We support you every step of the way as you learn at the intersection of design, technology, and entrepreneurship.

Program Overview

Innovation starts with your vision. Whether your dream is to launch or grow a creative business or bring a new product or service to market, the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) combines an innovative approach to business education tailored for creatives to make your vision a success. Unlike a typical MBA program with a generic core curriculum, every course in this program has been specifically tailored for creative professionals and built for immediate, practical application.

• Learn how to create real business tools like marketing plans and product roadmaps that you can apply directly to accelerate your career.
• Become versed in analyzing and presenting cutting-edge business strategies. Use the capstone as a springboard for your new company or product idea.
• Build out a portfolio of work that you can use when launching your business, pitching your idea, or applying to a company.

Choose Your Path

The M.P.S. in the Business of Art and Design is an online, cohort-based graduate program built for working professionals that can be completed in 15 months. Choose between an Entrepreneur or Product Management track. The curriculum is taught by MICA faculty and industry professionals to ensure students gain relevant experience and knowledge.

Entrepreneurship Track: Gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to lead a successful business. Learn how to support your business vision through business concepts and practices including:

• Business Management and Leadership
• Human Resources
• Contracts and Negotiations
• Finance and Accounting
• Marketing
• Business Planning
• Business Formation
• Operations
• Intellectual Property

Product Management Track: Gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to bring a product to market and learn how products and services are designed and created throughout the entire product lifecycle. Skills you will learn include:

• Digital Business Strategy
• Consumer Research
• Strategic Product Positioning
• Graphical Interface Design
• Business Operations
• Industry Software and Tools
• Managing Cross-Functional Teams
• Product Planning and Prototyping
• Leadership Skills

Industry Immersive & Capstone 

The program includes a unique two-day virtual industry immersive providing you with opportunities to share, collaborate, and network with your peers in the program and with industry-leading business and product management professionals, on emerging ideas and best practices in the industry. The culmination of the program includes an exciting capstone project integrating all of the program curricula into a real-world project aligned with your career goals.

What is a Master of Professional Studies (MPS) degree?

• Focuses on an applied field of study

• Develops practical skills

• Perfect for current and aspiring professionals

• Delivered online over just 15 months

• Residency fosters interdisciplinary collaboration

• Students maintain a work-life balance

Program Resources

The MICA Canvas environment is a flexible and adaptive platform so students can conveniently access content. Each faculty member holds a weekly live class delivered through Zoom web-conferencing software, whereby students can discuss topics with faculty and classmates. Lectures are recorded so students can revisit them at any time. Students also have access to MICA's web-based resources such as Adobe Creative Suite, LinkedIn Learning, MyMICA, Decker Library and Media Resources Center, and Business Source Premier, the industry's most used business research database.

Who Should Apply

Designed for students from a variety of disciplines including visual artists, designers, architects, illustrators, musicians, actors, writers, craft persons, performing artists, and other creative professionals this program is ideal for individuals with a strong entrepreneurial spirit, a drive for business success, and a willingness to commit to an intensive learning experience.