DePaul University

The Second City and DePaul University have announced a collaboration designed to expand comedy education. Starting in the upcoming fall semester, DePaul’s School of Cinematic Arts will offer comprehensive new undergraduate and graduate degrees in comedy filmmaking:

• Master of Fine Arts in screenwriting with a concentration in comedy
• Bachelor of Fine Arts in film and television with a concentration in comedy filmmaking
• Minor in comedy filmmaking

Students will attend classes at The Second City, as well as within DePaul’s expansive studio and classroom facilities at Cinespace Chicago Film Studios, where network dramas “Empire,” “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago P.D.” and “Chicago Med” regularly shoot. Classes offered to DePaul students will include:

• DNA of The Second City
• Evolution of Comedy
• Comedy Improvisation for Filmmakers
• The Comedy Director at Work
• Second City

"Second City has been nurturing comedic talent in Chicago for nearly 60 years. Two years ago, in starting the Harold Ramis Film School, we successfully expanded our approach to attracting and developing nascent screenwriters and directors. By partnering with DePaul, we will now have the opportunity to teach an even broader range of student’s comedy in an accredited environment," said Second City CEO Andrew Alexander.

“Together, DePaul and Second City will merge the crafts of comedy storytelling and filmmaking into the most comprehensive program of its kind. The curriculum will give students the opportunity to create, develop and showcase their comedic writing and directing from the script to the screen,” said Gary Novak, director of DePaul’s School of Cinematic Arts.

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The following are some of the distinctions achieved by DePaul University in recent times:

• Ranked among the Best National Universities, U.S. News & World Report (2018)
• Named one of the Best Midwestern Colleges in the U.S., The Princeton Review's The Best 384 Colleges (2018)
• Among the Forbes Best Mid-Size Employers (2017)

Technology

• 28th undergraduate school for video game design, The Princeton Review (2019)
• 7th game design program in the nation, Animation Career Review (2018)
• 14th animation program in the nation, Animation Career Review (2018)
• Top 10 graduate schools to study video game design, The Princeton Review (2017)

Business

• 22nd best undergraduate entrepreneurship program in the nation, The Princeton Review (2019)
• Among the country’s best undergraduate business programs, U.S. News & World Report (2018)
• 20th MBA entrepreneurship program in the nation, The Princeton Review (2018)
• Doctorate in Business Administration ranked among the world's premier DBAs, CEO Magazine (2018)

Arts

• 13th best film school in the nation, The Hollywood Reporter (2018)
• Top 50 film schools in the U.S., The Wrap (2017)

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DePaul University’s Schools and Colleges include:

College of Communication

Students can pursue communication studies including media and cinema studies, multicultural, organizational, and relational communication digital communication health communication sports communication journalism or public relations and advertising.

College of Computing and Digital Media (CDM)

CDM offers students a collaborative education where technology, artistry and business intersect. CDM is organized into three schools:

• The School of Cinematic Arts
• The School of Computing
• The School of Design

College of Education

The College offers degree programs in bilingual/bicultural education counselling curriculum studies early childhood education educational leadership, and world language education.

College of Law

The DePaul College of Law’s health law and intellectual property programs are among the best in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report.

College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (LAS)

LAS offers more than 30 undergraduate and 27 graduate degree programs.

College of Science and Health (CSH)

CSH provides multiple undergraduate majors and graduate programs in the areas of biology, chemistry and biochemistry, environmental science, health sciences, mathematics, neuroscience, nursing, physics and psychology.

The Theatre School

Known for its highly structured program and set in a world-renowned theatre city, the School has earned a reputation as a standard of excellence in American professional theatre training.

Driehaus College of Business

The College provides access to the highest-quality business education as a means for achieving intellectual and professional goals.

Kellstadt Graduate School of Business

The Kellstadt Graduate School of Business prepares students to be leaders by frequently updating its programs to keep pace with the dynamics of global business.​​

Undergraduate admissions

Students educated outside the U.S. for secondary school (high school) are required to submit an exam score that meets our English proficiency requirement.

If the English proficiency scores are below the minimum requirement, students might be considered for Conditional Admission.

Students can demonstrate proof of English proficiency by ​one of the following:

• TOEFL - 80 on the IBT TOEFL with no subsection lower than 17
• IELTS Academic​ - 6.5
• SAT - minimum evidence based reading and writing score of 540
• ACT - minimum reading score of 18 and English score of 20
• PTE Academic- minimum English academic score of 53

Conditional Admission English Language Requirement

• TOEFL - 60 - 79 on the IBT TOEFL
• IELTS Academic - 6.0
• PTE Academic - 42 on the English academic score

Find out more about the undergraduate entry requirements…

Postgraduate admissions

Graduate applicants are those who have completed or are in the process of completing the equivalent to a United States bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution, either in the United States or abroad, and are welcome to apply to a graduate or professional program of study. The programs offered by DePaul University includes MA, MS, MFA, PhD, LLM and JD.

Each graduate program establishes its own application and admission standards. The deadlines may differ from program to program even within the same department.

In order to review degree options and ensure compliance with the application requirements of the students’ chosen specific program, students are required to visit the website of the graduate college they are applying to.

More about the graduate admission process…

The University’s facilities include:

DePaul University Library

The DePaul University Library is a partner in a number of campus programs, including the first-year experience (Chicago Quarter), the Teaching Commons, and the Graduate Certificate in the Digital Humanities. In 2013, a major renovation of the Richardson Library facilitated the launch of the Richardson Library Information Commons, a technology-enhanced space including individual, group, and collaborative work spaces, Learning Commons and Scholar’s Lab.

Accommodation

• Lincoln Park Housing Options
  If students are looking for a traditional college setting, they can choose the Lincoln Park Campus. Located just a mile from Lake Michigan, this 30-acre campus boasts traditional residence halls as well as apartments. Lincoln Park buildings are fully furnished and provide residence through Lincoln Park Residence Halls and Lincoln Park Apartments​.
• Loop Housing Options
  For those students who prefer high-rise living and convenience to DePaul's Loop Campus, the University Center provides accommodation options suitable for them. The University Center is a DePaul University residence hall that is shared with other local universities including suites and apartments.

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DePaul awards more than USD 28 million in scholarships to incoming freshman students each year, and more than USD 11 million in need-based gift aid on an annual basis.

If students are applying to enroll in the Fall Quarter, they will automatically be considered for freshman academic scholarships of up to USD 23,000 annually when they complete their application.

DePaul Freshman Scholarships

Students are automatically considered for one of the University’s four academic scholarships - Presidential Scholarship, Deans’ Scholarship, DePaul Scholars’ Award, and St. Vincent DePaul Scholarship when they apply to DePaul. The scholarships consist of an award amount of USD 13,000 to USD 23,000.

Find out more about the scholarships available to undergraduate students.