To ensure a seamless transition into ELA, see below for what to know—and what you’ll need to take care of in Boston—before you begin your semester in Los Angeles.
We want to make sure our students have a seamless transition from Boston to life in LA, so please take note of what to know—and what you’ll need to take care of on-campus—before you go.
Please note: These requirements pertain to students in the ELA internship program. Students in residence from other academic programs may have a different set of requirements. Students in residence from other academic programs that are not part of the Emerson LA internship program may have a different set of regulations.
How to Register
ELA uses the same course registration system as Boston. Students can log in to myEmerson (Duo required) using your Emerson ID and password. View the program calendar for registration dates; find the latest calendars for the Los Angeles program here. Be sure to look at the calendar specific to the Los Angeles program.
Please follow the Registrar’s registration instructions and take note of the following:
Fall and Spring Students
- Undergraduates must register for a full course load (12–16 credits)
- Graduate students must register for a minimum of 8 credits and a maximum of 12 credits
- Participants must enroll in 4 or 8 internship credits through the internship course (499) in their major
- Participants may not complete more than one internship during the semester, unless they receive special permission from the ELA Academics department
- Participants must attend at least two professional development opportunities during their semester in the program
- Participants may not overload beyond 17 credits (16 + 1 PDE, CDE, CLEP exam, or non-tuition credit) during the ELA semester
Registration dates for ELA will follow the same schedule as registration in Boston and will be posted in the Academic Calendar. Further ELA dates will be listed in the ELA Academic Calendars, which can be found here. Be sure to look at the calendar specific to the Los Angeles program.
Mandatory Meeting
Once students are accepted into the program, they will be required to attend a mandatory meeting. Information sessions are held in mid-October for spring attendees and mid-March for fall and summer term participants.
Staff will brief students about internships and ELA housing, what to expect during their semester in Los Angeles, and answer any other questions or concerns. After these sessions, we will send further instructions regarding housing and room/roommate selection.
Billing/Payment
You must be financially cleared on all your accounts to attend the program.
You can find a link to your student account via Self Service. Please see below for additional information regarding Housing & Parking costs that will be included in your charges for the semester.
Information regarding your student account can be found here.
The Office of Student Accounts can be reached at 617-824-8655 or bills [at] emerson.edu (bills[at]emerson[dot]edu).
Financial Aid
Make certain your financial aid paperwork is accurate, complete, and submitted on time. For dates and deadline visit the Office of Financial Aid. Please email the Office of Financial Aid or call 617-824-8655 if you have questions.
Student Employment/Work-Study
Emerson Los Angeles has a number of in-person, on-campus student employment opportunities for currently enrolled ELA students. To learn more about these opportunities – including work-study funded positions - first visit the Student Employment website. Once positions are available to apply to, they will be posted in Workday [link to Workday]. As a reminder, bring to campus any work eligibility documents if you have not worked a campus job before and need to complete an I-9 and W-4.
Health Insurance Requirement
Every full-time and part-time student enrolled in an institution of higher learning in Massachusetts is required to participate in a student health insurance program or in a health benefit plan with comparable coverage. This includes students participating in the Los Angeles Program. For those of you who are not California residents: insurance carriers may not cover you adequately in California. It is vitally important that you and your family research this before you arrive in Los Angeles. All too often participants arrive in Los Angeles only to discover that significant medical expenses are not covered and must be paid out of pocket; or they must travel back home to receive medical care.
Please find important information regarding the Student Health Insurance here.
Please view mandated requirements for information about student insurance health requirements.
Withdrawal from the Program
If you decide, for any reason, that you must withdraw from the program you must submit formal notice in writing, from your Emerson email account, to emersonla [at] emerson.edu (emersonLA[at]emerson[dot]edu). A phone call is not sufficient notification.
Housing and Parking in LA
On-Campus Housing Requirement
On-campus housing is mandatory for undergraduate students and optional for graduate students and students over the age of 25. However, if your permanent legal address is within 10 miles of the ELA center and you are interested in living at home with an immediate family member (parent, grandparent, sibling), you can petition to live off campus. Please see the ELA Director of Housing and Student Life for a petition form.
Parking Regulations
ELA has the right and obligation to control traffic and parking at our facility. The operation of a motor vehicle at the center is a privilege granted by the College and is not a right of any employee, student or visitor. ELA parking rules and regulations are designed to aid the flow of traffic, provide the maximum amount of parking possible, and aid in the safety for all guests.
All vehicles parked at ELA are required to obtain a parking permit from ELA Security. Everyone who is issued a parking permit will have a designated parking spot in the underground parking garage. Visitors may only park in the above ground garage located off of Gordon St. All visitors should check in with ELA Security upon arrival.
Policies
ELA students are held accountable to the Code of Community Standards and Policies and Procedures as outlined in the Emerson College Student Handbook. Students should be aware of the policies outlined below, as they may differ from the Boston Campus.
Guests
Residents may have an overnight guest for up to ten (10) days in a thirty (30) day period with not more than four (4) consecutive nights if the presence of the guest does not constitute an inconvenience for their roommate/suitemates or otherwise interfere with the housing community life. You must accompany your guest at all times and will be held responsible for their behavior while they are visiting the ELA Center. Residents who violate this privilege will have their overnight guest privileges terminated and may be subject to dismissal from the ELA Program.
Smoking
ELA is a smoke-free campus. Smoking of any substance, including the use of electronic smoking devices, is strictly prohibited inside the building, on any of the outdoor terraces or gathering spaces, and anywhere within 25 feet of any entrance or air intake of the building.
Alcohol and Other Drugs
Students must be of legal age to possess or consume alcoholic beverages. If all residents of a suite are not of legal drinking age, no alcohol may be stored in the shared microfridge at any time. The maximum amount of alcohol permitted in residence hall rooms for those that are of legal drinking age: twelve 12-ounce coolers, malts, or beers; or one 750 ml. bottle of wine; or one pint of hard liquor up to 80 proof. Alcohol is prohibited in all College-owned common spaces including the outdoor terrace and community kitchen.
The use, abuse, sale, manufacturing, possession and/or distribution of illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia is prohibited. The College does not allow any exceptions to this Policy including the possession or use of marijuana for medical purposes, even if such possession or use otherwise meets the qualifications of the California Compassionate Use Act, or any future legislation that is specific to the state of California. Students who believe they may be adversely affected by this Policy should contact the Director of Housing and Student Life for more information.
Facility Use
Please be courteous and pick up after yourself. Dispose of all food items, beverage containers, trash, etc. that you bring into the classroom, common area, kitchen or other public spaces.