Program Overview

Introduction to the Lighting Design Program

The Theatre School's Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Lighting Design offers students the opportunity to develop their artistic voice while gaining the technical and practical experience needed to succeed as a professional lighting designer. This program enables students to learn how to visualize, create, and implement lighting designs that support storytelling and performance.

Program Overview

In this program, students will work closely with directors, dramaturgs, other designers, technicians, and professional production staff as they bring their design concepts to life through hands-on production work. The Lighting Design program prepares students to pursue careers across the entertainment industry, including regional theatre, Broadway, touring productions, opera, film and television, concerts, and special events.

Curriculum

The curriculum includes a range of courses designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in lighting design. Some of the key courses include:

• Technical Drawing I
• Introduction to Vectorworks
• Lighting Technology
• Principles of Design
• Photoshop for Designers
• Design Internship
• Theatre Crew
• History of Dramatic Literature

Major Requirements

The major requirements for the Lighting Design program are as follows:

First Year

• DES 112: Drawing for Designers (3 hours)
• DES 247: Fundamentals of Lighting Design (4 hours)
• Technical Drawing I Sequence:
  • TEC 151: Technical Drawing I (3 hours)
  • TEC 154: Introduction to Vectorworks (3 hours)
  • TEC 155: Advanced Vectorworks (3 hours)
• Lighting Technology Sequence:
  • DES 240: Lighting Technology (3 hours)
• Principles of Design Sequence:
  • DES 141: Elements of Design (4 hours)
  • DES 142: Principles of Design (4 hours)
• History of Dramatic Literature (Arts and Literature Requirement):
  • THE 204: History of Dramatic Literature
  • THE 205: History of Dramatic Literature
  • THE 206: History of Dramatic Literature
• Crew Sequence:
  • TEC 107: Theatre Crew (6 hours)

Second Year

• DES 340: Topics: Advanced Lighting Technology (4 hours)
• DES 360: Theatrical Collaboration (3 hours)
• Lighting Design I Sequence:
  • DES 248: Lighting Design I (4 hours)
  • DES 249: Lighting Design I (4 hours)
• Design and Production Practice Sequence:
  • DES 271: Design Production Practice I (3 hours)
  • DES 272: Design Production Practice I (3 hours)
  • DES 273: Design Production Practice I (3 hours)

Third Year

• Lighting Design II Sequence:
  • DES 347: Lighting Design II (4 hours)
  • DES 348: Lighting Design II (4 hours)
  • DES 349: Lighting Design II (4 hours)
• Production Practice II Sequence:
  • Choose two:
    • DES 371: Design Production Practice II
    • DES 372: Design Production Practice II
    • DES 373: Design Production Practice II (8 hours)
• Open Electives (18 hours)

Fourth Year

• Lighting Design Series:
  • DES 447: Lighting Design III (4 hours)
  • DES 448: Lighting Design III (4 hours)
  • DES 449: Lighting Design III (4 hours)
• Design/Theatre Electives (12 hours)
• DES 486: Portfolio Preparation (3 hours)
• DES 484: Photoshop for Designers (3 hours)
• Production Practice III and/or Internship:
  • Select two of the following:
    • DES 490: Design Internship
    • DES 471: Design Production Practice III
    • DES 472: Design Production Practice III
    • DES 473: Design Production Practice III (10 hours)

Career Options

Graduates of the Lighting Design program can pursue a variety of careers, including:

• Lighting Designer
• Master Electrician
• Automation Programmer
• Systems Technician/Lighting Programmer
• Production Electrician
• Event Lighting Designer
• Architectural Lighting Designer
• Exhibition/Museum Lighting Designer
• Lighting Technician/Supervisor
• House Electrician
• Technical Director

Faculty

Students in the Lighting Design program learn from a distinguished and award-winning faculty of professional designers and artists, both in the classroom and through individual guidance and advising during production work. Faculty provide formal and informal feedback to students through class work, portfolio reviews, and production work.