key topics in the history and theory of the arts, learning how to apply these insights to the management of museums, theaters, galleries, performing arts organizations, and other cultural institutions.

Through hands-on learning opportunities, internships, and exposure to industry professionals, students gain real-world experience and build networks within the arts community. The program prepares graduates for diverse careers in arts management, curatorial work, community engagement, arts education, and arts policy, providing them with the tools to effectively advocate for and sustain the arts in a rapidly changing cultural landscape.

Graduates of the Arts - PAS program will be equipped to navigate the unique challenges and opportunities within the arts sector, with the leadership, communication, and strategic thinking skills needed to contribute to the growth and vitality of the arts in their communities and beyond.

The Arts - PAS program is designed with an inter-disciplinary curriculum grounded in the management, administration, and leadership of the various commercial and fine arts. The program's focus is career training and the student's entry into the creative economy workforce.  

The Arts - PAS program requires 120 total semester units including 72 units within the discipline. The Arts - PAS Bachelors Degree program groups courses into general education, foundation, core, concentration, and capstone phases. This progression ensures that students build foundational knowledge before advancing to concentration and professional courses. 

There are no similar programs at Pasadena City College.

There are no similar programs at any of the LA-19 campuses.

The projection is for 40 annual enrollments.

This application is for a new program not a modification of an existing program.