The Master of Arts in Cultural Sustainability program is dedicated to fostering the professional development and capacity of students to work effectively in recognizing and supporting the cultural gifts of communities; to act in the world as leaders, writers, thinkers, teachers, activists, entrepreneurs, and members of organizations. We are committed to a methodological orientation that insists on ethical practice, deep human inquiry and relationship building with people in communities, and ongoing assessment and reflection. The program is oriented around six fundamental goals. Graduates from the M.A.C.S. program will be able to:

1. Research, demonstrate and apply knowledge of cultural practices and contemporary issues pertaining to cultural sustainability which contribute to human and ecological well-being.

2. Exhibit professional and ethical responsibility in managing partnerships that foster community self-determination and empower community efforts in cultural documentation, preservation, revitalization and social equity.

3. Design, undertake and critique cultural documentation field projects applying diverse research methods such as observation, writing, photography, video, and/or sound recording to identify and nurture traditions of knowledge and practice that are meaningful and valued by communities.

4. Devise, implement and evaluate actions that support cultural sustainability such as educational programs, exhibitions, performances, workshops, projects, media productions, websites, festivals and other initiatives that align with community practices.

5. Identify and demonstrate a range of professional management skills that contribute to organizational sustainability such as financial skills, communications, and leadership through collaboration, teamwork, and consensus building.

6. Identify strategies for cultivating a professional network of practitioners and organizations in support of a community of practice.

Updated: February 2018

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