Summer Program

ELA Summer Internship and Professional Development Program

Emerson College offers a residential internship program and professional development and mentorship opportunities at Emerson Los Angeles (ELA) over the course of the full summer session for a cohort of up to 30–40 rising Emerson juniors and seniors. 

The ELA Summer Internship and Professional Development Program may be of particular interest to students who:

• Are interested in media and entertainment but are unable to attend ELA in the fall or spring semesters;
• May not have planned to attend ELA but are interested in the opportunity to intern in the Hollywood area—including those whose majors have not traditionally been represented at ELA;
• Would like to stay in LA for a longer period of time (immediately prior to or after their regular term at ELA).

Program Information and Requirements

To be eligible to participate, students must be a rising junior or senior with a minimum GPA of 2.7 at the start of the summer term.

Participating students must register for an internship course in their major for 4 credits and can petition to complete 8 credits. (Reminder: Students are eligible to earn a total of 13 internship credits maximum over the course of their studies at Emerson.) The internship course meets in person every other week.

All participants are required to live on campus. Gated parking spaces are available for an additional fee. Please note that there is no meal plan offered during the summer as ELA does not have an onsite dining hall.

Program Dates

2026 dates are to be determined; all program dates are tentative.

Program Costs

The estimated total program cost is $9,640:

• 4 credit hours, $850 per credit: $3,400
  • 4-credit internship
• Single room (shared bathroom): $6,240
• Parking space (optional)

Financial Aid

Financial aid is available for those who qualify. Students must complete the FAFSA for the current academic year as soon as possible. A link to the Summer Assistance Application is available on the Summer Assistance for Current Undergraduates webpage.

Housing

On-campus housing is mandatory and all participants will have a single room within a shared suite. The setup is similar to the Colonial Building in Boston

How to Apply

The application deadline is early March. Complete and submit the application for ELA Summer Internship & Professional Development Program:

Apply Now

Please note: If you have already completed an application for either the Fall or Spring semester you must still submit an application for Summer, but there is no need for an additional essay (s), faculty recommendations, etc. You may just write in those text fields that you've applied already for next year.

Contact Us

• If you would like to meet with Rebekah Dale, Director of Education Abroad and Domestic Programs, email rebekah_dale [at] emerson.edu (rebekah_dale[at]emerson[dot]edu), or send an email to abroad [at] emerson.edu (abroad[at]emerson[dot]edu).
• Should you have questions about internships, please email internela [at] emerson.edu (internela[at]emerson[dot]edu).
• If you have questions regarding course offerings or the academic calendar, please email ELA_Academics [at] emerson.edu (ELA_Academics[at]emerson[dot]edu).
• If you have questions about on-campus housing or other items, please email Chad Hagan Myers at chad_haganmyers [at] emerson.edu (chad_haganmyers[at]emerson[dot]edu).