Maymester
Students engage with industry professionals at the world’s most important media, communication, and technology companies from Google to Good Morning America.
An Insider’s View
USC Annenberg’s signature Maymester programs offer an immersive learning experience through the exposure and exploration of various communications and media ecosystems across the country. From Los Angeles to Washington D.C., and New York City, these one- or two-week experiences allow students to get a firsthand glimpse at the convergence and disruption in media, communication, and emerging technologies — and imagine their possible place in it.
In site visits and meetings with industry professionals, students examine the distinct culture, dynamics, and operations of a variety of businesses across the USC Annenberg industries of practice. Daily in-person sessions allow students to engage with host companies and senior executives on a wide breadth of topics from the cultural redefining of work in modern media to the evolution of public communications in politics to the business of sports regionally, nationally, and globally.
Maymester information
Information Sessions:
In the spring 2025 information session held on September 13, 2024, the experiential education program season was introduced, featuring open programs for undergraduate and graduate students, including the San Francisco Bay area spring break program, the Washington, D.C. Maymester program, the Los Angeles Sports Maymester, the host program, the New York City Maymester program, and the International Communication Studies (ICS) program. The team also clarified eligibility criteria, application processes, and the academic components of the programs. Watch a recording of this session here.
On Monday, November 18th at noon join USC Annenberg Career Development to learn about the LA Sports ’25 Maymester. This info session will equip interested students with a comprehensive understanding of the program, including details on program expenses, program dates, and how to apply. RSVP here to attend. This information session will occur on Zoom.
Application Timeline:
- Sports Maymester: Application open. Apply here.
Applications due: Sunday, January 12th at 11:59 p.m. - All other Maymester program applications (New York City and Washington, D.C.) are now closed.
For questions, please contact the career services team at katkelly@usc.edu.
Maymester programs range from 1-unit (Sports) to 2-unit (NYC and DC) courses. Course enrollment information is provided to students upon acceptance into the program early in the spring semester.
Maymester programs range from 1-unit to 2-unit courses, and program costs range from $500 to $3,000 depending on the location and duration of the program.
Accepted students may petition the Financial Aid office for extra funding to cover program costs. Funding is not guaranteed.
Learn about your favorite organizations on-site from the leaders who shape them
Past visits include: Good Morning America, Pinterest, Twitter, Bloomberg, NBA, NFL Networks, Sony Music, Spotify, Edelman, Golin, the Chicago Bulls, Angel City FC, Riot Games, The Obama Foundation, The New York Times, the U.S. Department of Defense, Nestlé and more.