Kindle a career in lighting design

The lighting design degree program simulates a real lighting designer’s professional experience while offering ample opportunities for the exploration and expansion of your creative expression.

You’ll learn to visualize, create and implement your lighting designs by collaborating with directors, dramaturges, technicians and DePaul’s professional production staff. You’ll also work as a master electrician and lighting designer for workshops and public productions by The Theatre School.

In the fourth year of the program, you will complete an internship in the lighting design industry in order to further gain real-world experience. At the end of your fourth year, you will have the chance to take part in the annual Graduate Showcase, where you will present your lighting designs to artistic directors and other members of the theatre, film and television industries.

Classes

Coursework

• Design Production
• Lighting Technology
• Media for Design
• Scene Design
• Survey of the Arts for Theatre
• Technical Drawing
• Theatre Crew

Resources

• Major Requirements
• Schedule of Classes
• Department Website

• Combined bachelor's + master's degree offered

Career Options

Common Career Areas

• Architectural lighting design
• Events design
• Lighting systems design and installation
• Master electrician
• Museum/exhibit design
• Opera lighting design
• Theatrical lighting design

Major Requirements

Plan of Study Grid

First Year		Hours
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
DES 240	LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY
Three Quarters of Theatre Crew		6
TEC 107	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
DES 471	DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE III
DES 472	DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE III
DES 473	DESIGN PRODUCTION PRACTICE III
DES 490	DESIGN INTERNSHIP
Design/Theatre Electives:selected in coordination with the area chair		12
Drawing Electives: selected in coordination with the area chair		9