Learn More and ApplyLighting Design (BFA)

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Theater

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 155
Total Hours Required 207

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. The MAT 120 requirement may be waived by passing a dedicated proficiency exam, or by credit earned for advanced math coursework at DePaul (MAT 135MAT 136MAT 147MAT 148MAT 149MAT 150MAT 151MAT 152MAT 155MAT 156MAT 160MAT 161MAT 162MAT 170MAT 171MAT 172, or equivalent) or any transfer, CLEP, IB, or AP Calculus credit. Calculus course(s) may be used to fulfil 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
Drawing for Designers Sequence
DES 111 DRAWING FOR DESIGNERS I 2
DES 112 DRAWING FOR DESIGNERS II 2
Technical Drawing I Sequence
TEC 151 TECHNICAL DRAWING I 2
TEC 152 TECHNICAL DRAWING I 2
TEC 154 INTRODUCTION TO VECTOR WORKS 2
Principles of Design Sequence
DES 141 ELEMENTS OF DESIGN 4
DES 142 PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN 4
DES 143 SCRIPT ANALYSIS 4
History of Dramatic Literature Sequence (Arts and Literature Requirement)
THE 204 HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE 4
THE 205 HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE 4
THE 206 HISTORY OF DRAMATIC LITERATURE 4
Three Quarters of Lighting Technology 6
LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY
Three Quarters of Theatre Crew 6
THEATRE CREW
Second Year
Lighting Design I Sequence
DES 247 LIGHTING DESIGN I 4
DES 248 LIGHTING DESIGN I 4
DES 249 LIGHTING DESIGN I 4
Survey of the Arts for Theatre Sequence
THE 381 SURVEY OF THE ARTS FOR THEATRE 4
THE 382 SURVEY OF THE ARTS FOR THEATRE 4
Production Practice I Sequence
DES 271 DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE I 3
DES 272 DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE I 3
DES 273 DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE I 3
Theatrical Collaboration Sequence
DES 641 THEATRICAL COLLABORATION 3
DES 642 THEATRICAL COLLABORATION 3
TEC 320 TECHNICAL COLLABORATION 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
DES 371 DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE II 4
DES 372 DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE II 4
DES 373 DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE II 4
Two Quarter of Topics: Advanced Lighting Technology
DES 340 TOPICS: ADVANCED LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY 4
Fourth Year
DES 486 PORTFOLIO PREPARATION 3
Lighting Design III Sequence
DES 447 LIGHTING DESIGN III 4
DES 448 LIGHTING DESIGN III 4
DES 449 LIGHTING DESIGN III 4
Production Practice III and/or Internship
Select three of the following: 15
DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE III
DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE III
DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE III
DESIGN INTERNSHIP
Design/Theatre Electives:selected in coordination with the area chair 12
Drawing Electives: selected in coordination with the area chair 9