Emerson’s Newest Global Portals Program Takes Students Down Under

Emerson has expanded its international reach with the launch of a new Global BA in the Business of Creative Enterprises program, based near Sydney, Australia.

The College has partnered with the International College of Management, Sydney (ICMS) to provide a 3-plus-year program. Students will switch between the United States (Emerson’s Boston campus and a senior semester at Emerson Los Angeles) and Sydney.

“This new degree program and partnership with ICMS further expands Emerson’s footprint as a borderless campus and extends our reach to give us a presence on six continents, offering students an invaluable opportunity to experience their education through a global perspective,” said President Lee Pelton. “It further establishes Emerson internationally as the premier institution for higher learning for creative leaders in communication, the arts, and the liberal arts.”

The new program builds on the Boston-based Business of Creative Enterprises (BCE) degree, which launched four years ago and has rapidly grown into one of Emerson’s most popular programs, according to School of Communication Dean Raul Reis.

“The new degree adds an international element that will give our students global opportunities and a great competitive edge in the marketplace,” Reis said.

The management-focused partnership with ICMS allows students to explore the fashion, tourism, and hospitality industries and to study bedrock business topics such as economics, finance, accounting, international tourism, and event management. It also gives students a chance to build relationships with companies and organizations within Australia and the U.S. through intensive internship programs.

“Experiential learning through internships in Sydney and LA will give Emerson students a global advantage in forming new networks and gaining international perspectives in business and liberal arts,” Emerson Provost Michaele Whelan said.

The Global BA in the Business of Creative Enterprises will include four summers and one traditional semester in Boston, two full academic years in Sydney, and a fall semester in LA.

The first cohort will be enrolled in Summer 2021.

After completing the program, students earn a bachelor’s degree from Emerson. The College will offer scholarships and need-based financial aid to qualified students.

The Sydney BCE is the third Global Portal program Emerson has launched since 2018.

The first, a Global BFA in Film Art, partners with the Paris College of Art, and provides students the opportunity to study between Boston, Paris, and Kasteel Well, Emerson’s campus in the Netherlands.

The following year, the College announced a partnership with Franklin University in Lugano, Switzerland. In this dual-degree program, students earn an associate’s degree from Franklin and either a Global BA in International and Political Communication, or a Global BA in the Business of Creative Enterprises, from Emerson. Students can also enroll in a four-year BA/MA program, with students earning a bachelor’s degree from Franklin and a master’s degree in either Publishing and Writing, Journalism, Media Design, or Public Relations from Emerson.