BFA & MFA Comedy Filmmaking

In collaboration with The Second City, DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts is now offering graduate and undergraduate degrees in Comedy Filmmaking.

The Master’s Concentration in Comedy, housed within DePaul’s celebrated MFA Screenwriting program, is the only terminal degree of its kind in the world, while the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Comedy Filmmaking will be the most comprehensive undergraduate degree in Comedy Filmmaking in the country. Students take classes at both The Second City and DePaul University.

These innovative programs will enable students to develop their own comedy voice and original material through a methodology honed over decades by The Second City. Upon completion of either degree, students will have in hand a rich portfolio of original scripts and films to help best prepare them for a career in the industry following graduation.

Faculty View All

Anna Hozian
Anna’s scripts have been chosen for Meryl Streep’s New York Women in Film and Television Writer’s Lab, placed in the semifinals and quarterfinals of the Academy’s Nicholl Fellowship, and won Gold in the Page International Screenwriting Awards.
Christopher Parrish
Chris is a screenwriter whose television credits include Curb Your Enthusiasm, The King of Queens, and American Dragon. His feature film, Thrill Ride, was released nationally in 2017.
Scott Myers
Scott has written over 30 movie and TV projects, including K-9 (Universal), Alaska (Sony/Castle Rock), and Trojan War (Warner Brothers). He currently hosts GoIntotheStory.com, the official screenwriting blog of The Black List.
Brad Riddell
Brad is a professional screenwriter and Writer’s Guild of America member whose film credits include Crooked Arrows, Road Trip II, Slap Shot: The Junior League, and American Pie: Band Camp. His new comedic webseries created with Anna Hozian, Other People’s Children, has screened nationally and internationally.

Courier 12

The annual Courier 12 Screenwriting Conference, hosted at our downtown Chicago campus, presents a series of panel discussions focused on writing for film and television with some of the top talent in the industry.

LA Quarter

This ten-week immersion program allows students to experience the inner workings of Hollywood first hand as they live in Los Angeles, take classes on a historic studio lot, and intern at high profile companies aligning with their professional aspirations.

Premiere Film Festival

Our annual Premiere Film Festival showcases the best of student work in cinema and animation with awards covering all facets of filmmaking, from screenwriting to post production. Jury members include industry insiders, festival programmers, and filmmakers from around the country.

DePaul Cinespace Studios

We have a one-of-a-kind, 32,000 square foot professional production facility and cinematic learning environment formed in alliance with Cinespace Chicago Film Studios. Students learn filmmaking craft and technique steps away from high-profile network productions filming on the Cinespace lot.

Visiting Artists Series

This series brings innovative practitioners and industry leaders to the DePaul campus for film screenings, on-stage conversations, and professional panels. Students are given the opportunity to have direct and meaningful contact with established and emerging innovators and professionals in the field.

female student looking up from hera laptop smiling

MFA Assistantships and Scholarships

Degree-seeking MFA students can apply for an assistantship or production grant. Assistantships include tuition for up to two courses per quarter and a small stipend. CDM also awards scholarships to continuing students each year.