Course Schedule and Catalog
Course Schedule - Spring Semester 2026
Meeting location information can now be found on student schedules in ESTHER (for students) or on the Course Roster in ESTHER (for faculty and instructors).Additional information available here.
Meeting location information can now be found on student schedules in ESTHER (for students) or on the Course Roster in ESTHER (for faculty and instructors).Additional information available here.
COLL 140 001 (CRN: 25855)
BECOME A STAND-UP COMEDIAN
Long Title: LAUGHING MATTER: BECOME A STAND-UP COMEDIAN (MARTEL)
Department: College Courses
Instructors:
Meeting: 7:00PM - 7:50PM W (12-JAN-2026 - 24-APR-2026)
Part of Term: Full Term - No WL Purge
Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
Course Type: Seminar
Language of Instruction: Taught in English
Method of Instruction: Face to Face
Credit Hours: 1
Course Syllabus:
Course Materials: Rice Campus Store
Restrictions:
Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s):
Undergraduate Professional
Visiting Undergraduate
Undergraduate
Section Max Enrollment: 15
Section Enrolled: 15
Waitlisted: 6 (Max 99)
Current members of the waitlist have priority for available seats.
Enrollment data as of: 25-NOV-2025 1:42AM
Final Exam: No Final Exam
Description: Have you ever heard a comedian deliver a hilarious one-liner and thought to yourself “I could do that”? If the answer is yes, no, or anything in between, this is the class for you. In this course, you will learn to write and perform stand-up comedy. As a consequence, whether you’re interested in public embarrassment, public speaking, or just plain publicity, you’ll be funnier and more confident in your day-to-day, week-to-week, and month-to-month life.
To become a stand up comedian, you will mine your past for its juiciest morsels of comedy, learning to turn tragedy into entertainment for the benefit of your friends and family. You will practice timing, stage presence, and performance—and, most importantly, you will write a ton of jokes. You will delve into the theory of humor through the likes of Thomas Veatch and Sigmund Freud, and you will study the comedic genius of masters like John Mulaney, Robin Williams, Sarah Silverman, and more. By the final performance, you will have honed your craft to precision and developed a style that is unique to you.
This class will be a workshop-style course where everyone has the chance to share material and slow-clap the professor’s unpolished jokes. Throughout the semester there will be three ‘open mics’ where you will sharpen your performance skills and written material. At the end of the semester, you will participate in a final performance where friends, family, enemies and lovers can gather to hang out and enjoy the fruits of your hard labor.