Students come to Iowa State to learn about all kinds of different subjects, anything from engineering to women’s studies, but there are other classes offered that may not be thought of as “traditional” courses.

This semester, a comedy college course was offered to honors students where they learn tricks and methods on how to be funny. The honors seminar meets once a week and has 17 students enrolled in it.

Peter Orazem, an economics professor, brought the idea of teaching the class to Gavin Jerome, a professional entertainer. Orazem had taken one of Jerome’s comedy classes in the past.

“Peter was one of my best students; he really excelled,” Jerome said, “When he asked me about, it I couldn’t say yes fast enough.”

Orazem and Jerome currently lead the class in learning different styles of comedy as well as helping students overcome a fear of public speaking.

“The students come from all walks of life. Some may want to be stand-up comedians, others are in engineering or are English majors and just want to add more humor to their writing,” Jerome said.

For students enrolled in the course like Lisa Hansen, junior in pre-diet and exercise, the class has been a different experience.

“The class is definitely out of the ordinary,” Hansen said, “but it’s challenged me to think outside the box.”

For homework, the students write their own material and practice delivering it in front of each other. Orazem and Jerome also utilize the Internet for some assignments, such as asking students to send videos of their favorite comedians performing. Jerome says this helps them understand what styles of comedy they like.

On top of homework assignments, the students prepare all semester for their “graduation night” on Dec. 3 and 4, where each of them have to perform a 10-minute routine of their own at the Maintenance Shop in the Memorial Union.

“They just have to get one laugh out of the audience, and they’ll pass the class,” Jerome said.

Jerome also mentioned he hopes sometime in the future that the class will be open for all Iowa State students to take, so they can benefit from the class as well.

While the honors seminar has helped students learn methods of how to be funny, it’s also aided students in other ways.

Christian Springer, senior in biology, said he would recommend this class for everyone and that the course does require a lot of creative effort but hearing everyone’s jokes is worth it.