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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 Quarter Hours
Liberal Studies Requirements 52
Major Requirements 140-148
Total hours required 192-200
 
 
 
 

Learning Outcomes

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 ProgramHours
Chicago Quarter
LSP 110
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. Students who complete MAT 120 and both a Computational Reasoning course and a Statistical Reasoning course in the Math and Computing Learning Domain take one less Learning Domain course. Students may not apply the course reduction to any Domain where only one course is required, and cannot be applied to the Scientific Inquiry Learning Domain.  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 135MAT 136MAT 147MAT 148MAT 149MAT 150MAT 151MAT 152 MAT 155MAT 156MAT 160MAT 161MAT 162 MAT 170MAT 171MAT 172, 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)

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 Title Quarter Hours
History of Dramatic Literature12
HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE
HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE
HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE
THE 210SCRIPT ANALYSIS4
THE 268INTRODUCTION TO THE PRODUCTION PROCESS4
THE 212INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE STUDIES4
THE 291PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP I4
THE 227PLAYWRITING I4
Three Quarters of Theatre Crew6
THEATRE CREW

Second Year

Course Title Quarter Hours
ACT 250AMERICAN FUNNY: STAGE COMEDY FROM GROUCHO MARX TO TINA FEY4
THE 352VOICE AND SPEECH FOR COMEDY4
FILM 184STAND-UP COMEDY4
ACT 209SKETCH COMEDY4
THE 281SCENE STUDY: COMEDY4
THE 282CONTEMPORARY STAGE COMEDY4
ACT 223INTRODUCTION TO IMPROVISATION4
THE 354COMEDY STYLES4
Once DC Course (TBA)4

Third Year

Course Title Quarter Hours
Two Courses in Directing:8
DIRECTING
DIRECTING
SCWR 100INTRODUCTION TO SCREENWRITING4
SCWR 352WRITING THE HALF-HOUR SERIES4
THE 353ADVANCED IMROVISATION4
THE 361ADVANCED SKETCH COMEDY: REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE4
PRF 377DIRECTING COMEDY4
THE 395ARTIST AS ENTREPRENEUR4
One TV Course (TBA)4

Fourth Year

Course Title Quarter Hours
THE 351PHYSICAL COMEDY4
THE 362ADVANCED SKETCH COMEDY: REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE4
THE 410THEATRE STUDIES CAPSTONE2
One TV Course (TBA)4
THE 412PORTFOLIO PREPARATION4
Choose one of these two courses: 4
FILMMAKERS SEMINAR
Theatre Elective
Choose one of these three courses:2-12
THEATRE STUDIES PRODUCTION PRACTICE II
THEATRE STUDIES INTERNSHIP
INTERNSHIP IN MEDIA PRODUCTION/POST-PRODUCTION
Choose one of these three courses:2-12
THEATRE STUDIES PRODUCTION PRACTICE II
THEATRE STUDIES INTERNSHIP
HOLLYWOOD HISTORY
Choose one of these two courses: 4
Theatre Elective
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.