­The School of Communications is in the process of establishing a permanent study-abroad program in Los Angeles that will allow students to participate in an internship and earn college credit. Elon plans to run a trial of the program this summer, and hopes to enroll 15-20 students.

Students will earn four credit hours through an internship in Los Angeles or the surrounding area and will also take a two-credit-hour course on the business of Hollywood. The cost of tuition for the program is the same as Elon’s summer rate. Extra expenses for housing and staffing will apply. No study abroad credit will be offered.

Connie Book, assistant dean of the School of Communications, recently visited Los Angeles to review successful programs offered by communications school leaders such as Ithaca College, Emerson College and the University of Texas at Austin.

Participants in the program will most likely be housed in Burbank’s Oakwood Housing facility, which is within walking distance of Universal Studios. Students from other university programs also reside in the complex.

Book said that mostly communications majors will enroll in the program this summer, although the Elon in Los Angeles program would be open to all students interested in working in Hollywood.

A professor within the School of Communications will go to Los Angeles and stay for the summer to administrate the internship program and teach the two credit hour class. Elon has not hired new professors for the program.

Plans for a Los Angeles program started when Book and others within the School of Communications noticed many communications majors enrolling in Ithaca’s summer course, which is open to students from any college or university.

More and more students are interested in the entertainment industry, Book said. She is enthusiastic about the program and said it will “be good for our students to connect the dots with the concepts and curriculum they are engaged in at Elon with an L.A. experience. The program also provides an opportunity for our alumni in Los Angeles to connect with and mentor the next generation of professionals heading their way.”

Reporter: ­Erica Oleske - 01/16/07