Emerson College

Emerson College Overview

Founded in 1880, Emerson is one of the premier colleges in the United States for the study of communication and the arts. Students may choose from more than two-dozen undergraduate and graduate programs supported by state-of-the-art facilities and a nationally renowned faculty. The Emerson College campus is home to WERS-FM, the oldest noncommercial radio station in Boston; the historic 1,200-seat Cutler Majestic Theatre; and "Ploughshares," the award-winning literary journal for new writing.

B.A., B.F.A., and B.S. Degrees Offered in Communications and the Arts

Boston's Emerson College offers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, and Bachelor of Science degrees. Students can major in communication sciences and disorders, communication studies, political communication, journalism, marketing communication, performing arts (acting, design/technology, musical theatre performance, stage and production management, theatre education, or theatre studies), visual and media arts (animation and motion media, cinematography/videography, directing narrative fiction, documentary production, experimental media production, film, interactive media, post-production, producing, sound design/audio, studio television production, writing for film and television or media studies), or writing, literature and publishing.

Off-Campus Programs Extend Learning Beyond Emerson's Campus

Hundreds of internship placements exist throughout Boston and in major cities across the country, including Emerson College's Los Angeles Center -- a brand new facility home to a residential study and internship program in the heart of the world's entertainment capital. Emerson also offers a semester program in Washington, D.C.; study abroad in the college's castle in the Netherlands, additional study opportunities in Taiwan, and the Czech Republic; and course cross-registration with the six-member Boston ProArts Consortium.

State-of-the-Art Facilities and Equipment for Communications, Visual Arts, Media Arts, and Performing Arts

Emerson College possesses the highest quality visual and media arts equipment, including sound-treated television studios, digital editing labs, audio postproduction suites with analog and digital peripherals, and a professional marketing-research suite/focus room right on its Boston campus. There are also two radio stations, seven on-campus facilities to observe speech and hearing therapy, and an integrated digital newsroom for aspiring journalists. The eleven-story performance and production center has rehearsal space, a theatre design/technology center, makeup lab, and costume shop. In early 2010, the Paramount Center opened with a sound stage, black box theater, scene shop, film screening room, and residence hall. Emerson College's Iwasaki Library houses more than 180,000 volumes and serial subscriptions, 10,000 microforms, 11,000 audiovisual materials, and 8,000 e-books. Students can access the resources of a dozen cooperating libraries through Emerson College's membership in the Fenway Library Consortium.

Award-Winning Faculty Make Direct Connections with Students

With class sizes that average between 20 to 25 people and a student-teacher ratio of 13:1, students at Emerson College develop close relationships with remarkably talented and active instructors. Emerson faculty members are nationally recognized and award-winning authors, directors, producers, consultants, playwrights, and editors. The vast majority of the faculty has earned doctorates or the highest degree obtainable in their field.

Emerson College Costs and Financial Aid

Basic expenses related to attending Emerson College include tuition, room and board, books and supplies, fees, health insurance, and personal expenses, including travel. Emerson offers a wide variety of financial assistance programs. Sources of support may include need-based grants, loan programs, work-study and payment plans. Last year Emerson awarded more than $27 million in institutional gift aid. Academic scholarships ranging from $14,000 to half-tuition are awarded on a limited basis to students who meet high academic standards. There are a variety of other scholarships available through the Office of Undergraduate Admission that can vary year to year. If you qualify for any of these merit scholarships, the Admission Committee will nominate you.

Emerson College Admission Requirements

Emerson College accepts the Common Application and the Universal Application and requires an Application Supplement for both. There are often additional requirements for performing arts and film majors. Admission is competitive; each year, more than 8,000 applications are received for a class of approximately 860. Selection is based on academic promise as indicated by secondary school performance, recommendations, writing competency, and SAT or ACT scores (or TOEFL if English is not the first language). Emerson also considers personal qualities as seen in extracurricular activities, community involvement, and demonstrated leadership. The deadline for September admission for first-year students is January 15 (Early Action is November 1), and for transfer students, the deadline is March 15. The January admission deadline is November 1 for first-year students and transfer students. Apply Now

Emerson Students Thrive on Campus and in Surrounding Boston Community

The 3,730 undergraduate and 809 graduate students come from across the United States and seventy-five countries. Approximately 1,900 students live on campus, some in special learning communities, such as the Writers' Block, Film Immersion Community, and Digital Culture Floor. There is a fitness center, athletic field, and a fourteen-story campus center and residence hall that houses a gymnasium and student-services offices. Emerson College is located in Boston, Massachusetts, America's most popular college town. The campus is on Boston Common in the heart of the city's Theatre District, within sight of the Massachusetts State House and walking distance from the historic Freedom Trail, Boston Public Garden, Chinatown, and numerous restaurants and museums.