The Academy provides an innovative and dynamic framework for its students and their ambitions, from day one of their freshman year to graduation. Academy students benefit from support and direct mentorship from faculty, industry professionals and leaders, and access to experts across diverse fields, enriching their entrepreneurial and creative endeavors, as well as their industry impact.

Internships, Jobs, and Student Founders 

Internships and Positions: Academy students secure internships and full-time positions at leading companies such as Google, Apple, Intel, and many others. These opportunities allow students to apply their skills in challenging environments and expand their professional networks.

An Intersectional Groundwork for Evolving Professional Paths: The Academy's integrative curriculum and professionalizing experiences prepare students for a wide range of industries and roles. Curricular, co-curricular, and hands-on challenges are crafted to foster bold thinking and an intersectional understanding that empowers students to take charge of their futures, equipping themselves for the jobs of tomorrow, today. 

Achievements Unlocked: Since Fall 2020, Academy startups have attracted over $120 million in funding and acquisitions. Notably, the student-created Mira "Prism" AR Headset won the 2018 Red Dot Product Design Award and partnered with Universal Creative for Super Mario Kart's AR experience at Super Nintendo World. Mira was acquired by Apple in 2023. Academy ventures have gained recognition through participation in Y Combinator, the top global accelerator, including carbon footprint offsetter Wren, and Demeanor, Co., acquired by NTWRK in 2019. Creator economy platform support July announced a $2.3M pre-seed led by Alexis Ohanian’s Seven Seven Six in 2022. 

From XR design tools to community-building social networking apps, ideas are born, nurtured, and scaled at the Academy–an incubator for student innovation.

Support and Professional Development: The IYA Career Edge

Successful Graduate Outcomes: 90% of Academy graduates secure jobs within six months of graduation – a testament to the school’s network of support underscoring the effectiveness of the Academy's professional assistance and development programs.

Real-World Experiences: Students benefit from a variety of tools and resources aimed at enhancing their professional development. These include workshops led by industry experts, panels featuring interns, alumni, and founders, and individualized career coaching.

Trojan Family Network: Under the motto "once a Trojan, always a Trojan," Academy students gain lifelong access to a global network of nearly half a million Trojan alumni, offering a robust and lasting connection to a community of professionals and mentors.

Recruiting Sessions and Speakers: The Academy emphasizes individualized career coaching and workshops focusing on essential skills such as resume and cover letter crafting, networking, interview techniques, and digital self-marketing. Students have exclusive access to on-campus and virtual recruiting sessions, company information sessions with industry partners, and a speaker series that provides valuable networking opportunities.

Capstone Experience: Fusing Innovation and Industry

Check Out The Pulse for Student and Alumni Stories, Milestones, Faculty Profiles, News, and Transformative Learning Experiences

The Garage Experience (GX): Each degree at the Academy culminates in a capstone course that allows students to develop innovative projects, operational prototypes, viable enterprises, or conduct research. These projects are supported by expert faculty and mentors, providing a crucial connection between educational accomplishments and industry success.

Capstone Project Outcomes: Academy capstones have led to numerous, funded startups. These ventures have not only transformed into successful companies, they’ve activated student potential to pursue advanced research and graduate studies at prestigious institutions worldwide, from NYU to Oxford. 

Sandra Thomas, MA
Associate Director, Career Services

Email: sandra.thomas@usc.edu 