Emerson College

Emerson College is dedicated to communication and the arts, and has produced numerous creative talents working both behind the scenes and in performing roles. The college was founded in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson, a Unitarian Minister who studied communication and public speaking, and wanted to create a “school of oratory”.

Emerson’s most famous alumni (known as Emersonians) include the talk show host Jay Leno, producer and writer Norman Lear, “the Fonz” actor Henry Winkler and Bobbi Brown, founder of the makeup brand of the same name.

There are nine departments at Emerson: Communication Sciences and Disorders, Communication Studies, Journalism, Marketing Communication, Performing Arts, Visual and Media Arts, Writing, Literature and Publishing, and Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies.

Over the years, Emerson has innovated in its specialist field, being among the first institutions to open a children’s theatre, teach broadcasting to undergraduates and create its own BA in Fine Arts in film.

The college’s main campus is located in downtown Boston at the heart of one of the United States’ most historic and buzzing cities. The theatre district is right on the campus doorstep and Boston Common is a short walk away. On the opposite side of the country a second undergraduate facility is located on Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip, with extensive internship opportunities in the LA area.

Students can even work and live in a 14th century medieval castle in the Netherlands. Each semester 85 students take part in Emerson’s study abroad programme at Kasteel Well, with most participants attending classes on sophomore year general studies. Selection to take part in the programme takes place by lottery.