Comedy Arts (BFA)

Comedy Arts (BFA) Theatre

The Theatre School’s Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Comedy Arts prepares graduates to be performers, directors, and content creators through the academic study of the history and techniques of comedy and by the practical application of this knowledge in the creation and performance of a progression of theatrical productions.

The curriculum reflects the way comedians have learned their field for centuries, by testing their material in front of an audience, digesting their response, and then learning to revise and rethink in order to be successful communicators. Through a variety performance experiences, students will create content for a variety of forums.

Students work with a distinguished and award-winning faculty of professional writers, directors, and performers. Students will perform their work both on campus and in Chicago comedy venues.

Program Requirements (Manual Total)
Program Requirements	Quarter Hours
Liberal Studies Requirements	40
Major Requirements	152-160
Total hours required	192-200

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Core Outcomes:

Students will be able to:

Analyze and discuss artistic productions within a context of theatre history, social structures, cultural identities, political movements, and indvidual experience.
Apply ethical frameworks to both the process and product of artistic collaboration in service to both colleagues and the larger community.
Design actionable plans to complete complex projects both individually and as a leader or member of a team.

Program Specific Outcomes:

Students will be able to:

Practice the concepts and skills of multiple theatrical disciplines in order to create, produce, and perform a variety of forms of comedy.
Apply the knowledge and skills they have developed in the study of comedy to projects in other fields and disciplines as life-long learners.

]]> Liberal Studies Requirements

Honors program requirements can be found in the individual Colleges & Schools section of the University Catalog. Select the appropriate college or school, followed by Undergraduate Academics and scroll down.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year Program		Hours
Chicago Quarter
LSP 110 or LSP 111	DISCOVER CHICAGO or EXPLORE CHICAGO	4
Focal Point
Not Required
Writing
WRD 103	COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC I ¹	4
WRD 104	COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC II ¹	4
Quantitative Reasoning
MAT 120	QUANTITATIVE REASONING ²	4
Sophomore Year
Race, Power, and Resistance
LSP 200	SEMINAR ON RACE, POWER, AND RESISTANCE	4
Junior Year
Experiential Learning
Not Required
Senior Year
Capstone
Not Required

¹: Students must earn a C- or better in this course.
²: Readiness for MAT 120 is determined by the math placement test taken online after admission. Students may need to take developmental coursework prior to MAT 120. The MAT 120 requirement may be waived by passing a dedicated proficiency exam or it may be fulfilled by credit for advanced math coursework earned in-residence at DePaul (MAT 135, MAT 136, MAT 147, MAT 148, MAT 149, MAT 150, MAT 151, MAT 152 MAT 155, MAT 156, or equivalent) or earned externally either as transfer credit from another college/university or as test credit through AP, CLEP, IB, or International A and A/S Level exams. Calculus course(s) may be used to fulfill any of the three QR/MCD requirements.

Learning Domains

Arts and Literature (AL)

Content met in the Major (THE 204, THE 205, THE 206)

Historical Inquiry (HI)

1 Course Required

Math and Computing (MC)

Not Required

Philosophical Inquiry (PI)

1 Course Required

Religious Dimensions (RD)

1 Course Required

Scientific Inquiry (SI)

1 Lab Course or 1 SWK Course Required

Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry (SCBI)

Not Required

Other

Choose 1 course from the above learning domains as an elective

Notes

Specified required courses within Liberal Studies may have grade minimums (e.g. C- or better). Please consult your advisor or your college and major requirements.

Courses offered in the student's primary major cannot be taken to fulfill LSP Domain requirements. If students double major, LSP Domain courses may double count for both LSP credit and the second major.

In meeting learning domain requirements, no more than one course that is outside the student’s major and is cross-listed with a course within the student’s major, can be applied to count for LSP domain credit. This policy does not apply to those who are pursuing a double major or earning BFA or BM degrees.

]]> Major Requirements

First Year

Course List
Course	Title	Quarter Hours
History of Dramatic Literature		12
THE 204	HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE
THE 205	HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE
THE 206	HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE
THE 210	SCRIPT ANALYSIS	4
THE 268	INTRODUCTION TO THE PRODUCTION PROCESS	4
THE 212	INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE STUDIES	4
THE 291	PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP I	4
THE 227	PLAYWRITING I	4
Three Quarters of Theatre Crew		6
TEC 107	THEATRE CREW

Second Year

Course List
Course	Title	Quarter Hours
ACT 250	AMERICAN FUNNY: STAGE COMEDY	4
THE 352	VOICE AND SPEECH FOR COMEDY	4
FILM 184	STAND-UP COMEDY	4
ACT 209	SKETCH COMEDY	4
THE 281	SCENE STUDY: COMEDY	4
THE 282	CONTEMPORARY STAGE COMEDY	4
ACT 223	INTRODUCTION TO IMPROVISATION	4
THE 354	COMEDY STYLES	4
Once DC Course (TBA)		4

Third Year

Course List
Course	Title	Quarter Hours
Two Courses in Directing:		8
PRF 374	DIRECTING
PRF 375	DIRECTING
SCWR 100	INTRODUCTION TO SCREENWRITING	4
SCWR 352	WRITING THE HALF-HOUR SERIES	4
THE 353	ADVANCED IMROVISATION	4
THE 361	ADVANCED SKETCH COMEDY: REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE	4
PRF 377	DIRECTING COMEDY	4
THE 395	ARTIST AS ENTREPRENEUR	4
One TV Course (TBA)		4

Fourth Year

Course List
Course	Title	Quarter Hours
THE 351	PHYSICAL COMEDY	4
THE 362	ADVANCED SKETCH COMEDY: REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE	4
THE 410	THEATRE STUDIES CAPSTONE	4
One TV Course (TBA)		4
THE 412	PORTFOLIO PREPARATION	4
Choose one of these two courses:		4
SCWR 346	FILMMAKERS SEMINAR
Theatre Elective
Choose one of these three courses:		2-12
THE 373	THEATRE STUDIES PRODUCTION PRACTICE II
THE 490	THEATRE STUDIES INTERNSHIP
FILM 298	INTERNSHIP IN MEDIA PRODUCTION/POST-PRODUCTION
Choose one of these three courses:		2-12
THE 373	THEATRE STUDIES PRODUCTION PRACTICE II
THE 490	THEATRE STUDIES INTERNSHIP
SCWR 345	HOLLYWOOD HISTORY
Choose one of these two courses:		4
Theatre Elective
SCWR 392	TOPICS IN LA

Open Electives (4-12 hours)

Open elective credit may also be required to meet the minimum graduation requirement of 192 hours.

Work on The Theatre School’s production season extends outside of the university’s academic calendar. Some production assignments may require participation up to two weeks before the beginning of fall quarter, during a portion of the winter break, or during spring break. Specific details pertaining to different programs, specific assignments, and options for students not able to participate outside of the university’s academic calendar are available in the Theatre School Student Handbook and the Theatre School website.

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Liberal Studies Requirements

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