Program Overview

Certificate in Lighting Design

The undergraduate certificate in lighting design explores how the proper application of light can shape the understanding of architecture, create visually comfortable spaces, and enhance how people experience the built environment in and out of doors. The certificate is intended to expose students to architectural lighting and daylighting design and applications.

Program Overview

• Learn about advanced technologies such as LEDs and lighting controls.
• Understand how to formulate lighting concepts that lead to creative, visually enriching, environmentally conscious lighting solutions.
• Apply principles of daylighting design to interior settings to achieve energy savings and visual comfort.
• Learn how to communicate and validate your ideas graphically and through the use of specialized software.
• Learn about illumination best practices for architectural interiors, exteriors, and landscapes to avoid negative environmental consequences.

Related Programs

• Engineering, Ethics and Society—Certificate
• Energy Engineering—Minor
• Environmental Planning—Minor
• Environmental Design—B.EnvD

Academic Plan & Requirements

To earn the undergraduate certificate in lighting design, students must complete 12 credit hours. The certificate is offered to all undergraduate students at CU Boulder who are not earning a major from the College of Engineering and Applied Science. Students majoring in environmental design and theatre may benefit from this certificate, as students are exposed to the basics of interior and outdoor architectural lighting and daylighting design.

Course Topics

• Metrics of light
• Fundamental aspects of vision
• Light sources, luminaires, and controls
• Lighting effects on perception of architecture and architectural design
• Lighting design tools and techniques
• Specification of lighting as part of daylight and its interaction with architecture
• Daylight in interior spaces and its interaction with electric lighting
• Capstone experience that encompasses a semester-long hands-on project

Career Opportunities

The certificate in lighting design allows you to enter the workforce with additional skills and knowledge alongside your major area of study.

• Broaden your employment possibilities with additional knowledge and skills gained from a certificate
• Be prepared for entry-level jobs in lighting design firms
• Combining lighting design with architecture, landscape architecture, or design studies could also open doors in architecture and interior design firms

University Overview

Colorado’s leading public research university, transforming lives since 1876. The University of Colorado Boulder is a student-centered campus, providing support for the whole student experience. It offers various programs and resources, including the College of Engineering and Applied Science, which is ranked among the top 20 public U.S. universities for engineering. Students have opportunities to gain hands-on experience through capstone or design studio courses and can connect with many high-tech companies in Boulder, some of which sponsor internships or mentorship programs.