Study Away SOFA in L.A.

Get inspired in an immersive and hands-on study away experience that explores the film industry in Los Angeles.

Highlights

• Tailored RIT courses taught by local professionals.
• Gain substantial experience through an industry internship/professional experience.
• Meet, network and collaborate with professionals and SOFA alumni.
• Required and optional excursions include studio tours, museums, landmarks, beaches, hikes and more.

Program Details

• Term: Fall 2024
• Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA
• Program dates: Aug. 21 - Dec. 11, 2024 
  (Travel dates are subject to change. Do not make travel plans until you are accepted to the program and receive instructions to make travel arrangements from the professor).
• Local L.A. Coordinator: David Simkins

Application deadline extended: March 1, 2024

NEW eligibility for FALL 2024!
• MPS: Juniors AND Seniors (at the time of travel)
• Production: All Juniors (at the time of travel) and Seniors (at the time of travel) who are screenwriters
• Animation: Juniors (at the time of travel)
• All SOFA graduate students: Fall of 3rd year (Thesis I) or Fall of 4th year (Continuation of Thesis) (at the time of travel)

Undergraduate Students: In this immersive study away program, all Animation and Production students will take the same two courses from local faculty members who are professionals in the industry. You will also participate in an internship/professional experience. MPS students can take a combination of the in-person courses in LA and/or online courses offered by the RIT Rochester campus. MPS students will also do a 6-credit internship/professional experience. MPS students MUST take a minimum of 12 total credits. The local courses will be supplemented with guest lectures, studio tours, alumni highlights, and activities that give you a hands-on experience and insight into what it means to be a creative professional in LA.

Undergraduate Program Eligibility

• Must be in good academic standing
• Have a minimum 3.2 GPA (students under the minimum GPA may be considered on case-by-case basis)
• Animation majors: Juniors
• MPS: Juniors and Seniors
• Production: All Juniors and Seniors who are screenwriters

Graduate Sudents: Graduate students will not be required to take the undergraduate courses. Instead, students will take a thesis course for 4 credits and participate in a part-time co-op/professional experience for 0 credit. Graduate students will join the studio visits and cultural excursions on Fridays with the undergraduates. Graduate students will need to bring/provide their own equipment to work on their thesis while in L.A.

Graduate Program Eligibility

• Must be in good academic standing
• Have a minimum 3.5 GPA (students under the minimum GPA may be considered on case-by-case basis)
• Fall of 3rd year (Thesis I) or Fall of 4th year (Continuation of Thesis) (at the time of travel)

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Internship

It is the student's responsibility to acquire an internship/professional experience. The RIT Office of Co-op and Career Services and SOFA will help you identify potential companies and positions, offer guidance as you prepare your application documents, and provide coaching on strategic networking and other successful job search strategies. You are required to meet once a week over the summer with Career Services and SOFA LA Coordinator David Simkins during your internship search. The internship incorporates working 16-20 hours per week over 10 weeks during the semester. If an internship is not obtained, the program remains the same with excursions and classes, and online courses can be taken from SOFA's home campus.

Courses

Undergraduate Course Details

• Total Credits: 12
• Term credits earned: Fall
• Courses:
• SOFA 307 Contemporary Issues: LA Careers in Film - 3 credits
• SOFA 307 Contemporary Issues: LA History & Culture - 3 credits
• Internship - 6 credits
• Pre-requisites: None
• Course meeting days/times: Mondays are reserved for in-person classes. Tuesday through Thursday is reserved for internships, and Fridays are reserved for excursions.
• Applicants should discuss with their academic advisor how credits will count towards their degree program.
• Course Descriptions - note you cannot register for courses in SIS. The RIT Global office or College of Art and Design will register you for the courses.

Graduate Course Details

• Total Credits: 4
• Term credits earned: Fall
• Courses:
• Thesis - 4 credits
• Part-time co-op - 0 credits
• Pre-requisites: None
• Course meeting days/times: Mondays are reserved for in-person classes. Tuesday through Thursday is reserved for internships, and Fridays are reserved for excursions.
• Applicants should discuss with their academic advisor how credits will count towards their degree program.

Housing

You will live in furnished apartments with other RIT students or students from other universities while in L.A. There are two students in a bedroom and two bedrooms per apartment (4 students per apartment total). The living space is located at the AVA residence in Burbank near many attractions. You will arrange all your own meals (using your apartment kitchen, buying groceries, or eating out). Los Angeles is a driving city. We highly recommend having a car - either your own or a rental - for your participation in the program. Not having a car limits internships. Parking at the apartment complex is an additional $100/per month; 2 parking spots per apartment are available.

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To Apply

Applications for the fall 2025 program will open in fall 2024

Program Cost & Financial Aid

You will be billed regular RIT tuition and a program fee to cover housing and program excursions for the fall 2024 semester. You can also expect additional out-of-pocket expenses such as your flight, food, and spending money.

Program Cost: Study Away SOFA in LA (Fall 2024) (OUTDATED) 

Financial Aid:
Financial aid may cover some program costs. As you review the budget worksheet, please remember that it does not include your RIT financial aid or scholarships, which may cover some of the program costs. The purpose of the budget worksheet is to show all the costs associated with the program, which will help your RIT Financial Aid Assistant Director determine how your aid and scholarships may be applied. 

To understand how your financial aid and scholarships may apply to your program costs:

• Make an appointment with your financial aid assistant director (call Financial Aid at 585-475-2186) and mention that you are calling for a study away appointment
• Upload a copy of your budget worksheet(s) via the Financial Aid upload portal at https://join.rit.edu/register/FA_upload (at least 48 hours before your scheduled meeting so they have time to prepare) 
  • Please rename the file name of your budget worksheet before uploading it to the Financial Aid portal based on the instructions provided in the portal (adding your name and student ID)

To find out the name of your financial aid assistant director for your degree program visit: https://www.rit.edu/admissions/aid/contact#counseling-team

We recommend you meet with Financial Aid before the application deadline to understand how your aid will apply. The RIT financial aid office is located in Bausch and Lomb Center (Bldg. 77), 2nd floor, 2125.