University of Wisconsin–Madison
Study Abroad
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UW Creative Careers in Hollywood

Cloudy sky over the iconic white Hollywood sign on a rugged hill surrounded by green vegetation and scattered houses.

Participants on this program for Summer 2026 will be provided with a guaranteed IAP Boost scholarship of $1000. Additional scholarships are also available thanks to the generosity of the Division of the Arts."

USA, Los Angeles

Limited Capacity Program: This program can accept a limited number of students each year, and we will likely receive more qualified applicants than available spots. Review of applicants is based on these criteria. You may only have one open application per term, but should have an alternate program in mind in the event that you are not accepted to this program.

Are you interested in a media career and looking for experience navigating the specific spaces and creative cultures on the entertainment industries? If so, this 3-week study away program in Los Angeles, California would be a perfect fit for you. UW Creative Careers in Hollywood will provide you with an opportunity to enter the creative communities of Los Angeles, plug in to UW-Madison’s alumni network, and develop the skills to find success in the worlds of filmed entertainment, animation and video games, music, social media production, sports media, and more.  Over the course of this experience, you will be able to explore the variety of career paths available to you, benefiting from hands-on experiences in real industry environments and building relationships with the everyday professionals who do this work.  Throughout the 3-week experience, you will learn about the institutions that support media careers—from studios to trade unions and informal professional networks.  You will learn about the creative process while also gaining the skills necessary to pitch your ideas.  You will learn about the business of packaging, selling, and protecting those ideas in careers such as talent management and entertainment law.

Course meetings will combine classroom instruction with guest speakers from the industry and on-site visits to the spaces where creative communities work with one another. You will receive a career mentor for this experience.

Your Program Leaders will be Professor Derek Johnson and Alumni Relations Officer Jamie Prey both from the Department of Communication Arts.

Learning Objectives

We have overall Goals and Expectations for Study Abroad Participants, covering the personal, academic and professional aspects of study abroad. Additionally on this program, you can:

  • Gain access to organizations that can support creative careers in media industries 
  • Participate in collaborative and iterative creative processes 
  • Develop skills to make creative proposals to media industry decision-makers 
  • Gain hands on experience in executing, supporting, and managing creative visions
  • Make connections and build a network of support in a media capital while contributing to an expansion of perspectives in the media industries

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to providing quality study abroad and domestic study away programs for every UW-Madison student. We work strategically to identify, address, and remove barriers that may prevent participation and to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for students. Our staff actively engages with students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds and prioritizes the continuous development of our knowledge and cultural competence. We also recognize the importance of increasing access to study abroad for historically underrepresented student populations. We are committed to diversity and inclusion so that every student can engage with and understand their identity through a new lens and continue to develop and make progress on their personal, professional, and academic goals.

Sustainability

We recognize that the future of study abroad, domestic study away, and international internship programming requires a Commitment to Sustainability. We are devoted to examining, developing, and improving sustainability in all our endeavors, aligning with campus priorities and following through with UW-Madison's climate action and Resilience Commitment. Join our efforts and learn more about how to study abroad sustainably.

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Eligibility

  • Preference given to students who have completed one of the following courses:
    COM ARTS 250, 350 or 351
  • 2.0 cumulative GPA
  • Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Open to UW-Madison degree-seeking students only
  • Good academic and disciplinary standing
  • At the time of application and the semester prior to participation, UW-Madison students must be currently enrolled. Transfer Students to UW-Madison need to be currently enrolled at their home institution

Advising Location

Program Structure

UW Signature

Subjects

Communication Arts

Classroom Language

English

Housing

Residence Hall

Program Duration

Summer: 3 weeks (June 7-27, 2026 in L.A.)

Application Deadline(s)

Summer 2026 1/16/2026 Cost Details

Future durations will be posted at a later date.

APPLY NOW

 

You will take Communication Arts 313: Topics in Film and Media Studies for 3 credits while on the UW Creative Careers in Hollywood program in Los Angeles.

Each day will consist of a combination of lectures and presentation by experts in the creative industries of Hollywood and will provide you with opportunities to visit various institutions that support media careers. You will have the opportunity for mentorship by local UW alumni who are involved in a media career relevant to your interests and goals as well as other opportunities for networking with local professionals.

Daily reflections, shadowing opportunities and resources to develop proposal and self-presentation strategies will provide you with valuable insights designed to culminate in pitching a creative idea to a development expert in your field. 

Course Equivalents

Use the links below to see a list of courses that past students have taken on this program and the UW equivalents. Note: This list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses, departments or equivalents. Courses may not be available the semester you are abroad. You will receive instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance. View Course Equivalents

Program Leader

Your Program Leaders will be Professor Derek Johnson and Alumni Relations Officer Jamie Prey both from the the Department of Communication Arts.

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IAP Early Bird Scholarship

Description

Undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need are encouraged to apply for the Early Bird Scholarship from International Academic Programs (IAP).  You apply to this scholarship earlier than others, and also find out if you got it earlier – which is why we call it the “Early Bird.”

This $2000 scholarship is intended to:

This award does not cover pre-departure costs.  Instead it is applied to your account during the term you receive your program bill.

Award Amount
$2000

Eligibility Criteria

This scholarship is open to students who:

Additional consideration is given to students who have the following attributes:

How to Apply
Students can apply for this award at Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH).

Study Abroad Scholars

Description

This competitive scholarship provides students with financial awards starting at $1,500 towards the eligible study abroad program of your choice, and the chance to share your experience with the UW-Madison community upon return. Students attending any program, except the funded Global Gateway programs, in IAP, CALS, ENGR, or WSB are encouraged to apply to become a Study Abroad Scholar.  Please read full scholarship details, including eligibility requirements, and considerations on the Study Abroad Scholars page.

CALS majors must apply for Study Abroad Scholars to be considered for CALS donor scholarships. Award Amount
$1,500-$8,000

Eligibility Criteria

In order to be considered for the Study Abroad Scholars scholarship for this application round, an applicant must:

Be in the process of applying, or have already applied, to an IAP study abroad program (UW Global Gateway Programs are not eligible)

Be a full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate UW-Madison student

Academic merit and financial need will be considered

Submit completed application materials online by the posted deadline

 

How to Apply

Students can apply for this award at Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH).

Study Abroad Promise Scholarship

Description

Undergraduate students who are part of a UW-Madison Promise Program (Bucky's Tuition Promise, Bucky's Pell Pathway, BANNER, Wisconsin Tribal Education Promise, and Badger Promise) are eligible for this scholarship of up to $6000 towards a faculty-led program during winter or summer.  Review full eligibility on our Study Abroad Promise page.

Award Amount
$6000

Eligibility Criteria

This scholarship is open to undergraduate students who:

Students participating on Global Gateway programs or have previously participated on any UW study abroad program are not eligible.

How to Apply
Eligible students will be automatically reviewed and notified of award amount prior to acceptance to program.

IAP Gilman Incentive

Description
IAP will provide a guaranteed $1000 scholarship to students applying to the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for the first time and meet the Gilman's scholarship eligibility requirements and application deadlines.

Students can only receive the IAP Gilman Incentive one time in their academic career. No additional application to IAP is needed and our staff will notify recipients after the Gilman scholarship deadline. Award Amount
$1000

How to Apply
For more information and to apply, visit the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship website. No additional application is needed for the IAP Gilman Incentive award. Students can only receive the IAP Gilman Incentive one time.

IAP WISc Scholarship

Description

This scholarship was established by International Academic Programs (IAP) to assist undergraduate student participants in the Wisconsin International Scholars (WISc) Program with building their global competence and citizenship skills, which is the core goal of the WISc Program.  Each WISc Scholar is eligible to receive scholarships as follows: 

1) 1 scholarship of $2500 toward participation on a short-term study abroad program duration (winter intersession, spring break, or summer), and

2) 1 scholarship of $4000 toward participation on a semester program OR 1 $6000 towards a year long program.

These scholarships can be used for students attending any approved UW-Madison study abroad program. 

Award Amount
$2500-$6000

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible for student participants of the Wisconsin International Scholars (WISc) Program at UW-Madison.

How to Apply

Students apply through the WISc Scholar Travel Grant application.