Semester in Los Angeles

Become an entertainment industry intern in Los Angeles

Are you ready to launch your career in the entertainment industry? The Media School’s Semester in Los Angeles program will provide you with the tools to get started in show business.

Participating students intern and take a semester of Media School classes in the heart of Hollywood. Los Angeles affords students invaluable internship opportunities found nowhere else in the country. Apply for this program if you are looking to gain professional experience in film, television, entertainment public relations and marketing or the music industry.

Semester in Los Angeles is offered fall and spring semester each academic year, and an abbreviated version is offered during the summer. Students from outside of The Media School are welcome to apply.

Students stand on a beach with a camera and plan out a shot.

A group of women evaluate a shot through a camera.

Internships

Students are required to work in one internship during their time in L.A., and the Semester in Los Angeles staff assists students in finding relevant internship placements in the months leading up to the program. Some students may choose to complete two part-time internships over the semester to fully immerse themselves in L.A.’s professional opportunities.

Past student internships have included:

Academy of Country Music
Blumhouse Productions
DoLA
DTLA Film Festival
Funny or Die
Gunpowder & Sky
Madison Wells Media
Mandeville Films
Mosaic
NBCUniversal
Power106 FM
Skybound Entertainment
Studio71
Untitled Entertainment
1iota Productions

Academics

The Semester in Los Angeles program offers a full semester of courses taught by our adjunct faculty who are media professionals in the L.A. area. Students are expected to maintain full-time student status for the duration of the program. Students take three classes, held Monday through Thursday nights, in addition to their internships.

Classes meet at the historic Sunset Gower Studios, a working film and television production facility located adjacent to the Netflix headquarters on Sunset Boulevard.

Course offerings for fall and spring:

X472 – Media Internship (3-6 cr.)
M411 – Media Industries and Cultural Production (3 cr.)
D337 – New Media: Digital Technology in LA (3 cr.)

Choose between:

P470 – LA Production (3 cr.)
R429 – Public Relations Campaigns (3 cr.)

Course offerings for summer:

X472 — Media Internship (3-6 cr.)
M411 — Media Industries and Cultural Production (3 cr.)

Housing

Students live together in shared, furnished apartments at the AVA Hollywood at La Pietra Place apartment complex. These apartments are furnished and managed by student housing provider Kapi Residences. Apartments are located conveniently in Hollywood with easy access to our classroom space, shopping centers, restaurants and the 101 Freeway. Four to six students live in each two- or three-bedroom apartment. Single rooms may be available for a supplemental fee.

The costs of furnished housing, parking and utilities at the apartment complex are all included in your student housing fee paid directly to our housing partner, KAPI. Students enjoy full use of complex amenities, such as swimming pools, gyms and common areas.

Costs

Tuition rates for participants are the same as they would be on campus for both in-state and out-of-state students.

Students are responsible for paying a nominal program fee, which covers some activities in Los Angeles.

Housing rates vary by semester, but will not exceed $6,500 for the semester's duration for a shared bedroom configuration. Board is not included with housing.

Students are responsible for their own transportation and personal expenses. Transportation expenses include travel to and from Los Angeles as well as transportation around the city. Some students choose to rent cars upon arrival for the duration of the program or drive their own cars to L.A.

Apply

Apply by Aug. 4

Key dates

Aug. 4, 2023: Spring 2024 application closes
Aug. 25: Spring 2024 admission notifications
September 2024: Callout meeting and application opens for summer and fall 2024 programs

Questions?

Contact program manager Isabel Madejski.

Already admitted?

Visit the resources page.