Semester in Los Angeles

Two paths. One unforgettable semester in the entertainment capital of the world.

Are you ready to launch your career in the entertainment industry? Or create content in the nation’s second-largest media market? The Media School’s Semester in Los Angeles program gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the media industry, whether you want to become an entertainment industry intern or content creator in Los Angeles.

The Semester in LA programs offers two cohorts: either an internship-based option for students seeking professional, on-site industry experience, or experiential learning for content creators and multimedia enthusiasts who want to produce original work.

Interested in working at an internship?

Los Angeles offers internship opportunities found nowhere else in the country. Students in this track spend the semester working directly with companies in film, television, entertainment PR and marketing, talent agencies, music, and digital media.

Interested in content creation and storytelling?

The IU Media Center: LA is designed for students who want to actively create multimedia content in one of the most dynamic storytelling environments in the world. Students in this track write, film, record, photograph, and produce stories across newsworthy sub-genres such as fashion, sports, entertainment, current events, and culture throughout the greater Los Angeles area.

Get Semester in LA updates

Stay in the loop about upcoming Semester in LA application periods and program updates.

Choose your path

Both options include students taking a semester of Media School classes in the heart of Hollywood. Semester in LA is offered fall and spring semester each academic year, and an abbreviated internship version is offered during the summer. Students from outside of The Media School are welcome to apply.

Group of people stand in a studio with a Jimmy Kimmel Live sign displayed on the wall behind them.

Group of people on a hill on a sunny day.

A group of women evaluate a shot through a camera.

Internships

If you're interested in the traditional internship cohort, students are required to work in one internship during their time in LA, and the Semester in LA 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 LA’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

Follow senior Tsehai Bean for a week in her life during her Semester in LA! During the program, she interned at the Television Academy, the host of the Emmy Awards, and was part of the team for the College Television Awards. Watch on Instagram

IU Media Center: LA

At the start of the semester, students in the creative content cohort identify beats that match their interests — from entertainment, sports, and fashion to culture and current events — and develop a personalized reporting plan with the instructor. Working independently and in small teams, you will prospect story ideas, conduct interviews, attend events, and secure press access when applicable.

Throughout the semester, students produce a portfolio of 7-10 original multimedia stories using a mix of writing, photography, audio, and video. Using accessible digital tools and professional publishing platforms, you will learn how to report, produce, edit, and present your work for a public audience. Select standout work will be published on the IU Media Center’s website.

Academics

The Semester in LA program offers a full semester of courses taught by our adjunct faculty who are media professionals in the LA 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.

Past course offerings for the spring and fall are below; topics may change depending on the semester. Students will be able to earn 12-15 credit hours and must maintain full-time student status while in Semester in LA.

Course offerings for spring and fall:

Choose one or both:

X373 – Media Internship in Los Angeles (3-6 cr.)
X362 – IU Media Center: LA (3 cr.)

Required courses for all program participants:

X360 – Media Industries and Culture Production (3 cr.)
X360 – Digital Technology in LA (3 cr.)
X360 – LA Workshop Series: three one-credit classes that rotate throughout the semester*
- Creative Advertising (1 cr.)
- Global Media and Entertainment Trends (1 cr.)
- Business of Hollywood Production (1 cr.)

*Topics are subject to change.

Course offerings for summer:

X373 — Media Internship in Los Angeles (3-6 cr.)
X360 — 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 LA.

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 LA 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.

Key dates

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the final deadline. Students who apply earlier will receive decisions earlier.

Sept. 15: Summer and fall 2027 in-person information session
Sept. 23: Summer and fall 2027 virtual information session

Apply

The application is currently closed and will open on Sept. 15.

Questions?

Contact program manager Isabel Madejski.

Already admitted?

Visit the resources page.