School of Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies
Comedic ArtsBFA
Become part of a robust comedic community. Learn how to write, perform, and produce comedy with the country’s only bi-coastal comedy major.
Our immersive Comedic Arts program starts in the fall. Please review deadlines to apply.
At a Glance
- Learn from faculty who have spent their careers in comedy, visual and performing arts, and writing.
- Work with students across departments in the School of Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies.
- Perform with student-run comedy troupes, audition for a mainstage show, and write comedy for television, stage, and online productions.
- Study at Emerson College’s Los Angeles campus during your junior year.
Launch Your Career in Comedy
Founded in 2016, Emerson College’s BFA in Comedic Arts is the first degree of its kind in the United States. This unique, interdisciplinary program brings together faculty and courses from the School of Film, Television, and Media Arts; The Marlboro Institute of Liberal Arts; the Department of Performing Arts; and The Department of Writing, Literature, and Publishing.
Grounded in the history and theory of comedy, the degree prepares you for professional careers across the comedy landscape. From stand-up and sketch to television, film, and digital content, you’ll gain real-world experience through internships, site visits, and experiential learning. Hone your comedic voice in a supportive, inclusive community where you’re encouraged to experiment, take creative risks, and grow. You’ll also have opportunities to join a comedy troupe, audition for a mainstage show, and compete for a cash prize in Emerson’s annual comedy competition.
Connect with industry professionals, immerse yourself in comedy scenes in Boston, Los Angeles, and London, and find endless opportunities to put your creativity to work.
Find Your People. Do Your Thing.
Emerson owns more theatre and performance spaces than any institution in Boston. As a Comedic Arts major, you’ll have access to some of Boston’s most stunning venues, including rehearsal studios in Paramount Center, right in the heart of Boston’s Theatre District.
Get Hands-On Experience
Outside of the classroom, Comedic Arts students write and perform stand up shows, help produce sketches and TV shows, and collaborate through improv. You’ll develop skills through internships with theatre and film companies, TV networks, digital media companies and comedy studios. In the past, Comedic Arts students have worked on Curb Your Enthusiasm, Happy’s Place, and DINKS (created by Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman).
ELA Comedy Conservatory
Spend the fall semester of your junior year at Emerson Los Angeles, where our Comedy Conservatory offers an immersive, 16-credit program exclusively for Comedic Arts majors. Take hands-on classes in comedy writing, performance, and production, attend guest lectures from industry giants, and get a behind-the-scenes look at active studios, networks, and writer’s rooms.
Through site visits to shows and places like The Simpsons, Happy’s Place, Newlyweds, and Howie Mandel’s studio, plus lectures from speakers like Bob Odenkirk, Mary Steenburgen, Ted Danson, and Cheri Oteri, you’ll get to explore your craft, make connections, and take full advantage of LA’s extensive network of creative professionals and industry resources.
Tour Emerson
Come see all Emerson has to offer. Learn about campus life, explore classrooms, residence halls, creative spaces, and more from our student ambassadors.
Apply for the Comedic Arts BFA
Showcase your comedic talent. Applicants will need to submit one creative sample that showcases their comedic talent. Performance or production samples should be between 3 and 5 minutes, and written samples should include just the first 5–10 pages. Make sure you indicate your role in creating the piece.
Creative samples can include:
- Stand-up
- Sketch
- Short film
- Podcast
- Webisode
- Audio or sound clip
- Screenplay or teleplay
- Short story