Elon Los Angeles
Academics
Since 2008, more than 900 Elon students have taken part in a semester or summer Study USA academic program in Los Angeles. Students take classes, intern at unique companies and organizations, network with alumni, and spend their weekends exploring the Los Angeles area and community on university-planned excursions. Students visit the Getty Center, Warner Brothers Studio, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and much more. These experiences serve as professional launching pads.
Hear from Spring 2025 students about their experience:
Hear from Summer 2024 students about their experience:
Experiential Education
All students who enroll in an undergraduate Elon in Los Angeles program are required to complete an internship. A major goal of Elon in LA is developing deep and meaningful connections with industry professionals. An important way of developing those connections is through internships based in LA. Students learn what it means to be a professional, how to create and build a professional network, and apply what they have been learning in the classroom to a professional experience. Students are not placed in internships; they work with Assistant Director of Career Services for Study USA & International Students, Nathalie Perez, to apply and interview for internships.
A student’s registered internship and participation in Study USA LA will appear on the Elon Experiences Transcript (EET). This transcript documents a student’s participation in the five program areas that make up the Elon Experiences: Global Engagement (Study Abroad/Study USA), Service, Leadership, Internships, Undergraduate Research Collectively, these programs reflect important values which add to the total college experience and prepare students as a lifelong learners and citizens. Official copies of student’s Elon Experience Transcript can be ordered along with official academic transcripts through the Registrar’s Office online.
Community Partnerships
Elon Los Angeles has formed an impactful partnership with the Hollywood Food Coalition. Each semester, students serve dinner to homeless members of the community and also prepare packaged meals. Community service is embedded in the Elon Los Angeles experience and students are taught they are not tourists, but members of the LA community. Service hours are added to a student’s Elon Experiences Transcript (EET). Read more about the program’s commitment to service:
Student Life
All on-site staff who work with Study USA programs go through Student Life trainings so they are equipped to handle the variety of situations students may encounter living in a new city. On-site staff also receive AlertTraveler alerts in their respective locations. Permanent on-site staff are CPR certified. ALL of Elon’s policies still apply at all National Campus Program locations.
Faculty and Staff Visitors
We encourage faculty and staff to visit Elon University Los Angeles to experience our robust place-based learning programs. The campus has no extra housing available for guests, but we encourage visitors to check out our LA Hotel Recommendations.
Admissions
Brittany Slaughter is the west coast admissions counselor. She holds information sessions, visits high schools, and attends college fairs. High school students who are interested in learning more about Elon are encouraged to reach out to Brittany and attend local events to learn more about the university.
Alumni
Elon’s Office of Alumni Engagement supports an active Los Angeles regional alumni chapter. Each fall, the chapter holds a Welcome to the City event for new alumni to the area. The Women of the Elon Entertainment Empire (WEEE) serves as a key support and networking group for Elon alumnae working in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles and Elon undergraduates seeking a career in the entertainment industry. Unity LA connects Los Angeles-based alumni and friends who are passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion. Both groups offer special programming for current students and alumni. All upcoming alumni events can be found on the Elon Alumni Calendar.
If you are an LA-based alumnus in need of career support, Elon has a dedicated career services professional to support you at no cost. Lasse Palomaki supports Elon alumni nation-wide.
Employer and Organizational Partnerships
Elon University is seeking partnerships with LA-based companies, non-profits, government agencies, and community organizations to provide impactful internship opportunities for our students during the upcoming spring or summer terms. If you’d like to learn more about hosting an Elon intern, contact Associate Director of Corporate and Employer Relations, Ryan Taube, rtaube@elon.edu.
Future Collaborations and Endeavors
Elon Los Angeles will host additional events throughout the year. If you are a college or university who is interested in having your students take part in the summer or semester Elon in LA program, please email Ashley Pinney apinney@elon.edu.
Memberships
Elon University Los Angeles is part of the Los Angeles Study Away Collective (LASAC). The Collective is a group of 16 university programs that offer immersive study away experiences in Los Angeles, particularly for students interested in careers in media and entertainment. LASAC provides opportunities for students to engage in professional development, internships, and academic coursework in the entertainment industry. The National Campus staff and students attend events and our LA team hosts events at our campus for partner schools and their students.