“It’s the perfect transition from college life to real life.”
- Mark Dennis (UT Alumnus)

Advertising, Animation, Film, Gaming, Journalism, Marketing, Music, New Media, Public Relations, Television… Breaking into the entertainment business comes with its own set of challenges and opportunities. The University of Texas at Austin Semester in Los Angeles Program offers a unique opportunity for students who are serious about exploring academic and professional interests related to the entertainment industry. The Semester in Los Angeles Program is available each semester throughout the year: fall, spring or summer, and classes are held at the UTLA Center, located in Los Angeles near Burbank, just minutes away from some of the major Hollywood studios. Courses focus on the business and creative sides of the entertainment industry and are taught by seasoned professionals (many of them UT alumni), with extensive careers in film, television, music, and new media.

Students benefit from excellent instruction in a small class setting, participation in internships directly related to their interests, access to leading industry professionals through internships, guest speakers and set visits, and the support of UTLA Center staff and program alumni beyond their semester of participation.

The program was launched in 2005 and is open to all eligible students for a limited number of seats each semester.

University of Texas Los Angeles from UTLA Alumni Harry Zehenny on Vimeo.

UT Semester in Los Angeles Mission Statement

The UT Semester in Los Angeles Program’s mission is to expose students to the working world of the entertainment industry, and to the people and places who make things happen in Hollywood. Through a combination of working internships with prominent companies, courses taught by working professionals, and guest lectures by prominent industry experts, students get chance to gain the skills and contacts that will make a career in film, television, music or new media possible. Every alumnus of the program comes to Hollywood with a real sense of where and what the jobs are, who to call, and how to present themselves. It is the goal of the program to translate theory into reality, to enable students to start their careers, and to offer real-world support as they begin their journeys.

Student Photo Galleries