Emerson College (EC) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Emerson College (EC) is located in downtown Boston, Massachusetts and is close to an abundance of night clubs, fine dining establishments, museums, cultural centers, theaters and shopping boutiques. Boston is also home to numerous professional sports organizations, so students can always head downtown to watch a Bruins or Red Sox game or head to a high-action Patriots or Celtics game. Established in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson, the institution has grown over the years from a small New England oratory to a world- renowned, diverse school of communication and the arts.

The college is always on the leading edge in the communications and art world and was the first school to have an educational radio station. EC was one of the first in the country to provide a children’s theater program and to offer undergraduate broadcasting programs.

The Emerson Lions are an NCAA Division III athletics club and have seven different sports from which students may choose. There are also club sports and numerous student organizations. EC has an active Greek life on campus as well as a state-of-the-art fitness center. Regardless of what a student likes to do, Boston and this college are sure to offer it.

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Information Summary

Ranks 24th in Massachusetts and 423rd overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	87.9
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$68,392
Admission Success rate	N/A
ACT / SAT 75%ile scores	31 / 1390
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	21 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	87% / 100%
Enrollment Total (all students)	4,573

Academics

This college offers nearly forty majors in the communication and arts programs. Students may also choose to design their own major via the Interdisciplinary Studies program. EC offers an honors program that calls the Institute for Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies home. There are eight distinct schools of undergraduate study including communication studies, journalism, performing arts, marketing communication and writing, literature and publishing. Students may earn bachelor’s degrees in such majors as communication studies, broadcast journalism, acting, students

Here they also offer the opportunity to study both abroad and domestically at other institutions or via internships in Los Angeles or Washington D.C. The study abroad program offers the opportunity to study in such places as Prague, the Netherlands or Taiwan.

Emerson offers ten different graduate programs that are instructed by leaders and scholars in their professions as well as researchers and artists. There are eight departments in which students may choose to study including communication studies, journalism, performing arts and marketing communication. Students may earn a graduate degree in such areas as creative writing, journalism, theatre education and health communication.

The college also offers several professional certificates and continuing education programs to working adults as well as including programs of study for high school students that would like to get a head start on their college careers. The adult courses offer convenient class hours and the certificate program includes such topics as copyediting, literary publishing, playwriting, screenwriting and cultural journalism.

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Admissions

The admissions process for undergraduate students is a four-step process that begins with submitting the Common Application and the Emerson College Supplement online. The applicant will need to submit the application fee before the school will review the documents. The second step that the applicant must complete requires submission of high school transcripts and the Secondary School Report available online. This report must be completed by school officials at the high school.

At least one teacher evaluation is also required and must be submitted by a teacher that has instructed the student in an academic subject such as reading, math, social studies or science. Finally, the student will need to submit SAT or ACT scores. Students should be aware that some programs require additional documentation and should check with the director of the program in which they are interested. Applicants may check the status of their application online. After submitting the application, the school will send out an email to the student with an invitation to create an account with the school’s online portal so that they may access their information.

There are additional requirements for transfer and international students. Applicants in either of these two situations should refer either to the school or the website for more information.

Prospective graduate students will need to determine the deadlines for the program to which they would like to apply and be sure to submit all documentation on time. Applicants should start the admissions process by completing the application to the program and submitting official transcripts, graduate school aptitude tests such as the GRE or GMAT, three letters of academic and professional recommendation, the essay specific to the desired program and a professional resume.

Some programs such as the ones regarding creative writing, media art, theatre education and publishing and writing require additional documentation, so prospective students interested in those areas of study should contact the school or visit the website for more information.

Graduate school applicants will also receive an email inviting them to create an eCommon account so that they may monitor the progress of their application.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is available to students from a number of sources. There are federal, state and institutional scholarships that are awarded in both merit-based and need-based situations, grants, loans and work programs as well as payment plans that are structured to meet the needs of the student. The first step to determining eligibility for need-based aid is to complete the Free Application for Financial Aid that is available online starting in January. It is recommended that students complete this application as soon as possible in order to be eligible for as much financial aid as possible. Financial information for both the applicant and family will be required so students should have this information available prior to beginning the application.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 135th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Massachusetts.

Athletics

The Emerson Lions are an NCAA Division III athletic club and are a member of both the Eastern College Athletic Conference and the Great Northeast Athletic Conference. They offer eight different intercollegiate sports including men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, cross country, tennis, lacrosse and soccer. Men may also choose to play baseball while women have the additional option of softball. The team’s colors are gold and royal purple and they are extremely competitive in their division. They have won several championships and it is typical for many of the teams to make it to the playoffs every year.

Club sports are also offered for students that would like to participate in a team sport but may not want to compete at the varsity level. Students wishing to stay fit may choose to become a member of the fitness center, which is a ten thousand-square foot facility with state-of-the-art fitness equipment and is staffed by trained fitness professionals. Membership is free for all students and includes a personalized fitness program, group exercises, personal training sessions, workshops and fitness programs, and exercise testing and assessments.

Emerson College