Earn your degree in comedy writing

With The Theatre School’s Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Comedy Arts, you’ll prepare to perform, direct and create comedic content. You’ll take courses and attend performances, both on-campus and in professional Chicago comedy venues.

You’ll study the history and techniques of comedy writing by taking classes from distinguished and award-winning faculty of professional writers, directors and performers who bring together experience and expertise.

As a comedy writing student, you’ll test your material in front of an audience, digest their response, and then learn to revise and rethink in order to be a successful communicator and storyteller.

Classes

Coursework

• Advanced Sketch Comedy - Rehearsal and Performance
• Comedy Writing for Late Night
• Introduction to Improvisation
• Stand Up Comedy
• Voice and Speech for Comedy
• Writing the Sitcom

Resources

• Major Requirements
• Schedule of Classes
• Department Website

• Combined bachelor's + master's degree offered

Career Options

Common Career Areas

• Comedy performer
• Comedy writer
• Director
• Filmmaker

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 FROM GROUCHO MARX TO TINA FEY	4
THE 352	VOICE AND SPEECH FOR COMEDY	4
FILM 184	STAND-UP COMEDY
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 SITCOM	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	2
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.?????