Duke in Los Angeles
spring semester program with practicum experience
Explore the Creative Industries and Experience a New Global Culture
Apply NowDuke in L.A. is an intensive academic and pre-professional program that introduces students to the rich visual and cultural production of America's second largest metropolis. Los Angeles is the international center of the media and entertainment market as well as a global melting pot of four million people from nearly 150 countries. These unique qualities provide the program with a vibrant, city-wide learning space.
The Duke in L.A. experience includes two seminars taught by Duke faculty, a student-selected course at the University of Southern California (often at the School of Cinematic Arts or the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism), and a practicum course which includes an internship with a business or organization of each student's choice. Students have interned at film, television, and media companies, as well as museums, community nonprofits, and start-up/technology companies. The practicum course may count as one of the two required I&E certificate learning experiences or as course credit for a number of majors; check with your department for clarification.
In addition to coursework, the program features field trips to historical landmarks; Hollywood-related excursions such as studio tours, screenings, and awards shows; and cultural events – as well as a variety of opportunities to make connections with people in a wide range of professional fields. The program is known for actively facilitating student-alumni connections and mentorships, relationships that have proven extremely meaningful to our students.
PROGRAM FAST FACTS
Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
Term: Spring
Dates: January 5 - May 10, 2024; January 10 - May 14, 2025
Application Deadline: Initial Deadline: May 15, Final Deadline: September 15
Academic Theme(s): Film, television, and media industries
Credit Type: Hybrid Credit
Eligibility: No prerequisites, though a GPA of 3.0 or above is expected for this program. coursework in the following areas is highly recommended: Art, Art History, & Visual and Media Studies; Documentary Studies; English; Innovation & Entrepreneurship; International Comparative Studies; Literature; Music; Theater; African and African American Studies; Latino/a Studies; Public Policy Studies; Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (AMES).
Non-Duke students are welcome to apply.
Duke Affiliation: Duke Cinematic Arts , Duke Center for Documentary Studies, and Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Housing: Apartments
GEO Advising: Request an appointment
ACADEMICS
The program offers four credits – three Duke credits and one transfer credit:
- Two signature courses taught by Duke faculty for one Duke credit each
- One course at the University of Southern California for transfer credit
- A practicum course (containing a work-based experience/internship component) for one Duke credit
The following policies regarding course load are in effect:
- Students must enroll in four full courses. No underloads and no overloads are permitted.
- All courses must be taken for graded credit.
- SIGNATURE COURSES
- USC COURSES
- PRACTICUM COURSE
SIGNATURE COURSES
Both of the program's Duke courses provide the intellectual framework through which students integrate their USC courses and credit-bearing internships into a coherent, exciting academic experience.
VMS 359A / CINE 283A / DOCST 359A / LIT 230A / I&E 359A (ICS approved)
Introduction to Global Los Angeles: An Interdisciplinary Survey, Service Learning
(ALP, CCI, EI) 1.0 Duke credit
This course is an exploration of Los Angeles communities that are seldom included in a tourist itinerary yet whose residents represent an essential part of the city’s identity, contributing to its labor force, culture, diversity, and growth. On field trips to community organizations in a variety of neighborhoods, students engage with artists, activists and organizers dedicated to empowering their constituents to address issues such as unstable or informal housing, discriminatory labor practices, immigration status concerns and inaccessible healthcare. In class discussions, student compare their field trip reflections with each other, evaluate their own perspectives, research and weigh the effectiveness of community campaigns and, when appropriate, strategize alternate ideas currently in use in similar communities. Coursework includes research, field work, and pre-production that culminates in team-produced documentary media projects
This course has a service-learning component. In partnership with USC’s Joint Educational Project (JEP) students experience weekly, one-on-one interactions with community members through volunteer placement (2 hours per week) either mentoring in schools or performing outreach work with partner organizations, all in neighborhoods surrounding the USC campus.
Taught by Kathleen Dowdey
CINE 280AS / DOCST 282AS / VMS 279AS
Studies in the United States Culture Industries
(ALP, R, W) 1.0 Duke credit
A survey of the major professions in the arts, media, and entertainment industries, featuring highly accomplished speakers -- often Duke alumni -- from fields such as film and television production, screenwriting, directing, and acting; entertainment law, journalism, and finance; and other areas such as talent representation, public relations, animation, new technologies, and music. Classes often take place at worksites which have included Netflix, NBC/Universal, United Talented Agency, Paramount Pictures, HBO, and The Jim Henson Company.
In the course, students apply reflection, theory and analysis to seminar-style discussions with active professionals about their respective industries, examining works in various stages of production as case studies. Engaging with real-world projects and their creators facilitates an examination into how and why stories chosen for production shape and are shaped by societal values and discourse; the domestic and global economies; and the greater world of arts, media, and culture. Substantive interaction with experts can elucidate with specificity the steps taken and skills needed to reach a level of achievement and influence in the creative industries. Taught by Karen Price.
USC COURSES
Students are required to take a course of their choosing at USC's College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences or School of Cinematic Arts. Courses taken at USC will convey to the Duke transcript as transfer credit, provided students obtain course approval, earn a C- or higher in the course, and take action to reconcile the transfer credit. For these courses only, letter grades will not appear on the Duke transcript and will not count in the Duke GPA.
Course Weight
To count for 1 transfer credit at Duke, courses taken at USC must total 3-4 USC units. Student may choose one course worth 3 or 4 units or two courses worth 2 units each. No underloads or overloads are allowed, see Course Load for details.
Current USC Offerings
Duke University has no control over the course offerings at USC in a given semester. You will need to consult the USC course catalog to determine what is offered the semester you will be in L.A.
Previously Approved Courses
Below is a list of courses previously taken by Duke in L.A. students that were approved for transfer credit. This list is not meant to be a definitive list of course offerings, but it can give you a good idea of what may be offered, as well as how courses normally count at Duke.
- CNTV/CTPR 455 Introduction to Production Design
- COMM 203 Communication and Mass Media
- COMM 310 Media and Society
- CTAN 432 The World of Visual Effects
- CTAN 460 Character Design Workshop
- CTAN 470 Documentary Animation Production
- CTCS 192 Race, Class, and Gender in American Film
- CTCS 467 Television Symposium
- CTIN 486 Immersive Design Workshop
- CTPR 327 Motion Picture Camera
- CTPR 335 Motion Picture Editing
- CTPR 371 Intro to Multiple-Camera Production
- CTPR 385 Colloquium: Motion Picture Production Techniques
- CTPR 423 Introduction to Special Effects in Cinema
- CTPR 425 Production Planning
- CTPR 426 Episodic TV Drama Production
- CTPR 426 Single Camera Television Dramatic Series
- CTPR 454 Acting for Film and Television
- CTPR 461 Managing Television Stations and Internet Media
- CTPR 470 Practicum in On-Screen Direction of Actors
- CTPR 473 Directing the Composer
- CTWR 321 Intro to Television Writing
- CTWR 411 Television Script Analysis
- CTWR 412 Introduction to Screenwriting
- IR 383 Third World Negotiations
- JOUR 381 Entertainment, Business and Media in Today's Society
- PSYC 360 Abnormal Psychology
- PSYC 465 Forensic Psychology
The list above can also be accessed in the GEO Approved Course Database.
Course Approvals
Students in the program are not restricted to taking the courses listed above; students may take any undergraduate course at USC for which they meet the prerequisites. If a course is not listed above (or in the GEO Approved Course Database), students will need to get the course approved for transfer credit.
PRACTICUM COURSE
CINE 295A / I&E 259A
Arts, Film or Media Practicum
1.0 Duke credit
Students work for a sponsoring company, organization, or artist suited to individual area of interest. Each student is required to submit a substantive paper containing significant analysis and interpretation as informed by workplace experiences and academic study. Simultaneous enrollment in CINE 280AS / DOCST 282AS / PUBPOL 293AS / VMS 279AS required. Instructor: Staff.
Attention: 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.
INTERNSHIP
Duke in L.A. students hold internships of their choosing for Duke credit in a range of fields, including but not limited to the film, television, and media industries, the fine arts, and community advocacy.
Students are required to work 15 to 20 hours per week at their internships. They are responsible for finding their own internships, though the program provides guidance in the search process.
Finding an Internship
Landing the right internship is an intensive and time-consuming process, but your work will be rewarded when you find the right fit—and you will learn a lot along the way! Since this is a highly individualized search process with many choices throughout, YOU are the only person who can conduct the search that will lead to your ideal placement. Duke faculty and staff can help to guide the way; but it is your resume, your interview skills, your communication abilities and professionalism, and your careful and thorough research that will lead to success.
Animation
Nickelodeon Animation Studios (2012)
Warner Bros. Animation (2012)
Fashion
Cher Coulter (celebrity stylist)
Film Library
American Film Institute
Film Production
Bay Films
Color Force (2011, 2013, 2014)
Corner of the Sky Productions/Davis Entertainment
Cross Creek Pictures (2013, 2014)
di Bonaventura Pictures
Echo Lake Productions
First Look Studios (2008)
Footprint Features (2012)
Geneva Films
Gigawatt Studios
Gulfstream Pictures
Hollywood Gang Productions (2011)
Illusion Entertainment
Independent Pictures
Justin Bell Productions
Landscape Entertainment
Lion's Gate Entertainment
Mace Neufeld Productions
Mandalay Pictures
Martin Chase Productions (2008)
Manifest Films
Marc Platt Productions (2014)
Material Pictures (2013)
Melisa Wallack (screenwriter)
Miramax (2008)
MOLIFE Productions
New Line Cinema
Nickelodeon Movies
Original Film
Overbook Entertainment (2008, 2011, 2014)
Philomath Films
Pixel Liberation Front (2011)
@Radical.Media Productions
RSA Films (2011)
Scott Free Productions (2007)
Silver Pictures
Tollin Robbins Productions
Universal Studios
Village Roadshow Pictures
Weed Road Pictures
Graphic Design/Graphics
Iconisus (2011)
inMotion Studios (2012)
Museums
Wende Museum
Music
Cutting Edge Group (2014)
Elektra Entertainment
EMI Music Group (2011)
Epitaph Records
LA Festival of New American Musicals (2008)
Penka Kouneva Studios (2012)
Squeak E Clean Productions (2007)
Virgin Records
News
CNN America
KCAL 9: News
Nonprofits
Alliance for Children's Rights (2013)
Instituto de Educacion Popular del Sur de California (IDEPSCA) (2011)
Public Relations
aLine media (2007)
Integrated PR (2014)
Pivotal PR
Talent Agencies
The Gersh Agency (2012)
Innovative Artists Talent and Literary Agency, Inc.
International Creative Management (ICM) (2011)
Trademark Talent (2012)
Television
CBS Casting (2012)
Color Force (2014)
Entertainment Tonight
FOX Sports
General Hospital (2006)
Justin Bell Productions
KMEX34-TV
KNBC 4: "Today in LA" or Sports Division
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
National Geographic Television Specials
NBC Entertainment
Overbrook Entertainment (2014)
Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Viacom Media Networks (2012)
Web
Gary Sanchez/Funny or Die (2011)
FOX Sports
HOUSING & MEALS
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.
DATES
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.
COSTS
Spring 2025
These costs are estimated based on previous years’ programs and the current exchange rate. All costs are subject to change.
Duke Students | Non-Duke Students | |
---|---|---|
Tuition | $33,162.50 | $33,162.50 |
Program Fee | $800.00 | $800.00 |
Housing Fee | $7000 | $7000 |
Transcript Fee | N/A | $120.00 |
Other Costs* | See Cost Sheet | See Cost Sheet |
TOTAL (Estimated) | $49,554.50 | $49,674.50 |
*A customizable program cost sheet that includes a breakdown of other costs is available on the programs' MyExperientialEd brochure page.
Explanation of Costs
- Accommodations at University Gateway
- Program-sponsored activities and excursions
- Orientation program
- Limited local transportation
- Access to educational facilities at USC
- Group transport to program excursions
- Access to activities such as sports, lectures, social gatherings, etc. at host university
The following items are NOT included in the program fee and will be the responsibility of the participant to fund. This list contains common examples to help you budget for your program, but the list should not be considered exhaustive:
- Airfare
- Airport transportation to/from program site
- Meal Plan
- On-site accident and health insurance policy
- Out-of-pocket medical expenses
- Textbooks and class materials
- Mobile phone
- Laundry
- Independent travel and entertainment
- Items of a personal nature
- Incidentals
- USC transcript fee
Personal expenses can fluctuate greatly depending upon habits and preferences of the individual. It’s also wise to budget for unexpected expenses such as medical emergencies. On average, previous students suggest the amount between $1,000 - $1,200 for personal spending.
Shared room: $5,235 per student per semester. These are two bedroom units with a common living area and kitchenette (two students per room).
Step 1: Within 3 weeks of acceptance to the program, confirm your enrollment by submitting the non-refundable $1,000 deposit ($1,040 for non-Duke students). Deposits are payable by check or Student Account E-Check. If you receive Duke financial aid, submit the Deposit Waiver Form in lieu of the deposit. Log in to MyExperientialEd for remittance instructions or waiver form.
NOTE: If you withdraw after committing to the program, there may be financial consequences.
Step 2: Complete all post-acceptance items listed on your MyExperientialEd application, including the Participation Agreement, Pre-Departure Orientation, International Travel Registry, and any program-specific forms.
Step 3: Semester invoices will be sent via email to your Duke email address and to your home email address. Remit payment to the Bursar per due date and address indicated on your online statement. Consult the Duke Bursar's office billing schedule for payment due dates.
Financial Aid
Duke students receiving institutional need-based grant aid are eligible for aid for this program; work-study funds are converted to grants. Students are individually responsible for making the necessary arrangements with the Karsh Office of Undergraduate Financial Support and the Duke Bursar’s Office.
Non-Duke students are not eligible to receive financial aid at Duke and should contact their home institutions for financial aid information.
PROGRAM FACULTY & STAFF
Program faculty director(s) can assist with questions related to program academics, admissions, on-site needs, etc. For all other inquiries, please contact the GEO representative listed.
Program Faculty
Karen Price, Program Director
Karen Price, Program Director
Raised in North Carolina and based in Los Angeles, filmmaker and educator Karen Elizabeth Price has taught over the last five years at Duke's Center for Documentary Studies, Program in Arts of the Moving Image, and Sanford School of Public Policy. She received an MFA in cinema/television production from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts,winning several national awards including a Student Emmy. Other degrees include an MA in creative writing and English from Hollins University and an AB in English and political science from Duke.
She directed, wrote, and produced the feature documentary HouseQuake,which won the Rhode Island International Film Festival’s Directorial Discovery Award at its festival premiere, received wide distribution from Brainstorm Media, and made its television debut on the Documentary Channel. Other writing and directing credits include her narrative short film gone and documentary Living by Instinct: Animals and Their Rescuers, which aired on PBS stations and screened at many festivals including the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival, the Mill Valley Film Festival, and the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. She has directed, produced, and written numerous television episodes on such networks as Lifetime, Animal Planet, Discovery Health, and BIO. In addition to directing Duke in Los Angeles and teaching, she is currently developing several documentary and fiction films.
Kathleen Dowdey, Assistant Director
Kathleen Dowdey, Assistant Director
Kathleen is an award-winning filmmaker, television producer and educator. Her feature documentary, John Lewis:Get in the Way, a biography of civil rights icon and U.S. Congressman, premiered on primetime PBS following an extensive impact and engagement campaign at communities and film festivals across the country. Her documentary and narrative films focus on social justice, cultural identity and community building and she has spoken widely when presenting her work at theaters, film festivals, museums, colleges and universities in the U.S. and abroad. A television writer, director and producer for shows on CBS/Paramount, NBC, PBS, Turner Broadcasting and many others, she is a member of the Directors Guild of America and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. In addition to teaching for Duke in Los Angeles, she has taught documentary and television production courses at New York Film Academy, Los Angeles, California State University, Northridge Cinema and Television Arts, and University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts.
Program Staff
ADMISSIONS
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.
Physical Requirements
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)
APPLY
Start your application early to ensure that it is complete by the deadline! Incomplete applications will not be forwarded to the program directors for consideration.
Submit the following items using MyExperientialEd:
- Online application
- Duke in LA questionnaire (online)
- Official transcript(s) from all colleges and universities attended. First-year students should wait for fall semester grades to be posted before submitting their transcript.
- Personal statement, no longer than one page, explaining why you would like to participate on this program
- Resumé
FROM DUKE ALUMNI
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
FROM DUKE STUDENTS
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