Semester in Los Angeles

The fall 2020 program is being offered virtually in compliance with IU's suspension of university-affiliated travel in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Intern and make films 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 development or production.

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.

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Read the Semester in L.A. blog

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 Raleigh Studios, a working film and television production facility, located across the street from the Paramount Studios lot on Melrose Avenue.

Course offerings for spring and fall 2020:

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 2020:

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 students live in each two-bedroom apartment. Single rooms may be available for a supplemental fee.

The costs of furnished housing, parking and utilities at the apartment complex is included in the program fee, and 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 program fee, which covers all housing costs. Housing rates vary by semester, but will not exceed $6,000 for the semester's duration. 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 LA.