This intensive hands-on entrepreneurship program focuses on all facets of business plan development. Learn to assess the competitive entrepreneurial environment, develop a venture concept and growth strategies, create marketing approaches, build a cohesive management team, launch operations and develop financial projections. During the program, participants work as a team to create a business and on the final day, each team presents their business plan and participates in a friendly “shark tank” type competition.

Examine the dynamic world of international business, globalization and how global markets work. You will learn about the international flow of goods and services, trade agreements, investment, foreign currency and regulation. You’ll be introduced to business problems and work on strategies to resolve them in the context of current events, both in the U.S. and abroad.

This course looks at the channels of marketing, advertising and communication that make up social media platforms, exploring how these tools fit into a company’s integrated marketing strategy. Using real-world examples from large corporations and small businesses, students explore how marketing professionals embrace online social networks, user-generated content and content sharing to create brand awareness. Learn tips and techniques to successfully leverage your own social media marketing.

This course provides students with an overview of business for professional sports including finance, marketing and technology. Learn about professional sports entities that make billions of dollars entertaining people around the world. Through lectures, case studies and guest speakers, explore topics such as producing live events, broadcasting rights, athlete marketing, sponsorship, the fan experience, and sports law.

Develop core leadership skills and enhance your ability to communicate effectively with others. This course will help strengthen your people and professional management skills that are key to successful leadership in any field. You will examine individuals’ perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors enabling you as a leader to choose the appropriate leadership style and managerial practices to increase organization effectiveness and positive relationships.

Combine a morning business course with an afternoon business course for an intensive full-day track.

This interactive course combines an introduction to the framework of the U.S. legal system with an exploration of special topics in law. Through lectures, case studies, evidence-based exercises and simulations, students will learn about the scope of laws, how they evolve, and apply these lessons to current legal issues relevant to their everyday lives. Students also have an opportunity to observe a court hearing, present an oral argument, and meet attorneys and judges. After an investigation of some of the complexities, challenges and strengths of the U.S. legal system, the program concludes with an interactive panel on legal career pathways.

If you have a desire to improve your computer science skills and learn to code, this course is for you! You will learn more about the business needs of coding and work in teams to develop web programs with basic front-end and back-end programming technologies. At the conclusion of the program, each team presents their project in front of a panel of experts.

For those true crime enthusiasts, experience the world of forensic science through hands-on training exercises and theoretical lessons. Examine CSI procedures along with forensic anthropology, biology and bloodstain pattern analysis. A scenario is staged and you work in investigative teams to identify, collect and interpret the evidence before you act as a forensic expert witness and testify in a mock court setting.

Get an extra leg up on the college application process. Combine the morning Navigating College Admissions and afternoon Princeton Review SAT (and ACT too!) courses.

* A supplementary fee of $595 applies for the Princeton Review.

Sessions include how to create your college resumé, write a college essay, what to look for on-campus visits, select the college that best fits you, and navigate the application process. Learn how to apply for scholarships and aid, understand the role of extracurricular activities, leadership and community service and make sure you are on the right track. Receive one-on-one counseling to find the school that best suits your academic, social and financial profile.

Improve your SAT performance by becoming a better test taker. Learn Princeton Review’s exclusive strategies. Your instructor will help you master the test through in-class practice, drills and test reviews. You will better understand math, critical reading and writing concepts tested on the exams and your instructor will teach proven test-taking techniques. In addition to your course, you get the following materials and extras:

• Talented, dynamic instructor and proven Princeton Review methods and strategies
• 4 full-length Diagnostic Exams, with detailed computer analysis of the results
• The Princeton Review Course Material and Workbooks
• 24/7 access to the new adaptive student portal. With 240 online drills and over 2,000 online practice questions, you’ll have everything you need to practice and familiarize yourself with the test.
• The Princeton Review ACT Self-Paced Online Prep Course is included with your summer SAT course for no additional fee. It will be available after your summer course.

* A supplementary fee of $595 applies for the Princeton Review.

Service is offered as a Full-Day Track or afternoon option. As a Full-Day Track, perform meaningful service in the communities in and around LA. Projects are finalized in the spring; those currently planned are several days working with the children at a youth club and a few days helping to maintain and beautify gardens in local schools with Enrich LA. You make a difference in the lives of those we serve. A letter recognizing 60 hours of service is issued. We are a Certifying Organization for the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

This course introduces basic concepts in psychology including behavioral, cognitive and clinical psychology. Through the use of discussion, film and in-class activities, explore topics such as how to improve emotional intelligence, limitations in perception, cognitive distortions and how to improve memory. Other topics included are mental illness, stereotyping and prejudice.

This hands-on course of workshops helps students become comfortable, confident and masterful presenters. The principles presented apply to business settings as well as other activities in daily life. Learn to focus, prepare and deliver a presentation. Students make brief presentations, receive constructive feedback and personal coaching to help them overcome emotional and mental blocks.

Create a dialogue on matters concerning diplomacy, international business, and the world economy. Analyze modern issues of global concern through lectures, case studies, evidence-based exercises and simulations. Understand differing world-views that stem from cultural perspectives and socio-economic backgrounds. Develop your understanding of how conflicts arise and appreciate the shifting international balance of powers.

Perform meaningful service in the communities in and around LA. You may work with the children at the Boys & Girls Club and organize donations at the LA Food Bank; projects are finalized in the spring. A letter recognizing 22 hours of service is issued after the summer. Westcoast Connection is a Certifying Organization for the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

New York Film Academy instructors with tremendous experience and training from the nation’s elite film schools teach you to write, direct, shoot and edit. Intensive study of camera operation, screenwriting and directing prepare you for the production day, where you enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shoot a movie on the Universal Studios backlot. The course concludes with editing and post-production work.

* A supplementary fee of $495 applies for Filmmaking with the New York Film Academy.

*Students must be 16 years old by June 28, 2020. College credit (3 units from FIDM) and a final grade will be awarded to each student. There will be some homework and out-of-class assignments to complete. Students will attend 2 additional class sessions for a total of 13 sessions. WCC students are commingled with Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) students.

Students who choose Careers in Fashion with FIDM will select one of the following six college-credit fashion courses for the first two weeks. In week three, Westcoast Connection students participate in an exclusive Trends and Styling workshop.

Choose one of these six college-credit fashion courses for the first 2-weeks:

Option #1: Trend Analysis & Styling Concepts
This course is an introduction to the methodology of tracking and forecasting trends in the fashion industry. Examine how world economy, popular culture, visual arts, runway collections, retail and street fashion combine in varying degrees to determine future style trends. A final, culminating styling project will challenge you to synthesize what you have learned, and you will make an informed prediction about future trends for a brand or target market of your choice.

Option #2: Digital Imaging
In this intermediate digital graphics track using Adobe Photoshop, learn how to use the program’s tools, layers and palettes to enhance and manipulate photo composites and original artwork into conceptual designs. Projects for the class are geared toward the entertainment and fashion industries with an emphasis on branding.

Option #3: Fashion Styling & Coordination
This course focuses on various styling techniques, from photoshoots and runway shows to internet styling, online blogging and red carpet event planning. You will gain professional and editorial styling skills integral to art direction during lectures and projects. The course culminates in a themed fashion shoot.

Option #4: Industry Sewing
This course introduces students to industry sewing techniques with an emphasis on operating the power sewing machine. Students produce a completed garment by applying the techniques taught in the course.

Option #5: Fashion Sketching for Design
In this course you will learn proportions techniques for sketching using the nine-head figure in a variety of poses. You will practice drawing the features of the face, hands and feet, and will gain an understanding of drawing dimension through the application of shading techniques.

Option #6: Introduction to Adobe Photoshop
This course is an introduction to Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator software design techniques, naming conventions and digital asset management. Gain basic knowledge of digital design components, vector, raster, tools, and menu items, which they will apply to their major areas of study. These concepts serve as a digital foundation for industry-standard, computer-aided design communication.

Week 3: Trends & Styling Workshop
Explore the role of Creative Director. Beginning with a trend report and an inspiring tour of the Los Angeles Arts District, learn to plan, style and execute a photoshoot. Following the photoshoot, graphic artists will teach you to professionally Photoshop your images to make them “press-ready” for digital marketing.

* A supplementary fee of $295 applies for Careers in Fashion with FIDM.

From learning basic knife skills to creating succulent dishes, if you are a foodie, this course is for you! Whether you’re creating gourmet entrées or delicious desserts, this course is guaranteed to make you salivate. Our expert chef will help you develop technical skills in the kitchen in this hands-on culinary experience, where each class focuses on a different theme. You even get to take away a book full of mouth-watering recipes you helped prepare!

* A supplementary fee of $195 applies.

For anyone with a passion for photography, no matter your level, learn about digital cameras (shutter speed, aperture, ISO, camera modes) and the basics of composition (lighting, exposure, framing, focus and blur). The course includes fieldwork in L.A. to delve into the art of street photography. The course also focuses on portraiture, as you step into a professional studio to learn about different lighting techniques.

* A DSLR or bridge camera with manual functions having at least a 12.0 megapixel sensor is required.

This program is designed to increase your overall fluency through real experiences with American culture. Improve your vocabulary and pronunciation, review proper grammatical structures, and practice your writing skills. Beyond the classroom, guided field trips provide you many opportunities to practice your English in the real world. If attending a university in the USA is one of your future goals, then this is the program for you!

This course is designed for non-native English-speaking students interested in attending an English-speaking college or university. It prepares you for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Thousands of schools worldwide rely on TOEFL scores to assist in admission decisions. Imagine the possibilities this test opens up to you as it demonstrates you have the English language skills necessary for an academic classroom. Our instructors guide you and offer you test-taking strategies, help you familiarize yourself with the test, and allow you to practice all sections of the exam.

Plan your workout regimen including weight training and cardio to help meet your fitness goals.

Want to hang ten and ride the waves like a pro? This course heads to Santa Monica Beach where you learn how to improve balance and technique and perfect your form in no time. All levels of ability are welcome.

* A supplementary fee of $195 applies.