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{{Short description|Private university in Boston, Massachusetts, US}}
{{About|the school in Boston|other schools|Emerson College (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = Emerson College
 | image                  = Emerson College Seal.png
 | image_upright          = 0.7
 | image_alt              = 
 | caption                = 
 | latin_name             = 
 | former_names           = Boston Conservatory of Elocution, Oratory, and Dramatic Art (1880) <br /> Monroe Conservatory of Oratory (1881–1889) <br /> Emerson College of Oratory (1890–1938)
 | motto                  = "Expression Necessary to Evolution"
 | type                   = [[Private college]]
 | established            = {{Start date and age|1880|df=yes|p=y}}
 | founder                = [[Charles Wesley Emerson]]
 | affiliation            = 
 | academic_affiliation   = 
 | accreditation          = [[New England Commission of Higher Education|NECHE]]
 | endowment              = $259.6 million (2021)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://berkeleybeacon.com/college-endowment-balloons-amid-pandemic/ |title=College endowment balloons amid pandemic |last=Fonseca |first=Camilo |website=Berkeley Beacon|date=11 November 2021 |access-date=November 20, 2021}}</ref>
 | president              = [[Jay M. Bernhardt]]
 | academic_staff         = 469 (2019)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://emerson.box.com/s/s4e5z71ml7i22oxrkzfwybb9d4i3orq5 |title=2019-2020 Faculty Snapshot |publisher=Emerson College |access-date=April 30, 2020 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>
 | students               = 5,900 (2022)<ref name="auto">{{cite web | url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Emerson+College&s=all&id=165662 | title=College Navigator – Emerson College }}</ref>
 | undergrad              = 4,117 (2022)<ref name="auto"/>
 | postgrad               = 1,783 (2022)<ref name="auto"/>
 | city                   = [[Boston]]
 | state                  = [[Massachusetts]]
 | country                = United States
 | coordinates            = {{Coord|42.351807|N|71.065994|W|source:dewiki_region:US-MA_type:edu|format=dms|display=title}}
 | campus                 = [[Urban area|Large City]], {{convert|8|acre|km2}}
 | colors                 = {{color box|#62259D}} Purple<br>{{color box|#FFD700}} Gold<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.emerson.edu/commencement/before-you-graduate/purchase-regalia |title=Purchase Regalia |website=Emerson College |access-date=July 4, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ncaa.com/schools/emerson |title=Emerson College |website=NCAA |access-date=July 4, 2021}}</ref>
 | athletics_nickname     = Lions
 | mascot                 = Griff the Lion<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.berkeleybeacon.com/2017/12/06/emerson-mascot-griff-lion-gets-new-look/ |title=Emerson Mascot Griff the Lion Gets a New Look |last=Griffin |first=Grace |date=December 6, 2017 |website=The Berkeley Beacon |access-date=September 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929080421/http://www.berkeleybeacon.com/2017/12/06/emerson-mascot-griff-lion-gets-new-look/ |archive-date=2018-09-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 | free_label1            = Newspaper
 | free1                  = ''[[The Berkeley Beacon]]''
 | free_label2            = Other campuses
 | free2                  = {{hlist|[[Los Angeles]]<br>[[Well, Limburg]], Netherlands}}
 | website                = {{URL|https://emerson.edu/| emerson.edu}}
 | logo                   = Emerson college mass logo.png
 | logo_size              = 200
 | footnotes              = 
 | sporting_affiliations  = {{hlist|[[NCAA Division III]] – [[New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference|NEWMAC]]|[[Eastern College Athletic Conference|ECAC]]}}
}}

'''Emerson College''' is a [[private college]] located in [[Boston, Massachusetts]], with additional campuses in [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]] and at [[Kasteel Well]] in the Netherlands. It was founded in 1880 by [[Charles Wesley Emerson]] as a school of [[public speaking|oratory]]. The institution offers more than 30 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as well as professional training, primarily focused on the arts and communication, grounded in a [[liberal arts education|liberal arts]] framework. Emerson is a founding member of the [[ProArts Consortium]], a collaborative association of six neighboring Boston-based institutions dedicated to collegiate-level arts education. The college is also known for conducting public opinion research through its affiliated organization, [[Emerson College Polling]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Emerson College Polling |url=https://www.emerson.edu/academics/academic-departments/communication-studies/emerson-college-polling |access-date=2022-03-28 |website=Emerson College |language=en}}</ref>

Originally based in Boston's [[Pemberton Square]], the college moved neighborhoods several times, and is now located in the [[Boston Theater District|Theater District]] along the south side of the [[Boston Common]]. Emerson owns and operates the historic [[Colonial Theatre (Boston, Massachusetts)|Colonial]], [[Paramount Theatre (Boston, Massachusetts)|Paramount]], and [[Cutler Majestic Theatre|Cutler Majestic]] theaters, as well as several smaller performance venues.

==History==

===Origins===
[[File:1887 Charles Wesley Emerson USA.png|thumb|left|170px|Charles Wesley Emerson (1887), founder and namesake of Emerson College]]
[[Charles Wesley Emerson]] founded the '''Boston Conservatory of Elocution''', Oratory, and Dramatic Art in 1880, a year after [[Boston University]] closed its School of Oratory.<ref name="history"/> Classes were held at [[Pemberton Square]] in [[Boston]], where ten students enrolled in the conservatory's first class.

The following year, the institution changed its name to the '''Monroe Conservatory of Oratory''', in honor of [[Charles Wesley Emerson|Charles Emerson]]'s teacher at [[Boston University]]'s School of Oratory, Professor Lewis B. Monroe. 

In 1890, the name changed again to '''Emerson College of Oratory'''<ref>{{cite news |title=Emerson College of Oratory |url=https://archive.org/stream/independen79v80newy#page/n41/mode/1up |newspaper=The Independent |date=Jul 6, 1914 |access-date=August 1, 2012}}</ref> and was later shortened to Emerson College in 1939.

===Early expansion and growth===
The college expanded and rented space at [[Wesleyan Building, Boston (Bromfield Street)|36 Bromfield Street]], and moved to [[Odd Fellows Hall, Boston|Odd Fellows Hall]] on Berkeley and Tremont Streets in the [[South End, Boston|South End]] of [[Boston]]. With the new location, the college's first library was established in 1892. [[Henry Lawrence Southwick]], a faculty member and alumnus, became a financial partner for the college with Emerson. This financial partnership led to the acquisition of the Boston School of Oratory from Moses T. Brown in 1894.

At the turn of the century, faculty members Henry and [[Jessie Eldridge Southwick]] and William H. Kenney purchased the college from Dr. Emerson. Soon after, the college rented a new location in [[Chickering Hall, Boston (1901)|Chickering Hall]].

Dr. Emerson retired in 1903 and William J. Rolfe, a [[Shakespearean]] [[scholar]] and actor, was named the second President of Emerson College of Oratory. His service as president lasted until his retirement in 1908.

As the Student Government Association of the college held its first meeting in 1908, the third president of the college, Henry Lawrence Southwick, was inaugurated. He introduced the study of [[acting]] and [[stagecraft]] into the college curriculum. During his tenure, the college rented a new building at 30 Huntington Avenue in [[Copley Square]]. The college was also granted the right to award Bachelor of Literary Interpretation (B.L.I.) degrees. In addition, Emerson became the first school with a collegiate-level program in [[children's theater]] in 1919.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.princetonreview.com/EmersonCollege.aspx |title=Emerson College |publisher=Princetonreview.com |access-date=2012-04-06}}</ref> The school offered its first course in [[Journalism]] in 1924.

The college purchased its first piece of real estate with a new women's dormitory building at 373 Commonwealth Avenue in the [[Back Bay, Boston|Back Bay]], and started [[intramural sports]] in 1931 with the organization of [[volleyball]] games.

===Administrative restructuring===
In 1930, full charge and control of the college was transferred to the Board of Trustees by William H. Kenney, Henry Lawrence Southwick, and Jessie Eldridge Southwick.

When Harry Seymour Ross was appointed the fourth president of Emerson College in 1931, the first course in [[radio broadcasting]] was taught by the [[program director]] of [[WEZE|WEEI]], a [[Boston]] AM radio station. The purchase of buildings at 130 Beacon Street and 128 Beacon Street a year later began the presence of Emerson College in [[Boston]]'s [[Back Bay (Boston)|Back Bay]]. Emerson kept ownership of these buildings until summer 2003.

In the following years, a professional training program in [[speech–language pathology|speech pathology]] (1935) and the first undergraduate program in [[broadcast journalism]] (1937) were offered for the first time in the United States. Construction of a theater behind 128–130 Beacon began, and the institution was granted the right to award [[Master of Arts]] degrees.

===Post-war era===
In the post-war era, the [[G.I. Bill of Rights]] and the Broadcasting curriculum contributed to the rebalancing of the student body from a primarily-female population to an equally-balanced population of men and women. Boylston Green, the first president to have no prior association with the college, used his background as a dean of students to enhance extracurricular activities, including the establishment of a student activities fee. These efforts led to the first publication of Emerson's student newspaper, ''[[The Berkeley Beacon]]'', in 1947, which is still in production today.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://berkeleybeacon.com/|title=The Berkeley Beacon|website=The Berkeley Beacon}}</ref>

Emerson also saw major development in its broadcasting program. A one-year Certificate of Broadcasting was offered via evening classes. The [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]] awarded the college a 10-watt license in 1949, and [[WERS]], the first educational [[FM broadcasting|FM]] [[radio station]] in [[New England]], was born. The station's power was increased to 300 watts three years later, and 18,000 watts by 1953.

At the start of the decade, in 1950,<ref name="roster">{{cite web |url=http://cihe.neasc.org/about_our_institutions/roster_of_institutions/ |title=Roster of Institutions &#124; Colleges & Universities (CIHE) / Commission on Institutions of Higher Education |publisher=Cihe.neasc.org |access-date=2013-10-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828132004/http://cihe.neasc.org/about_our_institutions/roster_of_institutions/ |archive-date=2013-08-28 }}</ref> Emerson College became a member of the [[New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools]], an accreditation association for schools and colleges in New England.

President Green left the college in 1949 after being selected as president of the [[University of the South]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Green to Leave Emerson for Post in South|newspaper=Daily Boston Globe|date=6 May 1949}}</ref> and Godfrey Dewey served as Acting President until 1951. At that time, Jonathon French was appointed as Acting President, and he became president in December of that year, despite never being formally [[Inauguration|inaugurated]].

===Financial crisis of 1952 and recovery===
The college suffered from a severe financial crisis in 1952, and sought $50,000 in emergency funding. At the time, the Chairman of the Corporation stated that without these funds, the college had three alternatives: go broke, sell out, or merge with another institution. Led by the National Alumni Council, a [[grassroots]] campaign was launched to improve the financial situation of the college. The efforts led to the resignation of the Council of Trustees, which was then replaced mostly by alumni. The new board elected a former Emerson history professor, S. Justus McKinley, as the fifth President of Emerson College.

Pulling out of its financial crisis, the college started to develop its programs with new facilities. In 1953, Emerson opened '''The Robbins Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic''' at 145 Beacon Street, furthering the [[Communication studies|Communication Sciences]] and [[Communication disorder|Disorders]] Program. A television studio was dedicated at 130 Beacon in 1954, with its first closed-circuit TV program the following year as WERS-TV. The first annual spring musical, ''[[Lady in the Dark]]'' by [[Moss Hart]], was presented.{{when|date=April 2012}} Later, the school was authorized<ref name="roster" /> to grant honorary degrees, Bachelors and Masters of Science in speech, and a Bachelors of Music in conjunction with the [[Longy School of Music]].

===Back Bay as Emerson's campus===
As the 1960s started, 373 Commonwealth Avenue was sold to purchase a dormitory at 100 Beacon Street for 609 undergraduate and 29 graduate students. A year later, a building at 150 Beacon Street was obtained for dorms, a dining hall, and administrative offices. With major gifts from Elisabeth Abbot Smith and J.F. Buzzard, the college library moved from the fourth floor of 130 Beacon Street into its own building at 303 Berkeley Street. In 1964, two buildings were purchased: 96 Beacon Street, which became the student union building, and 132–134 Beacon Street, which became a dormitory. The campus remained primarily in Back Bay until the late 1990s.

In 1967, Richard Chapin, former Dean of the [[Harvard Business School]] was inaugurated as the seventh president of Emerson College.

Shortly afterwards, an academic planning committee approved a new course of study for general education requirements. The first level of this program replaced the college-wide requirements with a two-year interdisciplinary course of study and electives.{{explain|date=April 2012}} In order to accommodate this new program, the building at 67–69 Brimmer Street was purchased. The Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies was born. A year later in 1972, the college gained authorization} to grant [[Bachelor of Fine Arts|BFA]] and [[Master of Fine Arts|MFA]] degrees.

===Attempted relocation===
Though Emerson College has moved to various locations within the city of Boston, the appointment of Allen E. Koenig (the ninth President of Emerson College) almost took the college completely outside of Boston. As soon as he was inaugurated in 1979, Koenig initiated talks with [[Pine Manor College]] in [[Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts]] to relocate Emerson and merge the two schools. However, an agreement was never reached and the plan was dropped entirely.<ref name="history">{{cite web |url=http://www.emerson.edu/academics/academic-services/library/archives/emerson-history |title=A Short History of Emerson College &#124; Emerson College |publisher=Emerson.edu |access-date=2013-10-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025043338/http://www.emerson.edu/academics/academic-services/library/archives/emerson-history |archive-date=2013-10-25 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.emerson.edu/about-emerson/administration/president/past-presidents |title=Past Presidents of Emerson College &#124; Emerson College |publisher=Emerson.edu |date=1992-02-20 |access-date=2013-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025201809/http://www.emerson.edu/about-emerson/administration/president/past-presidents |archive-date=2013-10-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

At the start of the 1980s, Koenig made a proposal to the board of trustees for a major renovation of the college's facilities. The plan allowed for new performance spaces, classrooms, and faculty offices at Brimmer Street; remodeling the Library and Learning Resources Center at 150 Beacon; remodeling the 303 Berkeley building for the Humanities and Social Sciences Division; a new radio/audio complex at 126 Beacon; and construction of two new television studios behind 130 Beacon.<ref name="history" /> In 1984, 335 Commonwealth Avenue was purchased for Administration and the Communication Studies department. The college also received the authorization to grant [[Master of Fine Arts|MFA]] degrees in Creative Writing.<ref name="history" />

Despite the newly purchased Commonwealth Avenue buildings, [[Lawrence, Massachusetts]], was soon being discussed as a new location for Emerson College, about {{convert|44.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} away from [[Boston]]. The Mayor of Lawrence announced that the necessary land would be taken by [[eminent domain]] and sold to Emerson for a token payment of $100. However, the five affected private landowners disagreed with this arrangement and fought the city in court. Three years later in 1988, Judge John Forte ruled in favor of the City of Lawrence. The river-front site in Lawrence was proposed as the new campus for the college. However, as real estate values in Boston dropped and the costs of constructing a new campus increased, the plans were put on hold and eventually abandoned when Koenig resigned as president in 1989. In 1988, the college bought a building at Zero Marlborough Street (also known as 6 Arlington Street) for dormitories and a dining hall.<ref name="history" />

===Rebirth in the Historic Theater District===
[[File:Emerson Colonial Theater Boston MA.jpg|thumb|The Colonial Theater was acquired in 2006; Emerson College built 372 dormitory rooms on top of the building while preserving the theater.]]

John Zacharis became the tenth President of Emerson College and faced a college fractured by the failed move to Lawrence, Massachusetts. Over the course of two years, he worked to restore unity to the campus by purchasing a building at 180 Tremont Street, now called the Ansin Building. This purchase started a transition from [[Back Bay (Boston)|Back Bay]] to the [[Boston Theater District]]. Zacharis went on medical leave in 1992 and died of [[leukemia]] shortly after.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.emerson.edu/about-emerson/administration/president/past-presidents |title=Past Presidents Of Emerson College |access-date=2019-03-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202053308/https://www.emerson.edu/about-emerson/administration/president/past-presidents |archive-date=2019-02-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

During Zacharis's leave, speech pathologist [[Jacqueline Liebergott|Jacqueline Weis Liebergott]] was appointed as Acting President and, a year later, inaugurated to become the first female president of the college. Shortly after, she submitted a 10-year master plan to the [[Boston Redevelopment Authority]] which involved moving the college to the [[Washington Street Theatre District]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gvshp.org/_gvshp/preservation/nyu/doc/gvshp-case-studies.pdf |title=GVSHP case studies |access-date=March 10, 2019 |archive-date=April 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428040250/http://www.gvshp.org/_gvshp/preservation/nyu/doc/gvshp-case-studies.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In the mid-1990s, a planning document of the college's future plans was drafted and public hearings were held. The college also extended [[Health insurance|health care benefit]]s to [[domestic partner]]s of gay and lesbian faculty, administration and staff.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/OLO/Resources/Files/1999_Reports/OLO_Report_99-1_6-8-1999.pdf|title=A Review of Domestic Partner Benefits in the Public and Private Sectors|website=montgomerycountymd.gov|access-date=11 April 2023|date=May 24, 1999}}</ref> Under the plan, dental coverage and tuition waivers were also available. That same year, the college debuted online with a $100,000 gift from Mrs. Mary E. Tufte. Financed by the contribution, '''The Tufte Lab''' was placed on the fourth floor of the Ansin Building and dedicated in Mrs. Tufte's honor. The lab was the catalyst for a telecommunications/[[fiber optic]] network installation, which was completed in October 1995.

In addition, the college announced the purchase and restoration of The Little Building (1994) across the street from the Ansin Building and next to Emerson's [[Cutler Majestic Theatre|Majestic Theatre]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://emersonhistory.omeka.net/items/show/274|title=Little Building · ECHO: Emerson College History Online|website=emersonhistory.omeka.net|date=1994 }}</ref> Restoration was completed on the facades of the college's buildings at 126, 128, 130, 132–134, 168 Beacon Street, and 21 Commonwealth Avenue.<ref name="web.archive.org">{{Cite web|url=http://www.emerson.edu/academics/academic-services/library/archives/emerson-history|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025043338/http://www.emerson.edu/academics/academic-services/library/archives/emerson-history|archive-date=2013-10-25|title=Archives & Special Collections}}</ref>

In 1998, Emerson purchased the Walker Building (Boston) at 120 Boylston.<ref name="web.archive.org"/> The building currently hosts the school's Department of Television, Radio, Film Production, the Institutional Advancement (Alumni and Development) department, and the Government and Community Relations department. It also contains the school's library and many of its classrooms.

===Early 21st century (2000–2019)===
[[File:Paramount Theatre, Boston MA.jpg|thumb|upright|Emerson College purchased Paramount Theatre in 2005, and expanded its facilities.|alt=|left]]

The Tufte Performance Production Center (PPC) at 10 Boylston Place opened in 2003.<ref name="history" /> The 11-story steel-and-glass building houses the Department of Performing Arts and includes two theaters (The Semel Theatre and The Greene Theatre), two television studios, makeup and costume labs, faculty offices, and an exhibition area. Also that year, the [[Cutler Majestic Theatre]] finished renovations and re-opened as one of the main stages of Emerson Stage productions.

Circa 2001 Emerson adjuncts voted to establish a union and in 2004 ratified its first contract with the college.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://emersonafec.com/about/ | title=About – Affiliated Faculty of Emerson College }}</ref> The Affiliated Faculty of Emerson College, [[American Association of University Professors]] (AFEC-AAUP) represents 240 adjunct faculty members at Emerson College as of 2022.

In 2004, it was announced that the buildings at 96, 100, and 132 Beacon had been sold and would be vacated by the Fall 2006 semester.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2003/10/20/story6.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20031228104228/http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2003/10/20/story6.html| archive-date = 2003-12-28| title = Emerson College tunes up for its Piano Row project - 2003-10-20 - Boston Business Journal}}</ref> Construction of a new 14-story residence hall at 150 Boylston Street began in March 2004, and was completed in September 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bostonplans.org/getattachment/3ad6890e-842d-49af-a8fa-8042b2c8254d |title=Institutional master plan amendement|website=bostonplans.org|access-date=11 April 2023|date=October 4, 2013}}</ref> It is the first entirely-new residence hall in Emerson's history. The facility includes residential suites, athletic facilities, offices and meeting rooms for student organizations, informal gathering places for off-campus students, spaces for small-group rehearsals and performances, and dining facilities.

The school purchased Boston's historic [[Paramount Theatre (Boston)|Paramount Theatre]] on Washington Street in 2005, with plans to build a new complex at the site including a 565-seat main stage theater inside the existing Paramount Theater and a 125-seat black box theater in an adjacent new building.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://archive.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2010/03/03/renovated_paramount_theatre_regains_its_grandeur/ | title=Paramount regains its grandeur| newspaper=Boston.com| date=2010-03-03| last1=Edgers| first1=Geoff}}</ref> Plans also included a 200-seat film screening room, eight rehearsal studios ranging from {{convert|700|to|1900|sqft|m2}}, six smaller rehearsal spaces, a sound stage for film students, a new [[scene shop]], and a dormitory.<ref>http://www.emerson.edu/emersontoday/index.cfm?action=3&articleID=3596&editionID=338 {{dead link|date=April 2012}}</ref>

In May 2006, the Campus Center in the [[Piano Row District|Piano Row]] building was named the [[Max Mutchnick|Max Mutchnick Campus Center]] after a major gift from the 1987 graduate and co-creator of the television [[sitcom]] ''[[Will & Grace]]''.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://berkeleybeacon.com/building-celebrated-lives-remembered/ | title=Building celebrated, lives remembered| date=31 December 2012}}</ref> In the same year, the school exercised its purchase option on the [[Colonial Theatre (Boston, Massachusetts)|Colonial Theatre]], adjacent to the Little Building, and then converted the upper floors of the building to a 372-bed dormitory.<ref>[https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2006/02/20/daily58.html Emerson College to add dorm to Colonial Building] ''Boston Business Journal'' February 20, 2006 (subscription required)</ref> With the addition of dorm space here and at the Paramount Theatre, the school hoped to accommodate up to 75% of its students in on-campus housing by 2010.

In September 2006, a long-running labor dispute between the administrators and faculty union was resolved. The administration limited the union's role in promotion and tenure, and brought department chairs into administrative roles, where they were not covered by the union. In response, the college agreed not to dismantle the union.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wasley |first=Paula |url=http://www.chroniclecareers.com/article/Labor-Battle-Ends-at-Emerson/8546/ |title=Labor Battle Ends at Emerson College – Faculty – The Chronicle of Higher Education |publisher=Chroniclecareers.com |date=2006-09-22 |access-date=2012-04-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314065516/http://www.chroniclecareers.com/article/Labor-Battle-Ends-at-Emerson/8546/ |archive-date=2012-03-14 }}</ref>

In September 2007, students in Emerson Alliance for Gays, Lesbians, and Everyone (E.A.G.L.E.) as well as the Student Government Association (S.G.A.) received the gender neutral bathrooms they had pitched to the administration in the spring. In September 2016, every bathroom on Emerson's campus was converted into a gender inclusive restroom.<ref>{{cite news|first=-Emily A. |last=Canal |url=http://archive.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2007/09/01/emerson_makes_restrooms_gender_neutral/ |title=Emerson makes bathrooms gender-neutral |work=The Boston Globe |access-date=2016-10-31}}</ref>

On December 2, 2009, President Liebergott announced she would step down in June 2011. On September 8, 2010, the college announced she would be succeeded by [[M. Lee Pelton]] of [[Willamette University]].<ref>{{cite news|first=–M. Lee |last=Pelton |url=http://www.emerson.edu/news-events/emerson-college-today/m-lee-pelton-named-12th-president-emerson-college |title=M. Lee Pelton named 12th President of Emerson College &#124; Emerson College |newspaper=Emerson Today |publisher=Emerson.edu |access-date=2012-04-06}}</ref>

On March 18, 2010, the newly renovated [[Paramount Center]] officially opened, with Boston Mayor [[Thomas M. Menino]] illuminating the Paramount's original [[art deco]] [[marquee (sign)|marquee]], which Emerson had restored. In addition to the 590-seat Paramount Theatre, the Paramount Center also houses an experimental [[black box theater]], the Bright Family Screening Room, a [[sound stage]], a [[scene shop|scene/prop production shop]], nine rehearsal studios, six practice rooms, four classrooms, 20 faculty offices, and a student commons area.

{{as of|2014}}, two students are suing the college for mishandling their rape cases and failing to provide their Title IX rights.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/12/emerson-college-lawsuit-rape_n_5671580.html |title=Emerson College Slammed in Lawsuit Over Handling of Rape Case |website=[[Huffington Post]]|first=Tyler |last=Kingkade |access-date=August 12, 2014|date=2014-08-12 }}</ref>

In late 2019, [[Marlboro College Archives at Emerson College|Marlboro College]] announced that it would merge with Emerson at the end of the 2019–20 academic year.<ref>{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Brinker |url=https://berkeleybeacon.com/a-chat-with-marlboro-college-president-kevin-quigley/ |title=A chat with Marlboro College President Kevin Quigley |newspaper=The Berkeley Beacon |date=November 14, 2019 |access-date=May 4, 2021 }}</ref> Under the agreement, finalized on July 23, 2020, Marlboro gave its endowment to Emerson, which created the Marlboro Institute of Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies. Marlboro students were guaranteed admission and tenure-track faculty were guaranteed teaching positions at Emerson.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marlboro.edu/community/news/whats-next-for-marlboro/|title= What's Next for Marlboro |date=July 23, 2020 |publisher=Marlboro College |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202061528/https://www.marlboro.edu/community/news/whats-next-for-marlboro/ |archive-date=December 2, 2020 }}</ref> At that time, Marlboro had approximately 150 students.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2019/11/06/emerson-plans-absorb-marlboro |title=Emerson Plans to Absorb Marlboro |first=Scott |last=Jaschik |website=Inside Higher Ed |date=November 6, 2019 |access-date=May 3, 2021}}</ref>

===Post-COVID and onward (2020–present)===
In December 2020, President Lee Pelton announced his planned departure from Emerson College in June 2021 to assume a new role as CEO and President of the Boston Foundation.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Clossey|first=Erin|date=2020-12-02|title=President Pelton Leaving to Helm Boston Foundation|url=https://today.emerson.edu/2020/12/01/news-for-the-emerson-community/|access-date=2021-05-20|website=Emerson Today|language=en-US}}</ref> [[Jay M. Bernhardt]] became the 13th president of Emerson College on June 1, 2023, after serving as dean of the Moody College of Communication at the [[University of Texas at Austin]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Emerson Today |date=2023-01-12 |title=Jay Bernhardt Named 13th President of Emerson College |url=https://today.emerson.edu/2023/01/12/jay-bernhardt-named-13th-president-of-emerson-college/ |access-date=2023-07-24 |website=Emerson Today |language=en-US}}</ref> Bernhardt's [[investiture]] ceremony at the Cutler Majestic Theatre on March 22, 2024, coincided with a pro-Palestinian demonstration.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Emerson Today |date=2024-03-22 |title=An Update on Today's Events |url=https://today.emerson.edu/2024/03/22/an-update-on-todays-events/ |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=Emerson Today |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stoico |first=Nick |date=2024-03-23 |title=Protest outside Emerson president's inauguration results in 13 arrests, including a dozen students |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/03/23/metro/protest-outside-emerson-presidents-inauguration-results-13-arrests-including-dozen-students/ |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=The Boston Globe |language=en-US}}</ref> He told organizers they could demonstrate "immediately outside" the venue so long as doors stayed clear.<ref name="boston.com"/> When 12 students and one non-student were arrested for disturbing the peace, Bernhardt said the incident caused "deep distress and anxiety," reaffirmed that Emerson "cherish[es] respectful dialogue," and asked prosecutors to drop the charges.<ref name="boston.com">{{Cite web |last=Spatz |first=Emily |date=2024-03-24 |title=13 arrested outside Emerson College presidential inauguration while protesting school's stance on Israel-Hamas war |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2024/03/24/13-arrested-emerson-college-presidential-inauguration-israel-gaza/ |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=Boston.com |language=en-US}}</ref> 

A month later, on April 25 2024, 118 people, including many Emerson students, were arrested (and several injured) after Boston Police cleared a Boylston Place Alley encampment that was part of the nationwide [[April 2024 Israel–Hamas war protests on United States university campuses|college protests against the Israel-Hamas War]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reed |first=Matt |date=2024-04-25 |title=108 arrested, 4 officers hurt as protest encampment cleared at Emerson |url=https://www.wcvb.com/article/boston-police-arrest-protesters-clear-pro-palestinian-encampment-at-emerson-college/60600586 |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=WCVB |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Emily Sweeney |author2=Ava Berger |author3=Maddie Khaw |title=Boston police forcibly remove pro-Palestinian tent encampment at Emerson College; more than 100 arrested |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/04/25/metro/emerson-encampment-cleared/ |agency=The Boston Globe |date=25 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Developing story: The latest on 2 Boylston Place 'Popular University Encampment' |url=https://berkeleybeacon.com/developing-story-the-latest-on-2-boylston-place-popular-university-encampment/ |access-date=25 April 2024 |agency=The Berkeley Beacon |date=25 April 2024}}</ref> In campus statements, Bernhardt noted that Emerson had urged the city to delay the sweep, sent staff to precincts, posted bail for students, cancelled classes so the community could process events, and pledged not to file campus disciplinary cases.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://today.emerson.edu/2024/04/28/statement-on-campus-arrests/|title=Statement on Campus Arrests|first=Emerson Today|last=Staff|date=April 28, 2024|website=Emerson Today}}</ref> On April 26th, 2024, the Student Government Association called for the [[resignation]] of President Bernhardt.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Matt Reed |title=Emerson student government calls for president to resign over response to encampment arrests|url=https://www.wcvb.com/article/emerson-college-student-government-calls-president-resign-encampment-arrests/60614484 |agency=WCVB 5 ABC News|date=26 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Carla Rojo|title=Students vote no confidence in Emerson president following protest arrests |url=https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/students-vote-no-confidence-in-emerson-president-following-protest-arrests/3351541/ |agency=NBC Boston|date=28 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Doug Struck |author2=Vinicius Navarro |author3=John Gianvito |author4=Nigel Gibson |title=Letter: It's time for Jay to go|url=https://berkeleybeacon.com/letter-its-time-for-jay-to-go/ |agency=The Berkeley Beacon |date=17 October 2024}}</ref>

==Campus==
[[File:Emerson College, Boston MA.jpg|thumb|Emerson College occupies this row of buildings across from the corner of [[Boston Common]].|alt=]]

Emerson College's permanent move from the [[Back Bay, Boston|Back Bay]] to its current location revitalized and preserved the distinct character and profiles of the surrounding neighborhoods, which comprise many significant historic landmarks and structures—the most notable being [[Boston Public Garden]] and [[Boston Common]]. Presently, the majority of the college's acquired properties were reclaimed, renovated and/or restored without having to introduce new developments into the Downtown core. Abutting the southeast corner of the Boston Common, the 8-acre urban campus at the intersection of [[Boylston Street]] and [[Tremont Street]] is served by [[Boylston (MBTA station)|Boylston]] station on the [[MBTA]] [[Green Line (MBTA)|Green Line]] and [[Chinatown (MBTA station)|Chinatown]] station on the [[Orange Line (MBTA)|Orange Line]]. In addition, Emerson College extends its campus outside Massachusetts state, operating in a fourteenth-century castle in the [[Netherlands]] and a major academic center on [[Sunset Boulevard]] in [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]] for its long-established Los Angeles program.

===Academic and theater buildings===

====Ansin Building (180 Tremont Street)====
Once owned by the [[Boston Edison Company]], the Ansin Building was purchased by Emerson in 1992. The building stands 14 stories high and contains all Visual & Media Arts (VMA) labs and facilities, offices for all VMA and Writing, Literature & Publishing (WLP) departments, and is the home of [[WERS]], WECB, and ETIN (Emerson's Talk and Information Network, an online radio service). It also contains the registrar's office, Tufte and 3D computer labs, Digital Production labs, and the Media Services center.

====216 Tremont Street====
The former Union Bank building at 216 Tremont Street houses the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and the in-house clinic, '''The Robbins Speech, Language and Hearing Center'''. Also located here are the offices of Student Financial Services, Health Services, Career Services, the Counseling Center and the International Student Center. The Bill Bordy Theater and Auditorium on the ground floor is used for lectures, performances, performance classes and special events.

Computer labs: Communication Sciences and Disorders Lab (CSD)

====Walker Building (120 Boylston Street)====
[[File:Cutler Majestic Theatre.jpg|thumb|upright|The Cutler Majestic Theatre, opened in 1903, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.|alt=]]

Provides classrooms, study rooms, offices to various non-academic and academic departments, five computer labs, and the Iwasaki Library. The fifth and sixth floors connect to the Tufte building.

Computer labs: Advanced Projects Lab (APL), Advanced Teaching Lab (ATL), Communication & Marketing Labs (CML) 1, 2, and Journalism Lab (JRL)<br />
Production facilities: Newsroom TV Studio, Newsroom Editing Labs<br />
Academic facilities: Iwasaki Library, Emerson College Archives and Special Collections

One of the sets of popular [[NBC]] sitcom ''[[Will & Grace]]'' (1998–2006, 2017–2020), donated by Emerson alumnus [[Max Mutchnick]], was displayed in the Iwasaki Library. The set, Will and Grace's living room and kitchen, remained in the library until 2013, when it was moved to Emerson's [[Los Angeles]] campus.

====Tufte Performance Production Center (10 Boylston Place)====
The 11-story building is home to two television studios, two performing art theaters, the Huret and Spector Gallery, set and costume studios, classrooms, and the offices of the Department of Performing Arts. The fifth and sixth floors of the building are connected to the Walker Building.

Computer labs: [[Computer-aided design|CAD]] Lab<br />
Performance theaters and facilities: Semel Theatre, The Kermit and Elinore Greene Theater, The [[Bobbi Brown]] and Steven Plofker Design Technology and Makeup Studio<br />
Television studio and facilities: [[Vin Di Bona|Di Bona]] Television Studio & Control Room, Studio B & Control Room

====Cutler Majestic Theatre (219 Tremont Street)====
The [[Cutler Majestic Theatre]] is home to Emerson Stage productions each year, various speaking events, Open House, and the EVVY Awards, Emerson's own award show and the largest student-run live television production in the country.<ref name="EVVY">{{cite web|url=http://www.evvyawards.org |title=The largest student award show in the nation |publisher=The EVVY Awards |date=2011-08-22 |access-date=2012-04-06}}</ref><ref name="EVVY-NEF">{{cite web |url=http://www.newenglandfilm.com/magazine/2011/05/EVVY |title=Profile of Emerson's EVVY Awards |publisher=NewEnglandFilm.com |date=2011-04-30 |access-date=2013-10-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029215408/http://www.newenglandfilm.com/magazine/2011/05/EVVY |archive-date=2013-10-29}}</ref>

====Paramount Center (555 Washington Street)====
Opening in 1932 as a movie theatre seating 1,700, the [[Paramount Theatre (Boston, Massachusetts)|Paramount Center]] was one of the first movie houses in Boston to play talking motion pictures. In 2005, Emerson College announced plans to renovate the Paramount Theatre, building an entire performing arts facility in and around the theatre. The renovated Paramount Center was designed by [[Elkus Manfredi Architects]] of Boston and built by Bond Brothers, and completed in 2010.

The project included not only renovating the Paramount Theatre into a 550-seat theater, but building both a new Performance Development Center and a new residence hall for the school on the 6th through 9th floors of the building. The complex features the 120-seat Liebergott [[black box theater|Black Box Theatre]], the 174-seat Bright Family Screening Room, nine rehearsal studios ranging from {{convert|700|to|1900|sqft|m2}}, five practice rooms for individuals and small groups, a [[sound stage]] for film production classes, a [[scene shop]], several classrooms, a restaurant, and Emerson faculty and staff offices.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.emerson.edu/about-emerson/offices-departments/office-arts/venues |title=Office of the Arts: Venues |publisher=Emerson College |access-date=2013-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221065932/http://www.emerson.edu/about-emerson/offices-departments/office-arts/venues |archive-date=2013-12-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==== Piano Row (150 Boylston Street) ====
Piano row is a 14-story building that houses 558 students in double occupancy rooms within four and six-person suites. Inside the building students can find The [[Max Mutchnick]] Campus Center<ref>{{Cite web |title=Max Mutchnick Campus Center, Emerson College |url=https://emerson.edu/departments/campus-centers/max-mutchnick-campus-center |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=emerson.edu |language=en}}</ref> and the [[Bobbi Brown]] and Steven Plofker Gymnasium<ref>{{Cite web |title=Facilities, Emerson College |url=https://emerson.edu/departments/athletics/facilities |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=emerson.edu |language=en}}</ref> are important campus buildings. The former features several conference, meeting, and rehearsal spaces open to all students, offices for Student Life and the Student Government Association, and storage for any student organization. Also housing new offices for the Athletics Department, it is Emerson College's first-ever indoor athletic facility. The construction of the gym was controversial at the time of its announcement, considering the lack of performing space on campus and the lack of enthusiasm around athletics at Emerson.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

====Little Building (80 Boylston Street)====
Emerson College purchased the building in 1994 and converted it into a 750-bed dormitory, which opened in September 1995.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://puka.cs.waikato.ac.nz/cgi-bin/cic/library?a=d&d=p626 |title=The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project |publisher=Puka.cs.waikato.ac.nz |access-date=2012-04-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120807213803/http://puka.cs.waikato.ac.nz/cgi-bin/cic/library?a=d&d=p626 |archive-date=2012-08-07 }}</ref>  In 2016, the college unveiled plans to do a complete renovation of the Little Building, which would replace and restore the building's façade and add an additional floor behind the parapet on the top of the building, adding approximately 300 beds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Emerson College - Little Building Addition and Renovation Project {{!}} Boston Planning & Development Agency |url=https://www.bostonplans.org/projects/development-projects/emerson-college-little-building-addition |access-date=2022-07-12 |website=www.bostonplans.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Emerson College – The Little Building |url=https://www.bostonpreservation.org/advocacy-project/emerson-college-little-building |access-date=2022-07-12 |website=Boston Preservation Alliance |language=en}}</ref>  The renovated dorm opened for the Fall 2019 semester and now houses up to 1,035 residents.

The Little Building is home to the schools Student Performance Center, commonly known as the SPC. Located on the Lower Level  of the building the  space is home to the Judee Wales Watson Theater (formerly the SPC Theatre) and the SPC Black Box, as well as two dance studios, three rehearsal rooms, and a production space.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Student Performance Center, Emerson College |url=https://emerson.edu/departments/campus-centers/student-performance-center |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=emerson.edu |language=en}}</ref>

====2 Boylston Place====
2 Boylston Place is the most recent addition to the campus, It opened in 2017, and contains an 18-story residence hall that houses approximately 375 students.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.emerson.edu/departments/housing-residential-education/residence-halls|title=Residence Halls|website=Emerson College|date=June 20, 2023 }}</ref>

===External programs===

====ELA—Hollywood Center (Los Angeles)====
[[File:Emerson College Los Angeles.png|thumb|Emerson Los Angeles center, opened in 2014, serves as the college's West Coast campus.|alt=]]

Situated on Sunset Boulevard (at Gordon St) in [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]], the Emerson Los Angeles (ELA) building is a permanent home to Emerson's decades-old Los Angeles program. The international design firm [[Morphosis]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.morphosis.com/ |title=Morphosis Architects |publisher=Morphosis.com |access-date=2012-04-06}}</ref> headed by [[Pritzker Prize]]-winning architect [[Thom Mayne]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.greatbuildings.com/architects/Thom_Mayne_-_Morphosis.html |title=Thom Mayne – Morphosis – Great Buildings Online |publisher=Greatbuildings.com |date=2005-03-21 |access-date=2012-04-06}}</ref> designed a signature building incorporating residential, teaching and administrative spaces. The 10-story building was opened for the college's winter semester in 2014. The new facility accommodates 217 students, approximately twice the number of students that were supported by Emerson's older facility in [[Burbank, California|Burbank]].<ref>Roger Vincent, [http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-emerson-20120302,0,2085438.story "Emerson College is building a new West Coast campus in Hollywood. The $85-million high-rise on Sunset Boulevard, a potential Hollywood landmark, will be a striking see-through structure where students will live and study the arts."] ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', March 2, 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Gordon |first=Larry |date=2014-02-28 |title=Emerson College opens futuristic outpost in Hollywood |url=http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-emerson-hollywood-20140301-story.html |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=2014-09-30}}</ref> The center allows undergraduate students to spend a full fall, spring or summer semester taking classes in Hollywood and participating in a semester-long internship at enterprises related to their field of study. In addition, ELA also offers professional training and workplace education for Los Angeles-area professionals who are not enrolled in the college degree programs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://patch.com/california/hollywood/emerson-los-angeles-launches-two-new-courses-aimed-helping-students-navigate-entertainment-industry|title=Emerson College Los Angeles Launches Two New Courses Aimed at Helping Students Navigate the Entertainment Industry|date=January 4, 2015|website=Hollywood, CA Patch}}</ref>

====Kasteel Well in the Netherlands====
Emerson College owns and operates [[Kasteel Well]] in the rural province of [[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg, Netherlands]], a national historical monument that provides living accommodations, classrooms, a resource center, and related facilities. Approximately 85 matriculated Emerson students attend the program each semester, and are chosen through a lottery-style system. Classes are taught by Dutch teachers, with several Belgian, German and other teachers from Europe on staff. Each semester Emerson brings the students in residence on A faculty-led, multi-day excursion to [[Amsterdam]] and to one other European capital, such as: Prague, Venice, Rome, Madrid, Berlin, Milan, Dublin, or Barcelona.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kasteel Well, Education Abroad & Domestic Programs, Emerson College |url=https://emerson.edu/departments/education-abroad-domestic-programs/kasteel-well |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=emerson.edu |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Well (2).JPG|thumb|upright|A restored 14th-century medieval castle is home to Emerson College's education abroad program in [[Well, Limburg|Well]], [[Netherlands]].|alt=]]

==Academics==
{{Infobox US university ranking
| Forbes = 222
| THE_WSJ = 501–600
| USNWR_REG = 19
| Wamo_MASTERSU = 321
}}

Emerson College is divided into two schools, the School of Communication and School of the Arts, and eight departments offering 31 undergraduate majors and 19 minors ([[Bachelor of Arts]]/[[Bachelor of Fine Arts|Fine Arts]], or [[Bachelor of Science|Science]]), and 12 graduate degree programs ([[Master of Arts]]/[[Master of Fine Arts|Fine Arts]], or [[Master of Science|Science]]). Though the college's programs are primarily focused on communications and the arts, the curriculum is delivered through a [[Liberal Arts|liberal arts and sciences]] education model, where students are required to take courses from other academic disciplines and also have the opportunity to declare a minor outside their major.

Emerson College is ranked by ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]'' in the Regional Universities North category. In 2021, it is ranked tied for 8th best overall, tied for 3rd in the Most Innovative Schools category, tied for 11th in Best Undergraduate Teaching, and 50th in the Best Value Schools category.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/emerson-college-2146/overall-rankings |title=Emerson College Overall Rankings {{!}} US News Best Colleges}}</ref>

In 2018, Emerson admitted 36% of applicants,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.berkeleybeacon.com/2018/04/19/acceptance-rate-drops-to-36-percent/ |title=Acceptance rate drops to 36 percent|work=The Berkeley Beacon|first=Maya|last=Gacina|date=April 19, 2018 |access-date=2018-12-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230233342/http://www.berkeleybeacon.com/2018/04/19/acceptance-rate-drops-to-36-percent/ |archive-date=2018-12-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and is ranked 6th in the Universities-Master's (North) category according to ''U.S. News & World Report''. There are 3,871 undergraduate and 1,048 graduate students as of 2019.<ref name=Enrollment>{{cite web |url=https://emerson.box.com/s/smayka8parg4r2prge80hf58643ygm8e |title=2019-2020 Student Snapshot |publisher=Emerson College |access-date=April 30, 2020 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> Tuition for the 2018–2019 academic year is $46,016 for a full-time student; approximately 76% of students receive financial assistance in scholarships and grants, low-interest loans and part-time employment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.emerson.edu/about-emerson/facts-figures |title=Facts & Figures |publisher=Emerson College |access-date=November 26, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/boston-ma/emerson-college-2146 |title=Emerson College &#124; Best College &#124; |work=[[U.S. News & World Report]] |date=2012-03-27 |access-date=2012-04-06}}</ref>

===Film===
Emerson College has an extensive film program that is one of the largest in the United States. In 2008/2009, it awarded 368 degrees in film, Radio, and Television. In August 2022, Emerson's Visual and Media Arts program was rated #6 in the nation by ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Galuppo |first=Mia |date=2022-08-05 |title=2022's Top 25 American Film Schools, Ranked |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/best-american-film-schools-ranked-2022-1235190992/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> Along with its VMA program, Emerson also operates a joint degree program with [[Paris College of Art]] in the [[10th arrondissement of Paris|10th arrondissement]] of [[Paris|Paris, France]] called the Global BFA in Film Art. This program opened in 2019.

===Journalism===
The journalism major at Emerson College has become an attractive destination for media-inclined undergrads as it consistently ranks highly among college list publications like Prep Scholar and College Factual. "Our programs are super experiential. You go out and do the story, and then you come back and we give you feedback," said journalism department chair Lu Ann Reeb.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://berkeleybeacon.com/boylston-beacons-and-broadcasting-the-long-and-complex-history-of-the-emerson-journalism-department/ |title=Boylston, Beacons, and Broadcasting: The long and complex history of the Emerson Journalism Department |date=February 15, 2024 |website=Berkeley Beacon |access-date=2024-07-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsjunkie.net/entity/emerson-college |title=Emerson College Department of Journalism: Real world assignments, access to faculty |publisher=Newsjunkie.net |access-date=2024-07-23}}</ref>

===Marketing===
The college offers undergraduate programs in Marketing Communications (BS) and Business of [[Creative industries|Creative Enterprises]] (BA). Emerson's Department of Marketing Communication has on-campus graduate degrees in [[Marketing Communications|Integrated Marketing Communication]] and [[Global Marketing|Global Marketing Communication & Advertising]], as well as online degree in Digital Marketing and Data Analytics. Starting in the 2018–19 academic year, the GMCA and IMC programs were merged into a single MA program in Strategic Marketing Communication.

In 2014 Emerson was named #5 on the list of top 10 U.S. colleges to get a marketing degree published by ''[[USA Today]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=10 Top U.S. Schools for a Major in Marketing |url=http://college.usatoday.com/2014/11/12/10-top-u-s-schools-for-a-major-in-marketing/ |work=USA Today |access-date=January 4, 2019 |archive-date=May 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523173246/http://college.usatoday.com/2014/11/12/10-top-u-s-schools-for-a-major-in-marketing/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was ranked #14 of 47 in 2018 Best Master's of Marketing Programs ranking by TFE Times,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tfetimes.com/best-marketing-program-rankings/|title=2021 Best Master's of Marketing Programs|first=T. F. E.|last=Times|date=January 14, 2021|website=TFE Times}}</ref> and #15 of 416 in 2019 Best Marketing Colleges in the U.S. ranking by College Factual.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.collegefactual.com/colleges/emerson-college/academic-life/academic-majors/business-management-marketing-sales/marketing/|title=The Marketing Major at Emerson College|website=www.collegefactual.com}}</ref>

===Engagement Game Lab===
The [[Engagement Game Lab]] is an applied research lab at Emerson College devoted to getting people involved with civic engagement in innovative ways and studying citizenship in a digital era. It is facilitated by professionals, but also has student assistants and offers its resources to students.<ref>{{cite web|title=Engagement Game Lab |url=http://engagementgamelab.org/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901022425/http://engagementgamelab.org/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=September 1, 2010 |publisher=Emerson College}}</ref>

==Athletics==
[[file:Emerson lions wordmark.png|thumb|Emerson Lions wordmark]]
The college is a member of the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] ([[Division III (NCAA)|Division III]]), the [[Eastern College Athletic Conference]] (ECAC), and the [[New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference]] (NEWMAC). Emerson previously competed as a charter member of the [[Great Northeast Athletic Conference]] (GNAC) from 1995 to 2013. The college was also a charter member of the [[Commonwealth Coast Conference]] (CCC), which it competed in from 1984 to 1989. The athletics department has men's and women's [[lacrosse]], [[tennis]], [[basketball]], [[cross country running]], [[golf]], [[volleyball]] and [[soccer]] teams, in addition to a women's [[softball]] team and a men's [[baseball]] team.

The women's softball team defeated Western New England College in 2007 to clinch the GNAC championship and earn the department's first appearance in the NCAA tournament. In 2012, Emerson's women's volleyball team defeated [[Rivier University|Rivier]] to become the 2012 GNAC Champions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://emerson.prestosports.com/sports/wvball/2012-13/releases/201211046qy1g9 |title=六Champions! Women's Volleyball Usurps #1 Rivier For Second GNAC Title |date=4 November 2012 |publisher=Emerson |access-date=2012-11-14}}</ref> In 2019, the men's basketball team won its first NEWMAC title in program history. In 2022 the women's soccer team defeated Clark University to clinch the NEWMAC title.

== Student organizations ==
Emerson College offers over 100 student organizations under its Student Engagement & Leadership department, most of which are highly active and diverse ranging from curriculum-based activities to social action organizations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.emerson.edu/student-life/activities-organizations|title=Activities & Organizations {{!}} Emerson College|website=Emerson College|access-date=2017-01-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161212132626/http://www.emerson.edu/student-life/activities-organizations|archive-date=2016-12-12|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Student Organizations, Emerson College |url=https://emerson.edu/departments/seal/student-organizations |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=emerson.edu |language=en}}</ref> Organizations are either maintained by Student-Led Executive Boards, the Student Government Association or by campus departments (if the organizations are managed by faculty or staff).

=== The EVVY Awards ===
The largest student run, multi-camera, production in the nation, the EVVY Awards are Emerson College's annual award show. Judged by industry professionals, The EVVYs recognize Emerson students' achievements in their chosen discipline. Each May the show is broadcast live from the Cutler Majestic Theatre. More than 500 students are annually involved with the EVVY Awards. The organization is run entirely by Emerson students, and advised by staff members.

The 31st and 33rd Annual EVVY Awards won the College Television Award for Alternative/Variety programming.<ref name="EVVY-NEF" />

=== Emerson Channel ===
The Emerson Channel is Emerson College's television station. The channel was created in 1999 under the Television, Radio, and Film Department. The organization is managed by a full-time staff member and is run by Emerson College Students. Student works regularly receive collegiate EVVY awards.

=== Emerson Independent Video ===
EIV was founded in 1975 and is Emerson's largest entirely student run organization. EIV funds and assists in the production of live news, teleplays, single camera narratives, and other shows selected by the student management board from proposals made by fellow students at the end of each semester. EIV is known for their Emmy and AP Award-winning show, ''EIV News at 9p'', as well as their pre-taped Evening News broadcast.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eivtv.com/|title=EIV|publisher=Eivtv.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/eivtv|title=EIV Youtube Page|website=Youtube.com}}</ref>

=== Student Magazines and Newspapers ===

==== ''Emertainment Monthly'' ====
''Emertainment Monthly'' is Emerson College's official entertainment magazine.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://emertainmentmonthly.org/ |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=Emertainment Monthly |language=en-US}}</ref> Modeled after professional entertainment journalism outlets like ''Entertainment Weekly'', ''Emertainment Monthly'' has been nominated for several EVVY Awards and participates in major entertainment events as official members of the press. ''Emertainment Monthly'' received the title of Best in Show in the "Website Small School" Category by the Associated Collegiate Press in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://studentpress.org/acp/2015/11/01/2015-national-college-media-convention-best-of-show/|title=ACP - 2015 National College Media Convention Best of Show|website=studentpress.org|access-date=2017-01-05}}</ref>

==== ''The Berkeley Beacon'' ====
{{main|The Berkeley Beacon}}
''The Berkeley Beacon'' is Emerson's student-run, weekly print newspaper. In 2012, it became the first collegiate newspaper website with a responsive design.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.niemanlab.org/2012/04/emerson-college-student-paper-completes-a-fully-responsive-mobile-friendly-redesign/|title=Emerson College student paper completes a fully responsive, mobile-friendly redesign|newspaper=Nieman Lab|access-date=2017-01-05}}</ref> It received the titles of Best in Show in the "Four-Year Weekly" and "Website Small School" categories by the Associated Collegiate Press in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://studentpress.org/acp/awards/2015-los-angeles-best-of-show/|title=ACP - 2015 Los Angeles Best of Show|website=studentpress.org|access-date=2017-01-05}}</ref> In 2025, the ''Beacon'' was ranked the second best college newspaper in the country by [[The Princeton Review]], finishing behind Columbia University's [[Columbia Daily Spectator|Daily Spectator]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Best College Newspaper |url=https://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings/?rankings=best-college-newspaper |website=The Princeton Review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250823233202/https://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings/?rankings=best-college-newspaper |archive-date=23 August 2025}}</ref>

=== Student performance organizations ===
The college has several student groups focused on theater productions. This includes the BlueJay Theatre Collective, the college's newest founded in 2023;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/bluejay.theater.collective/ |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref>the emShakes Theatre Co. that focuses on Shakespeare and classic works "with a twist";<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.emersonshakespearesociety.org/about |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=emShakes Theatre Co. |language=en-US}}</ref> Kidding Around, focused on theatre for young audiences (TYA) and intergenerational audiences;<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://kiddingaroundec.wixsite.com/home/about-3 |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=Kidding Around |language=en}}</ref> the Mercutio Troupe, founded in 1972 as an all female Shakespeare group; turned into a organizations that focuses on creating art that test political intrigue.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WTF IS MERCUTIO TROUPE? |url=https://prezi.com/yc3po164mjxx/wtf-is-mercutio-troupe/ |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=prezi.com |language=en}}</ref> The RareWorks Theatre Company that produces new works and underrepresented plays;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C4Yo2hPvMIL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref> and a student-led subsect of Boston's CHUANG Stage, Boston's Asian American theatre company in residence at the Boston Center for the Arts (BCA).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-29 |title=CHUANG Stage - Boston's Asian American Theatre Company |url=https://www.chuangstage.org/ |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=CHUANG Stage - Boston’s Asian American Theatre Company |language=en-US}}</ref> The college also dance troupes such as the Emerson Dance Company and the Emerson Urban Dance Theatre.<ref>{{cite web|title=Emerson Dance Company Dazzles Paramount|url=http://www.emerson.edu/news-events/emerson-college-today/emerson-dance-company-dazzles-paramount#.WSNVLxMrK8U|website=Emerson College|access-date=2017-05-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/emersonurbandance/ |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref> The group was founded in 2006 by Michael Love as a way bring styles like hip-hop, street jazz, and rhythm tap to Emerson audiences.

===Student radio===
WECB is the campus student run radio station, overseen by a faculty advisor. WECB broadcasts online at its website<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wecb.fm/|title=WECB|website=WECB}}</ref> and on closed-circuit campus television (channel 56).

In 1983–84, WECB was scheduled for demolition without reconstruction, as part of the Mass Communications $1.6M renovation project. Carol Kamerschen, Greg Weremey, Barry Scott and Russ Weisenbacher were instrumental in fighting the board of trustees, and convincing them to allow Weremey and Weisenbacher to design and build new studios at 126 Beacon Street, replacing the former facilities at 130 Beacon Street, 4th floor.<ref>{{cite web |last=Halper |first=Donna L. |url=http://home.comcast.net/~wecb640/HISTORY.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630212421/http://home.comcast.net/~wecb640/HISTORY.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-06-30 |title=History |publisher=Home.comcast.net |date=1993-03-15 |access-date=2012-04-06 }}</ref>

ETIN (Emerson's Talk and Information Network), an online talk radio service run by students, is also housed in the same space as WERS and WECB.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://etinradio.org/| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130704011901/http://etinradio.org/| archive-date = 2013-07-04| title = ETIN {{!}} Emerson's Talk and Information Network}}</ref>

===Comedy Troupes===
The college has a long tradition in the comedy community, including student groups specializing in various combinations of sketch comedy, improvisation, and short films. There are twelve recognized comedy organizations: Emerson Comedy Workshop, Chocolate Cake City, Inside Joke, Jimmy's Traveling All-Stars, Derbyn Comedy, This is Pathetic, Stroopwafel, SwoMo Comedy, The Girlie Project, A Goose Troupe, Stand-Up in the Park, and Flawed Comedy.<ref name="EMERSONCAT">{{Cite web | last = Emerson College | title = Undergraduate 2013–2014 Catalogue | publisher = ISSUU | year = 2013 |url=http://issuu.com/emersoncollege/docs/ugcatalog2013 | access-date = 2013-12-30}}</ref>{{rp|32–34}} Several comedy classes, including "Comedy Writing for Television," "Intermediate Creative Writing: Comedy," and "Comedy Writers' Room" are a regular part of the curriculum.<ref name="EMERSONCAT" />{{rp|131,157,138}} In September 2016, the college began offering a [[Bachelor of Fine Arts|B.F.A.]] in Comedic Arts,<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Neil |first1=Luke |title=Could a College Degree in Comedy Be Anything Other Than a Joke? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/13/magazine/could-a-college-degree-in-comedy-be-anything-other-than-a-joke.html |url-access=subscription |newspaper=The New York Times Magazine |date=13 June 2016 |access-date=4 December 2020}}</ref> claiming it to be "the first degree of its kind in the country."<ref>{{cite web |title=Comedic Arts (BFA) |url=https://www.emerson.edu/programs/comedic-arts-bfa |website=emerson.edu |publisher=Emerson College |access-date=4 December 2020}}</ref>

The Emerson College Comedy Scholarship is offered each year to one rising senior who has "demonstrated leadership and talent in the writing, performance, or direction of comedy."<ref name="EMERSONCAT"/>{{rp|49}} The college is also home to the American Comedy Archives, established in 2005 to "acquire, preserve and make available primary source material that documents the professional activities of the ground breaking individuals who have written, produced or performed comedy for radio, television, motion pictures or live performance".<ref>{{cite web | title = Iwasaki Library American Comedy Archives | publisher = Emerson College | year = 2014 | url = http://www.emerson.edu/academics/academic-services/library/archives/american-comedy-archives | access-date = 2014-01-01 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160107154730/http://www.emerson.edu/academics/academic-services/library/archives/american-comedy-archives | archive-date = 2016-01-07 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

== List of presidents ==

* [[Charles Wesley Emerson]] (1880–1903)
* William James Rolphe (1903–08)
* [[Henry Lawrence Southwick]] (1908–32)
* Harry S. Ross (1932–45)
* Boylston Green (1945–49)
* Samuel Justus McKinley (1949–67)
* Richard Chapin (1967–75)
* Gus Turbeville (1975–77)
* Oliver Woodruff (1977–79)
* [[Allen E. Koenig]] (1979–89)
* John Zacharis (1989–92)
* [[Jacqueline Liebergott]] (1992–2011)
* [[M. Lee Pelton]] (2011–2021)
* [[William Gilligan]] (Interim president, 2021–2023)
* [[Jay Bernhardt]] (2023–present)

==Notable people==
{{Cleanup gallery|date=June 2025}}

{{main|List of Emerson College people}}
<gallery class="center">
File:JayLeno.jpg|[[Jay Leno]],<br />comedian and former host of ''[[The Tonight Show]]''<br />(B.A.)
File:Daniels 2016.jpg|[[Daniels (directors)|Daniel Scheinert & Daniel Kwan]], writers and directors of the Oscar-winning film ''[[Everything Everywhere All at Once|Everything Everywhere All At Once]]''.
File:Morton Dean.jpg|[[Morton Dean]],<br>journalist and former television anchor for ''[[CBS Evening News]]''<br />(B.A.)
File:Norman Lear 2015.jpg|[[Norman Lear]],<br />television producer known for ''[[All in the Family]], [[The Jeffersons]]'' and ''[[Good Times]]''<br />(did not graduate)
File:Paul Thomas Anderson 2007 crop.jpg|[[Paul Thomas Anderson]],<br />filmmaker known for ''[[Boogie Nights]]'', ''[[Magnolia (film)|Magnolia]]'' and ''[[There Will Be Blood]]''<br />(did not graduate)
File:David Cross (26420122915) (cropped).jpg|[[David Cross]],<br />comedian and actor known for ''[[Mr. Show with Bob and David|Mr. Show]]'' and ''[[Arrested Development]]''<br />(did not graduate)
[[Justin Willman]],<br />Magician <br />
File:Jennifer Coolidge - Cropped.jpg|[[Jennifer Coolidge]],<br />comedian and actress known for ''[[American Pie (film series)|American Pie]]'' and ''[[Legally Blonde]]''<br />(B.A.)
File:Bill Burr by Gage Skidmore.jpg|[[Bill Burr]],<br />comedian and actor known for ''[[Paper Tiger (2019 film)|Paper Tiger]]'' and ''[[Breaking Bad]]''<br />(B.A.)
File:Henry Winkler (25421999331).jpg|[[Henry Winkler]],<br />actor known for ''[[Happy Days]], [[Arrested Development]]'', and ''[[Barry (TV series)|Barry]]''<br />(B.A.)
File:ErikMesserschmidtPhoto.jpg|[[Erik Messerschmidt]],<br />cinematographer known for ''[[Mank]]'' and ''[[Mindhunter (TV series)|Mindhunter]]''<br />(B.F.A.)
File:Informed- Conversations on Democracy in the Digital Age - 037A3938 (52532417485) (headshot).jpg|[[Ben Collins (reporter)|Ben Collins]],<br />reporter for [[NBC News]] and ''[[The Daily Beast]]''<br />(B.S.)
File:FIBD2019RencontreBatman 02 (cropped).jpg|[[Paul Dini]],<br />screenwriter and co-creator of ''[[Batman: The Animated Series]]''<br />(B.F.A.)
File:Doug Herzog.jpg|[[Doug Herzog]],<br />former president of [[ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks|MTV Networks]]<br />(B.S.)
File:Vin Di Bona.jpg|[[Vin Di Bona]],<br />producer of ''[[MacGyver (1985 TV series)|MacGyver]]'', ''[[Entertainment Tonight]]'', and ''[[America's Funniest Home Videos]]''<br />(B.A.)
File:Seth Grahame-Smith by Gage Skidmore.jpg|[[Seth Grahame-Smith]],<br />novelist known for ''[[Pride and Prejudice and Zombies]]'' and ''[[Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter (novel)|Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter]]''<br />(B.A.)
File:Olen-Steinhauer2.jpg|[[Olen Steinhauer]],<br />author of spy fiction including ''[[The Tourist (novel)|The Tourist]]''<br />(M.F.A.)
File:Andrea Martin NYC Nov18.jpg|[[Andrea Martin]],<br />actress known for ''[[Pippin (musical)|Pippin]]'', ''[[Second City Television|SCTV]]'', and ''[[My Big Fat Greek Wedding]]''<br />(B.A.)
File:Bobbi Brown at 2009 Heart Truth fashion show (Cropped).png|[[Bobbi Brown]],<br> author and entrepreneur
File:Denis Leary by Gage Skidmore.jpg|[[Denis Leary]],<br />actor and co-creator of ''[[Rescue Me (American TV series)|Rescue Me]]''<br />(B.A.)
File:Suzan Johnson Cook official photo.jpg|[[Suzan Johnson Cook]],<br />advisor to President [[Bill Clinton]]<br />(B.A.)
File:David Foster Wallace (cropped).jpg|[[David Foster Wallace]],<br />author of ''[[Infinite Jest]]''<br />(faculty)
File:Maria Menounos LF.JPG|[[Maria Menounos]],<br> journalist and media personality
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{ccat}}
* {{oweb}}
* [https://emersonlions.com/ Athletics website]
* [https://marketinganalytics.emerson.edu/programs/digital-marketing-data-analytics Official Online Programs] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416172611/https://marketinganalytics.emerson.edu/programs/digital-marketing-data-analytics |date=April 16, 2020 }})

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