Mastering the Business of Entertainment

Quickly advance your career, establish yourself as an entrepreneur, and thrive in the ever-changing entertainment and media industries.
Students engaging in a photo shoot with a fellow student.

The Ithaca College MBA is designed for aspiring entertainment professionals—whether you're trained in music, film, media, or business. Our students come from diverse backgrounds including cinematography, sound recording, marketing, communications, and journalism.

Unlike traditional two-year programs, our MBA takes just nine months , giving you industry experience, valuable connections, and a faster return on investment—all while keeping your time out of the workforce to a minimum.

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.

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 NumberCourse Title
BGRD 57900The Business of Entertainment
BRGD 61100Practicum I, Production Concept Planning in Audio, Video & Live Events
BGRD 61700Business Analytics
BGRD 61800Organizational Structure, Process, and Leadership
BGRD 62500Accounting for the Entertainment Industry
BGRD 63400Marketing in a Digital World I
Course NumberCourse Title
BGRD 61200Practicum II, Management & Practice
Course NumberCourse Title
BGRD 60900Entrepreneurship for the Entertainment Industry
BGRD 61300Practicum III, Production & Market Release
BGRD 62100Global Dimensions of the Entertainment and Media Industries
BGRD 62200Finance & Economics in the Entertainment & Media Industries
BGRD 62600Legal Environment of the Entertainment & Media Industries
BGRD 63500Marketing in a Digital World II
BGRD 61600Negotiations for Entertainment & Media Industries
BGRD 68800SXSW: Inspiration Interacting with Innovation

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