Applied Clowning
Associate of Applied Science · 60 credit hours · 4 semesters · Division of Performance and Guest Services
The Applied Clowning program prepares graduates for professional clowning in hospital, corporate, event, and touring engagement. Instruction covers character development, makeup design and consistency, prop construction and maintenance, physical comedy, and audience management.
The first two semesters are common to all students. A concentration is declared in the third semester and continued through concentration studio coursework in the third and fourth semesters. Studio instruction is scheduled in the Black Box, the Division's makeup laboratory, and the prop and armor shop.
Students complete a supervised clinical rotation at two regional children's hospitals and four long-term care facilities. Visitation follows the standards of the Association of Hospital Clown Programs. Placement at a cooperating facility is subject to the facility's immunization, credentialing, and criminal records requirements, which are established by the facility and are not waived by the College.
The incoming cohort's first public assignment is the Fall Kickoff cookout, held the Friday of the first week of the fall term. Character and makeup must be approved by the supervising faculty member no later than 7:45 a.m. on the day of the event. A makeup and prop kit is required in the first semester and is retained by the student. Kit and bench charges are published in the Schedule of Charges; prop replacement is billed at cost.
Prospective students are encouraged to meet with program faculty by appointment through the Division office before applying. The day-to-day work of the field is frequently different from what applicants expect.
Concentrations
Auguste
Broad character work, exaggerated makeup, and lead responsibility for physical comedy in ensemble assignments.
Added by Addendum No. 2, adopted by the Curriculum Committee.
Whiteface
Authority character, straight technique, and ensemble direction. Whiteface students direct ensemble assignments in the fourth semester.
Added by Addendum No. 2, adopted by the Curriculum Committee.
Character
Sustained non-comic character work, including pathos and mime-adjacent technique. Character students complete a separate preparation sequence before facility placement. Attrition in this concentration exceeds that of the other two; an advising appointment with the Division Chair is required before declaring it.
Coordinator: Winifred Casp. Added by Addendum No. 2, adopted by the Curriculum Committee.
Curriculum
| Course | Title | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLN 110 | Foundations of Clown Performance | 3 | 1 |
| CLN 115 | Makeup Design and Application | 3 | 1 |
| CLN 125 | Movement and Conditioning for Performers | 2 | 1 |
| PER 101 | Introduction to Performance and Guest Services | 3 | 1 |
| ENG 121 | Composition I | 3 | 1 |
| GEN 101 | First-Year Seminar | 1 | 1 |
| CLN 145 | Physical Comedy | 3 | 2 |
| CLN 150 | Prop Construction and Maintenance | 3 | 2 |
| CLN 180 | Character Development | 3 | 2 |
| COM 110 | Oral Communication | 3 | 2 |
| MAT 104 | Applied Mathematics | 3 | 2 |
| CLN 205 | Improvisation and Ensemble Performance | 3 | 3 |
| CLN 210 | Audience Management | 3 | 3 |
| CLN 230 | Concentration Studio I | 3 | 3 |
| CLN 240 | Performance in Clinical and Care Settings | 3 | 3 |
| PSY 110 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 | 3 |
| CLN 265 | Clinical and Facility Rotation | 4 | 4 |
| CLN 275 | Prop and Rig Safety | 2 | 4 |
| CLN 280 | Concentration Studio II | 3 | 4 |
| CLN 290 | Graduate Exhibition | 3 | 4 |
| BUS 210 | Small Business Operations | 3 | 4 |
Licensure or employment in this field requires a criminal records check. The College does not advise on individual eligibility and does not refund tuition on the basis of denied licensure.
Student outcomes
| Measure | Rate |
|---|---|
| Completion within 150% of published length | 66.7% |
| Placement in field or related field | 88.9% |
Rates are calculated under the methodology statement of record (rev. 2025-08-15).
Graduates
The Chair makes you interview before declaring Character. I understand why. It is the hardest work I have done, and the advising meeting was the first place anyone described it accurately.
June Casteel, ’26 — Contract performer; hospital program roster, Cleveland
Facilities and instruction
Instruction is delivered in the facilities of the Division of Performance and Guest Services. Additional photographs are collected at Campus photographs.
programs/applied-clowning · Bellweather College of Applied Technology