Global Pathways Programs, Emerson College

Study film in Prague at one of the top film and television schools in the world. Discuss politics and social justice in Athens, where Plato and Aristotle once learned and taught. Practice stand-up comedy in London, learning from local comedians as well as studying Shakespeare and the roots of British comedy. Learn French in the beautiful city of Paris. Take a creative writing workshop in a charming village in Ireland.

These are just a few of the incredible opportunities in stunning locales around the world that are offered during the summer and winter as part of our Global Pathways Programs. Led by faculty from multiple departments and exploring topics such as screenwriting, public diplomacy, theater, art history, travel writing, film production, comedic studies, and marketing, there is a Global Pathways Program for every student.

Program dates vary, but all Global Pathways Programs aim to incorporate cultural experiences that enhance your education, engage your curiosity, and enrich your Emerson experience. Learn more and apply below.

Eligibility & Application Process

To apply for any Global Pathways Program, students must have completed at least one semester of full-time study at Emerson before departure. Students must also be in good judicial and academic standing in order to participate. Additional eligibility criteria for specific programs is noted under specific program pages.

Only applications completed and submitted by the stated deadline will be considered. Faculty directors may contact applicants to complete an interview before receiving an admissions decision. Decisions will be granted as soon as possible, but by mid-February for summer programs and mid-October for winter programs.

Summer Application Timeline

Most program applications will be open from November 1 through February 1 with the following exceptions noted below:

Prague Summer Film (September 15 through December 15)
Screenwriters' Lab in Aotearoa New Zealand (September 15 through December 15)

Winter Application Timeline

Most program applications will be open from April 15 through October 1.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Global Communication, Culture & Activism

This program is geared toward enriching students’ understanding of global communication through service-learning work as well as cultural activities and interactions with educators and professionals from different cultural backgrounds around topics related to communication, culture and activism.

Sydney, Australia

Global Communication & Leadership

Students will gain insight into the relationship between Australia and the United States through the perspectives of global communication and leadership studies, and will engage in how culture, governance, and media have shaped strategic communication in Sydney and beyond.

Salzburg, Austria

Creativity, Media & Global Change

In this program, students will debate and examine the effect of media, digital culture and new technology on global issues and themes. This program is supported by Emerson’s Engagement Lab.

Santiago, Chile

Artistic Direction on the Global Stage

Experience the inner workings of the Santiago A Mil Festival, one of the premiere international performing arts festivals in the world. You’ll meet with performers and directors to learn about how this event comes together.

Prague, Czech Republic

Prague Summer Film Program

In this intensive course, students study at the Academy of Performing Arts (FAMU), which is one of Europe's oldest and finest film academies and is rated one of the top film and television schools in the world.

Paris, France

French Language & Global Communication

Set in the beautiful city of Paris in the early summer, this 4-week program is designed to immerse students in French language and culture, allowing them to explore how France connects its past to present.

Berlin, Germany

Metropolis in Motion

This 4-week interdisciplinary program includes the study of history, visual arts, architecture, literature, and film. Students learn about how Berlin went from a small town to becoming one of the most important metropolises in the world.

Athens, Greece

Cities & Citizenry

This intense 4-week 4-credit program explores the ideas of influential thinkers and scholars from ancient Athens to current Greece. This class offers students the opportunity to rethink their idea of community, both local and global.

Mumbai, India

Mumbai Masala: Story Structures of India and the US

This program offers students the chance to compare narrative structures of scripts around the world, with a particular focus on Indian cinema and Indian storytelling tradition. All the while, students will use the city of Mumbai as their cultural backdrop to inform their writing.

Rome, Italy

The Eternal City: Rome and the Performance of Power

This interdisciplinary course will study the city of Rome, from the classical to the contemporary period, as a performative space that staged its political, economic, military, and cultural power through the arts.

Aotearoa, New Zealand

Screenwriters’ Lab in Aotearoa, New Zealand

The North and South islands of New Zealand are the setting for this 4-week intensive screenwriting course. Here students can hone and improve their film and television writing skills.

Ballyvaughan, Ireland

Writing Place and Distance: Art and Environment in the West of Ireland

In this program, students study creative writing through workshops, seminar discussions, and dedicated writing time in one of the most artistically vital and ecologically stunning locales in all of Europe.

Accra, Ghana

Beats Beyond Borders: Digital Storytelling & Hip Hop Culture

In this four-week program, students will immerse themselves in Ghanaian culture, capturing the spirit and essence of Ghana through the lens of their mobile device. A particular focus will be the both origins and present-day business of Hip Hop culture, particularly its undeniable global impact through the African diaspora.

Kasteel Well, Netherlands

James Baldwin Writers’ Colony

Write, workshop, and revise short works of creative fiction and nonfiction inspired by the literature of African-Americans who lived and worked in Europe. You’ll also work with contemporary Black writers and artists.

Travel Writing

Write and revise short works of creative nonfiction inspired by your time in Europe. This unique program brings together students from Emerson with students from the University of Hong Kong and Blanquerna University in Barcelona.

Kristin Linklater Voice Workshop

This four-week, retreat-style program takes students to Well in the Netherlands, where an emphasis on community and outdoor space will introduce you to the Kristin Linklater Voice Method. At Emerson's Kasteel Well, take a deep dive into finding your voice as an actor - professionally, personally, psychologically, and politically. Led by certified trainers, you'll leave with a renewed passion for voice.

Barcelona, Spain

Art, Theatre, and Culture

This program offers students the opportunity to study visual art and theatre while experiencing Barcelona’s unique Mediterranean culture, as well as attend performances and visit the city’s famous museums.

Stockholm, Sweden

Blueprinting Innovation: Sweden's Globally Influential Creative Economy

This program will engage students with world-class brands and businesses in Stockholm, Sweden. You’ll get to work with key creative industries such as streaming and fashion and design.

London, United Kingdom

From Shakespeare to Stand-Up

This program offers students the opportunity to experience British comedy in London, as well as in Edinburgh and Stratford-Upon-Avon. Students will get to visit famous London theatres and meet with local comedians.