Students will reside in the University Gateway apartments adjacent to the USC campus. These apartments come fully-furnished and include televisions, cable, high-speed internet access, and kitchen appliances. The University Gateway community offers such amenities as a fitness center, study rooms, a resident club, 24-hour concierge service, and onsite dining and shopping.

There is no meal plan provided through the program. All apartments have full kitchen facilities for students to prepare meals. There are also restaurants and shops in the immediate vicinity. USC makes meal plans available for purchase to Duke in L.A. participants. Meal plans are optional, and not covered by the program fee.

Spring 2024

Program runs early January to mid-May. Per Duke policy, no late arrivals or early departures are permitted

• Arrival: January 5, 2024
• Departure: May 10, 2024*

Spring 2025

Program runs early January to mid-May. Per Duke policy, no late arrivals or early departures are permitted

• Arrival: January 10, 2025
• Orientation: January 11-12, 2025
• Spring Break: March 16-23, 2025
• Departure: May 14, 2025*

*Please note that students who are taking a USC course will need to stay until their USC finals are complete.

Housing Before/After

You will need to make your own housing arrangements if you will be arriving before the program start date. If you wish to stay beyond the program departure date, the accommodations at University Gateway are available through the end of the month, independent of the program. Contact the GEO program manager for more details.

Deadline: 

• First-round application deadline: May 15
• Second-round application deadline: August 15
• Final application deadline: September 15

This program has rolling admission. Applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis until the program fills; after that, qualified students are added to a waitlist and notified of openings. Applications must be received by the deadline to be considered.

Priority: Priority will be given to applicants who apply early.

Minimum GPA: A GPA of 3.0 or above is expected for this program.

Non-Duke students: Non-Duke students are welcome to apply for this program. You must be a degree-seeking student in good standing at an accredited college or university. Consult your university’s registrar and/or study away advisor for assistance with transfer credit. Students who are not matriculated at a college or university are not eligible to participate in Duke’s study away programs.

International Students: If you are an international student studying at Duke on a visa (such as F-1), you will need to obtain the required CPT or OPT authorization for the internship that is a required part of this program. Please contact Duke Visa Services immediately for assistance.

All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, handicap, sexual orientation or preference, gender or age.

Before applying to this program, you should assess and determine if you are physically or emotionally able to participate in the following physical demands required by some of this program’s activities:

• Walking approximately a mile in a day, sometimes for two or more days in a row, sometimes on hilly, uneven, or cobbled terrain
• Climbing and descending stairs
• Using public transportation, including sometimes crowded buses or trains
• Standing during tours and site visits
• Entering into older buildings with narrow and sometimes steep staircases, at times with limited or no access to elevators
• The possibility of warm/hot temperatures while residing in locations without air conditioning

If you have questions or are concerned about these or any other program activities, please contact the Duke Office of Global Health and Safety (oghs@duke.edu)

I only wish I’d had a similar crash course in the biz that will surely educate, excite and entice students to think beyond the typical career choices and to carve out a unique dream of their own."

Duke in LA is not just a semester abroad, but rather an experience that engulfs the students in a real world work environment within the entertainment industry, while bringing working entertainment professionals to the students to help shed light on all aspects of the entertainment industry.

John Doherty '07
Creative Executive
Cross Creek Pictures

I can say without hesitation that my semester in LA was the best thing I ever did at Duke." 

We were given an in-depth look at the inner workings and multifaceted nature of the industry, and as a group we formed life-long friendships that have lasted to this day. Through interning at certain production companies, we simultaneously gained experience and self-confidence in our ability to live and succeed in the Hollywood industry. To anyone considering applying to the program, don't consider it. Do it. It may just change your life.

Julian Sandulli
Program Participant

My semester in LA was a multidimensional experience and without a doubt was the most balanced semester I've had during my time as a Duke student. I was challenged academically, was able to gain valuable work experience, and had the opportunity to explore a culturally rich city and an industry that plays an integral role in American culture."

The Duke in LA course curriculum is unparalleled. We had the opportunity to meet professionals from all different sectors and branches of the arts, media, and entertainment industries. We had weekly guest speakers that ranged from Oscar-nominated actresses and directors to celebrity publicists and agents to famous music composers...and the list does on. I learned so much from hearing about their experiences firsthand and getting to know them on a casual and personal level.

My favorite aspect of the Duke in LA program was my internship experience. I had the awesome opportunity to intern for FOX Sports as a data analyst, which was absolutely incredible because it was a unique intersection of my academic focuses (Statistics and Visual Media Studies) and my passion for sports. The work culture was young and vibrant and really motivated me to produce my most creative and highest quality work. My semester interning in a professional environment and experiencing the pressure that comes along with working on live projects was a huge learning experience which in no way could have been substituted by any combination of Duke courses in Durham. I've developed not only a ton of professional relationships but also awesome friendships. The biggest gain aside from relationships was that the internship greatly helped me refine and shape my career goals.

In addition to having a plethora of opportunities to develop professionally, I was also productive from an academic standpoint. My USC Linear Algebra and Differential Equations course—together with the Duke in LA curriculum—fulfilled requirements for both my major and minor, which kept me on track.

Duke in LA is such a unique program and is something that no other elite institution offers to students. If you are interested in learning about the film, media, and entertainment industries, gaining work experience, and benefiting from a change of pace (and a semester of great weather), you should definitely consider spending a semester in LA...and leverage all possible connections and opportunities the program provides!

Kaila Perez
Program Participant

The Duke in LA program, with its classes, field trips, and programming with industry players provided me with a great look into to the biz. By interning at a Hollywood production company, I was in the thick of it and learned a lot just by keeping my ears open."

The film industry is kind of weird … and that’s why I love it. Combining art and business, the end goal is more or less to sell dreams. The semester in LA was incredibly helpful in furthering my understanding of how Hollywood runs.

The ability to take a class at USC was also great. The USC School of Cinematic Arts really is unparalleled in faculty, opportunities, and connections. In my class, we were taught about the film production process from beginning to end while focusing on one film in particular (in this case, the film Her [2013]). Every week throughout the semester, a member of the film’s crew, including director Spike Jonze, came into class and spoke to us about their job and method. Other crew who spoke to us included the producer, production designer, costume designer, cinematographer, 1st AD, script supervisor, editors, special effects supervisors, and Warner Brothers marketing execs.

Being in Los Angeles and taking a course at USC allows for opportunities (especially film-related) that you just cannot receive in Durham, or most anywhere other than LA.

Alex Elliott
Program Participant

I even found clarity on my own career!"

Duke in LA was a fantastic introduction to Los Angeles. I learned about film and culture, the entertainment industry, and the city itself from all different perspectives. LA provided opportunities that can't be found anywhere else. It's an experience I will always cherish and never forget.

Spencer Paez
Program Participant

This was the best semester of my life—and not just because I escaped the bitter winter climate of the East Coast. Participating in Duke in LA has provided me with contacts and resources beneficial to pursuing a career in film."

Every week I had the privilege of dining with Duke alumni that work as producers, agents, journalists, lawyers, and actors. Interning on the Sony studio lot allowed me to see and hear firsthand the business and creative processes of filmmaking.

My USC journalism class, taught by a Hollywood journalist and Entertainment Tonight producer, gave me insight into both the corporate and creative sides of entertainment. Through interning and networking, I learned the ins and outs of an industry that is often misunderstood.

Gabrielle Sawyer
Program Participant