By continuing to use this site, you agree to the use of cookies in accordance with our privacy policy.

Syracuse University Homepage
Professor Tim Hooten hiking with students at the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles.

Study Away in Los Angeles

Study away in dazzling Los Angeles, a creative capital where entertainment, technology and culture come together on the edge of the Pacific Ocean.

Los Angeles Highlights

Join Syracuse University in Los Angeles, through the Dick Clark Los Angeles Program located in iconic North Hollywood’s vibrant Arts District. The 22,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility features modern offices, classrooms, professional studios and multiple conference rooms designed for hands-on learning, industry-led courses and collaborative projects. Students can connect with peers in the lounge, gain practical experience through internships with top companies and explore careers in film, television, design, media, music, sports and the business of creativity—while supported by a strong alumni network and learning alongside industry innovators.

Life in Los Angeles

Living and learning in Los Angeles means immersing yourself in a city fueled by creativity, innovation and endless opportunity. From its beaches to its dynamic cultural energy, the city offers a place where ambition and imagination come together. You’ll discover countless ways to explore, connect and grow through professional experiences, outdoor adventures and a thriving arts and entertainment scene. Life in Los Angeles is fast-paced, inspiring and filled with moments that expand your perspective both inside and beyond the classroom.

Academic Programs

Syracuse University offers semester-long programs and short-term study opportunities.

Semester-Long Programs

Short-Term Study Opportunities

Interior of the Dick Clark Studio in Los Angeles, California.

Program Benefits

  • Build lasting friendships and connections
  • Navigate like a local and find your favorite spots in LA
  • Connect with alumni through social and networking events
  • Immerse yourself in the city’s food, arts and cultural activities
  • Experience the city through industry events, film screenings and class trips

Housing

Students may choose to secure their own housing or utilize accommodations provided through Kapi Residences, offering apartment-style housing approximately 15 minutes from the center. The University manages an agreement with the housing provider—payments can be made upfront to Kapi or charged to students’ bursar accounts, ensuring a seamless housing experience.

Semester-Long Programs

Students from any school or college across Syracuse University can gain career-driven experience through exceptional learning opportunities in the heart of the entertainment industry, through semester-long programs at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA).

Student looking at a computer.

Newhouse LA

Launch your media career in the heart of the entertainment industry with Syracuse University’s Newhouse LA program. Take industry-focused courses taught by working professionals, gain hands-on experience through internships at leading companies across film, television, music, sports, and streaming, and build lasting connections with accomplished Newhouse alumni. Experience Los Angeles firsthand through exclusive events, behind-the-scenes site visits, and field trips to studios, production companies, music and sports organizations, and digital media platforms.

Learn about Newhouse LA
Student running a sound panel in LA.

VPA Los Angeles

Step into the entertainment industry with VPA Los Angeles. In the fall, students build a creative foundation through art and design-focused coursework and hands-on projects led by industry professionals, while the spring emphasizes entertainment through real-world internships with leading creative organizations. Across both semesters, students learn and network through courses taught by working professionals in a city where art, media and innovation converge.

VPA Los Angeles also includes the Turner Semester, a residency program for a small cohort of M.F.A. students in the School of Art, offering the opportunity to live and work in San Pedro during the fall and spring semesters.

Discover VPA Los Angeles
Architecture students work on a project of building prints.

Architecture in LA

Students spending a semester in Los Angeles engage with the city’s entertainment, fashion and design industries through advanced architectural research and interdisciplinary study. Courses are led by local academics and professionals and enhanced by international guest speakers and alumni from the University's School of Architecture.

Learn more about architecture in LA

Short-Term Study Away Opportunities

Get a short, intensive experience in LA that delivers a high-impact taste of the city and its industries—perfect for exploring your interests without a long-term commitment.

Sorkin Week

Sorkin Week gives students a week-long, immersive experience in Los Angeles’ film and television industries. Supported by alumnus Aaron Sorkin ’83, H’12, participants engage in seminars and workshops with industry professionals and other Syracuse alumni, gaining insights into the business.

Explore sorkin week

Maymester for Student Athletes

Offered in partnership with the Department of Communication and Rhetorical Studies and the Department of Athletics, the three-credit Maymester course CRS 360 Communication Strategies in Sports introduces student-athletes to the principles of persuasive communication and networking in the sports broadcasting industry. Students visit studios and other companies and attend games and cultural events. Syracuse alumni who were student-athletes and pursued a variety of career paths serve as guest lecturers.

Discover maymester for student athletes

Newhouse LA Maymester

This three-credit Maymester course introduces students to bridge classroom concepts with real-world sports media practice through site visits, meetings with industry leaders, sporting events and creative projects.

Learn more about maymester opportunity

Public Relations Immersion

Students will enroll in a 1-credit course which includes a 4-day intensive immersion experience in Los Angeles during spring break.  This program which will introduce students to a variety of public relations areas within the entertainment industry. The class will feature a combination of in-class meetings and field trips to professional PR offices throughout the Los Angeles area, including stops at TV and film studios, and independent PR firms, among others. The focus of both the classroom sessions and the off-site visits will be to highlight the range of public relations functions in the entertainment business, and the expertise necessary to excel on a professional level.

Explore the public relations immersion

Gilbert Week

Gilbert Week is a week-long immersion program for students in the Rose, Jules R., and Stanford S. Setnor School of Music, offering exposure to music careers through meetings with arts professionals and visits to leading performing arts organizations. The program rotates cities annually, including Los Angeles.

See gilbert week

Design Week

Offered intermittently in Los Angeles, the Design Week immersion for VPA School of Design students includes visits to design firms, studios and cultural attractions. Students also meet with alumni working in various design fields.

Discover design week
 

Bridging Coasts and Building Careers

Hear from real Syracuse University students about their experience with programs in Los Angeles that allowed them to explore their dreams in the entertainment world.

Read the story
Luke Backman ’25 gains experience as a sports broadcaster in Los Angeles.

Have Questions?

Get in touch with a member of our team today!

Apply Now Request Information Tour Campus