Highlights
• Get inspired in an immersive and hands-on study away experience that explores the film industry in Los Angeles.
• Tailored RIT courses taught by local professionals.
• Gain substantial experience through an industry internship/professional experience.
• Meet, network and collaborate with professionals and SOFA alumni.
• Required and optional excursions include studio tours, museums, landmarks, beaches, hikes and more.
The Study Away SOFA in L.A. program allows RIT Film and Animation and Motion Picture Science majors to spend a semester in L.A. learning about the L.A. entertainment industry. You will take a minimum of 12 credits, participate in a professional experience, and engage in the entertainment industry in weekly excursions.
Los Angeles is the hub of entertainment industry jobs in the United States and attracts professionals from all over the world. It is one of the world's leading centers for creative industries, including film and television, special effects, theme parks, video games, music, and emerging media.
NEW eligibility for FALL 2024!
• MPS: Juniors AND Seniors (at the time of travel)
• Production: All Juniors (at the time of travel) and Seniors (at the time of travel) who are screenwriters
• Animation: Juniors (at the time of travel)
• All SOFA graduate students: Fall of 3rd year (Thesis I) or Fall of 4th year (Continuation of Thesis) (at the time of travel)
Description
Undergraduates: In this immersive study away program, all Animation and Production students will take the same two courses from local faculty members who are themselves professionals in the industry. You will also participate in an internship/professional experience. MPS students have the option to take a combination of the courses offered in-person in LA and/or online courses offered by the main campus. MPS students will also do a 6 credit internship/professional experience. MPS students MUST take a minimum of 12 total credits. The local courses will be supplemented with guest lectures, studio tours, alumni highlights and activities that give you a hands-on experience and insight into what it means to be a creative professional in LA.
Graduates: Graduate students will not be required to take the undergraduate courses. Instead, students will take a Thesis course for 4 credits and participate in a part-time co-op/professional experience for 0 credit. Graduate students will join the studio visits and cultural excursions on Fridays with the undergraduates. Graduate students will need to bring/provide their own equipment to work on your thesis while in LA.
Program Details
• Term: Fall 2024
• Location: Los Angeles, CA USA
• Travel dates: Aug. 21 - Dec. 11, 2024
(Travel dates are subject to change. Do not make travel plans until you are accepted to the program and receive instructions to make travel arrangements from the professor).
• Local Coordinator: David Simkins
• Application deadline: March 1, 2024
Undergraduate Course Details
• Total Credits: 12
• Term credits earned: Fall
• Required Courses:
SOFA 307 Contemporary Issues: LA Careers in Film - 3 credits
SOFA 307 Contemporary Issues: LA History & Culture - 3 credits
Internship - 6 credits
• Optional Courses: Students are welcome to enroll in one or more of these additional courses offered in LA.
- IDTL 500 - Transmedia Storytelling (3 credits)
- VISL 387 - Imag(in)ing the City (3 credits)
- SOFA 557- Chasing Rainbows: Business & Innovation in Entertainment (3 credits)
- VISL 320 Contemporary Cinema (3 credits) Online asynchronous course at RIT main campus.
Course descriptions - note that you cannot register for these courses in SIS. The RIT Global office or College of Art and Design will register you for the courses.
• Pre-requisites: None
• Course meeting days/times: Mondays are reserved for in-person classes. Tuesday-Thursdays are reserved for internships and Fridays are reserved for excursions.
• Credits may count towards: Applicants should discuss with their academic advisor how credits will count towards their degree program.
Undergraduate Program Eligibility
• Must be in good academic standing
• Have a minimum 3.2 GPA (students under the minimum GPA may be considered on case-by-case basis)
• Animation majors: Juniors
• MPS: Juniors and Seniors
• Production: All Juniors and Seniors who are screenwriters
Graduate Course Details
• Total Credits: 4
• Term credits earned: Fall
• Courses:
Thesis - 4 credits
Part-time co-op - 0 credits
• Pre-requisites: None
• Course meeting days/times: Mondays -Thursdays are reserved for work on thesis and co-op and Fridays are reserved for excursions.
• Credits may count towards: Applicants should discuss with their academic advisor how credits will count towards their degree program.
Graduate Program Eligibility
• Must be in good academic standing
• Have a minimum 3.5 GPA (students under the minimum GPA may be considered on case-by-case basis)
• Fall of 3rd year (Thesis I) or Fall of 4th year (Continuation of Thesis) (at the time of travel)
Internship/Professional Experience
By interning with L.A.-based companies, you'll gain new skills, meaningful industry contacts, and an insider's perspective on the entertainment industry. A wide range of L.A.-based companies hire interns from diverse majors including major studios, production companies, post production houses, theme parks, management companies, PR firms, advertising agencies, journalism outlets, web-based media channels, industry organizations, and more.
It is your responsibility to acquire an internship/professional experience. The RIT Office of Co-op and Career Services and SOFA will help you identify potential companies and positions, offer guidance as you prepare your application documents and provide coaching on strategic networking and other successful job search strategies. You are required to meet once a week over the summer with RIT Career Services and SOFA LA Coordinator, David Simkins, during your internship search. The internship incorporates working 16-20 hours per week over 10 weeks during the semester. If an internship is not obtained, the program remains the same with excursions and classes, and online courses can be taken from SOFA at RIT's home campus.
Housing & Living in L.A.
You will live in furnished apartments with other RIT students or students from other universities while in L.A. Two students to a bedroom, two bedrooms per apartment (4 students per apartment total.) The living space is located at the Kapi housing (https://www.kapiresidences.com/rit) in Burbank near many attractions. You will arrange all your own meals (using your apartment kitchen, buying groceries, or eating out). Parking at the apartment complex is an additional $100/per month; 2 parking spots per apartment are available.
Transportation
Los Angeles is a sprawling metropolis with long commute times, which you should take into consideration for commuting to your internship. Transportation options include:
- Los Angeles' public transportation, called LA Metro, includes buses, subways and trains. The Metro bus system is extensive and provides access throughout Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, and the communities east and south of L.A. The Metro's subway and surface rail system is reliable and clean and provides access to many points throughout the greater L.A. metropolitan area. Resource: https://www.thereallosangelestours.com/la-info/how-to-use-public-transport-in-la/
- Ride-share services like Lyft and Uber - budget costs into your personal expenses for the duration of the program.
- Bringing a car or renting a car - you should be comfortable with freeway driving in congested traffic and also keep in mind the availability and cost of parking.
Excursions/Activities in L.A.
Planned activities will take place through the program (usually on Fridays) and may include:
• Tour of downtown L.A. and City Hall
• Warner Brothers Studio Tour
• The Academy Museum
• Griffith Park Observatory
• American Film Institute Tour
• The Hollywood Museum
• Universal Studios Tour
• Panavision Tour
• Santa Monica Pier
• Nascent Studios and Apartment D Studio Tours
• Broad Museum
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Company
To Apply:
1) Click the button below to begin your application. Starting an application does not commit you to the program.
You must have a pending application in the Compass no later than the final application deadline. After the application deadline and review process is completed, you will receive an email regarding your acceptance. You will then be required to confirm your participation by a confirmation deadline outlined in your acceptance email. Once you confirm your participation, the RIT Global office will bill a non-refundable program deposit to your eServices account.
Program Cost & Financial Aid:
On RIT Study Away programs you will pay your regular RIT tuition, a program fee to cover housing and program excursions, and out-of-pocket expenses such as your flight, food and spending money.
Student budget worksheet - Study Away SOFA in LA Fall 2024 (outlines all program costs).
As you review the budget worksheet, please remember that it does not include your RIT financial aid or scholarships which may cover some of the program costs. The purpose of the budget worksheet is to show all the costs associated with your study away program which will help your RIT Financial Aid Assistant Director determine how your aid and scholarships may be applied.
To understand how your financial aid and scholarships may apply to your program costs:
- Make an appointment with your financial aid assistant director (call Financial Aid at 585-475-2186) and mention that you are calling for a study away appointment.
- Upload a copy of your budget worksheet(s) via the Financial Aid upload portal at https://join.rit.edu/register/FA_upload (at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled meeting, so they have time to prepare).
- Please rename the file name of your budget worksheet before uploading it to the Financial Aid portal based on the instructions provided in the portal (adding your name and student ID)
To find out the name of your financial aid assistant director for your degree program visit:
https://www.rit.edu/admissions/aid/contact#counseling-team
General Eligibility; All students who study away must:
• Have a clear conduct record with RIT
• Be an RIT matriculated student at the time of the program
• Have no financial holds on your RIT eServices account at the time of your program acceptance/confirmation
Please note that you cannot audit study away courses.
Additional considerations when applying to this program:
• If you require Access Services support for this program, please contact Anglea Hauser (abhdis@ntid.rit.edu) as soon as possible to discuss your needs.
• If you are on tuition waiver or exchange (parents are RIT employees, etc.) let the Education Abroad office know because it may affect your tuition costs.
