Mastering the Business of Entertainment

Quickly advance your career, establish yourself as an entrepreneur, and thrive in the ever-changing entertainment and media industries.

A group of students wearing face coverings are on the downtown Ithaca Commons at the State Theatre box office listening to a professional discuss operations.

State Theater, Ithaca NY

The Ithaca College master's in business administration (MBA) program is designed for people like you who want to bolster their music and cinematic arts training with business principles, as well as those who are launching their own entertainment or media business. Our students come from a range of undergraduate degrees and backgrounds, including business, film and cinematography, sound recording technology, marketing and communications, scriptwriting, journalism, and more. In short, the program is designed for both aspiring creative professionals and business students who intend to work in the entertainment sector.  

While similar programs require two years of study, our master's in business administration (MBA) program allows you to earn your degree in eleven months, while also gaining valuable industry experience and networking opportunities. The condensed timeframe reduces the cost of the degree and minimizes your time out of the workforce. These factors, combined with the augmented skill set you gain from being in the MBA program, greatly enhances your return on investment.

Keep reading to learn more about the typical course schedule and the array of experiential learning opportunities that you will have access to once you apply and enroll in the program.

Typical Course Schedule for Full-Time Enrollment

Our engaging curriculum covers the business of entertainment, entrepreneurship, law, management, negotiation, leadership, marketing, economics and accounting, organizational structure. Program is 36 credits. Course scheduling may vary.
Course Number Course Title
BGRD 57900 The Business of Entertainment
BGRD 61700 Business Analytics
BRGD 61100 Practicum I, Production Concept Planning in Audio, Video & Live Events
BGRD 62100 Global Dimensions of the Entertainment and Media Industries
BGRD 62500 Accounting for the Entertainment Industry
BGRD 63400 Marketing in a Digital World I
Course Number Course Title
BGRD 61200 Practicum II, Management & Practice
Course Number Course Title
BGRD 61300 Practicum III, Production & Market Release
BGRD 60900 Entrepreneurship for the Entertainment Industry
BGRD 61800 Organizational Structure, Process, and Leadership
BGRD 62200 Finance & Economics in the Entertainment & Media Industries
BGRD 62600 Legal Environment of the Entertainment & Media Industries
BGRD 63500 Marketing in a Digital World II
BGRD 61600 Negotiations for Entertainment & Media Industries
Course Number Course Title
BGRD 64200

Capstone in Entertainment and Media Industries

   

Opportunities to Apply Your Knowledge

True to the Ithaca College roots in theory, practice, and performance, we provide our MBA students with many opportunities for experiential learning where what you learn in the classroom is applied in professional settings.

Our multi-media audio and video production company, founded by the inaugural class of the master's in business administration (MBA) program, provides you with an avenue to seek licensing deals, develop artists, produce film & TV projects, and help organize live productions. You will manage and produce audio, video, and live events entertainment projects through all stages:

  • Concept brainstorming
  • Pre-production planning
  • Sourcing creative partners
  • Producing content
  • Distribution
  • Market release

Examples of past work:

You will have access to creative professionals and business executives directly as part of your coursework. You will be able to interact with them in small group settings as they share valuable insight, engage in discussion, and respond to your questions. They will also be available to you upon graduation to network with as you begin your job search and career.

We will support you in broadening your career network through activities such as traveling to major industry conferences for film, music, video, and live events.

Contact Us

Margaret B. Shackell, Ph.D., CMA, CPA, CA
Associate Professor, Director MS Accounting Program
3rd Floor, Park Center for Sustainable Enterprise
953 Danby Rd.
Ithaca, NY 14850