"Under the harsh overheard lights of a small theater stage, the comedian commandeered the microphone and unfurled a short set laced with jokes about poop anxiety and penis size. "My preschool had these communal restrooms - just five toilets lined up ... no barriers, no doors. It was like a Roman bathhouse," the performer said, drawing a laugh from one woman in the second row. She was the comedian's professor. And he was a USC student."
"Enrollment is modest: About 15 to 20 undergraduates each academic year. Some of the students are seeking careers as actors, among other entertainment-related pursuits, making the minor a sensible specialization. But many others are interested in careers in medicine, science and engineering. For them, comedy offers a chance to develop skills that could be useful in their hoped-for professions - and in their daily lives."
USC launched a comedy performance minor in fall 2015 through the School of Dramatic Arts that includes courses in stand-up, improvisation and magic. Enrollment runs about 15 to 20 undergraduates each year, and students come from entertainment-focused and non-entertainment majors alike. Many students pursuing medicine, science, engineering, and nursing take the minor to develop self-confidence, communication, leadership, and collaborative skills. In an Introduction to Stand-Up Comedy class, a student performed material about preschool communal restrooms while his professor attended. Faculty emphasize applicability of comedic skills in work environments requiring leadership and connection.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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