Learn More and ApplyLighting Design (BFA)

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Theatre

The Theatre School’s Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Lighting Design is designed to give students the opportunity to explore and expand their artistic and visual expression and provides them the opportunity to practice their craft. The four-year curriculum in many ways simulates a lighting designer’s professional experience and process. Designers learn to visualize, create and implement their designs by collaborating with directors, dramaturgs, other designers and technicians, and our professional production staff.​

Program Requirements Quarter Hours
Liberal Studies Requirements 52
Major Requirements 141
Total Hours Required 193

Program Specific Outcomes

Students will be able to:

  • Read and interpret theatrical text and apply research, imagination, and personalization to create a unique, insightful, and compelling design concept.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the history of visual art and architecture in the context of social and cultural development.
  • Demonstrate and apply an expertise in lighting technology in a variety of performance styles and theatrical environments.

Liberal Studies Requirements

Honors program requirements can be found in the individual Colleges & Schools section of the University Catalog. Select the appropriate college or school, followed by Undergraduate Academics and scroll down.  

Plan of Study Grid
First Year ProgramHours
Chicago Quarter
LSP 110
DISCOVER CHICAGO
or EXPLORE CHICAGO
4
Focal Point
Not Required
Writing
WRD 103 COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC I 1 4
WRD 104 COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC II 1 4
Quantitative Reasoning
MAT 120 QUANTITATIVE REASONING 2 4
Sophomore Year
Race, Power, and Resistance
LSP 200 SEMINAR ON RACE, POWER, AND RESISTANCE 4
Junior Year
Experiential Learning
Not Required
Senior Year
Capstone
Not Required
1

Students must earn a C- or better in this course.

2

Readiness for MAT 120 is determined by the math placement test taken online after admission. Students may need to take developmental coursework prior to MAT 120. Students who complete MAT 120 and both a Computational Reasoning course and a Statistical Reasoning course in the Math and Computing Learning Domain take one less Learning Domain course. Students may not apply the course reduction to any Domain where only one course is required, and cannot be applied to the Scientific Inquiry Learning Domain.  The MAT 120 requirement may be waived by passing a dedicated proficiency exam or it may be fulfilled by credit for advanced math coursework earned  in-residence at DePaul (MAT 135MAT 136MAT 147MAT 148MAT 149MAT 150MAT 151MAT 152 MAT 155MAT 156MAT 160MAT 161MAT 162 MAT 170MAT 171MAT 172, or equivalent) or earned externally either as transfer credit from another college/university or as test credit through AP, CLEP, IB, or International A and A/S Level exams. Calculus course(s) may be used to fulfill any of the three QR/MCD requirements.

Learning Domains

Arts and Literature (AL)

Historical Inquiry (HI)

  • 1 Course Required

Math and Computing (MC)

  • Not Required

Philosophical Inquiry (PI)

  • 1 Course Required

Religious Dimensions (RD)

  • 1 Course Required

Scientific Inquiry (SI)

  • 1 Lab Course or 1 SWK Course Required

Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry (SCBI)

  •  Not Required

Other

  • Choose 1 course from the above learning domains as an elective

Notes

Specified required courses within Liberal Studies may have grade minimums (e.g. C- or better). Please consult your advisor or your college and major requirements.​​

Courses offered in the student's primary major cannot be taken to fulfill LSP Domain requirements. If students double major, LSP Domain courses may double count for both LSP credit and the second major.

In meeting learning domain requirements, no more than one course that is outside the student’s major and is cross-listed with a course within the student’s major, can be applied to count for LSP domain credit. This policy does not apply to those who are pursuing a double major or earning BFA or BM degrees.  

Major Requirements

Plan of Study Grid
First YearHours
DES 112 DRAWING FOR DESIGNERS 3
DES 247 FUNDAMENTALS OF LIGHTING DESIGN 4
Technical Drawing I Sequence
TEC 151 TECHNICAL DRAWING I 3
TEC 154 INTRODUCTION TO VECTORWORKS 3
TEC 155 ADVANCED VECTORWORKS 3
Lighting Technology Sequence 9
DES 240 LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY 3
Principles of Design Sequence
DES 141 ELEMENTS OF DESIGN 4
DES 142 PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN 4
History of Dramatic Ligerature (Arts and Literature Requirment)
HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE (History of Dramatic Literature Sequence (Arts and Literature Requirement))
HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE (History of Dramatic Literature Sequence (Arts and Literature Requirement))
HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE
Crew Sequence 6
THEATRE CREW
Second Year
DES 340 TOPICS: ADVANCED LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY 4
DES 360 THEATRICAL COLLABORATION 3
Lighting Design I Sequence
DES 248 LIGHTING DESIGN I 4
DES 249 LIGHTING DESIGN I 4
Design and Production Practice Sequence:
DES 271 DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE I 3
DES 272 DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE I 3
DES 273 DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE I 3
Third Year
Lighting Design II Sequence
DES 347 LIGHTING DESIGN II 4
DES 348 LIGHTING DESIGN II 4
DES 349 LIGHTING DESIGN II 4
Production Practice II Sequence -Choose two: 8
DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE II
DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE II
DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE II
Open Electives 18
Fourth Year
Lighting Design Series:
DES 447 LIGHTING DESIGN III 4
DES 448 LIGHTING DESIGN III 4
DES 449 LIGHTING DESIGN III 4
Design/Theatre Electives 12
DES 486 PORTFOLIO PREPARATION 3
DES 484 PHOTOSHOP FOR DESIGNERS 3
Production Practice III and/or Internship 10
Select two of the following:
DESIGN INTERNSHIP (Select two of the following:)
DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE III
DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE III
DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE III

Work on The Theatre School’s production season extends outside of the university’s academic calendar.  Some production assignments may require participation up to two weeks before the beginning of fall quarter, during a portion of the winter break, or during spring break.  Specific details pertaining to different programs, specific assignments, and options for students not able to participate outside of the university’s academic calendar are available in the Theatre School Student Handbook and the Theatre School website.