Theatre: Lighting Design & Technology, BFA
Overview
for the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre, Lighting Design & Technology Concentration
Level 21: Design, Technology and Management Concentrations
Level 21 reflects the design, technology and management disciplines in theatre arts. It has seven unique yet inter-related concentrations in: Arts + Entertainment Technology, Costume Design + Technology, Lighting Design + Technology, Scene Design, Scenic Technology, Sound Design + Technology, and Stage Management. Freshman and sophomore students learn the foundations of theatrical production with a focus on acquiring practical skills for application in advanced course work and in theatre productions. Junior and senior students participate in advanced study in their chosen discipline supported by one-on-one faculty mentoring of assigned projects. Students in this area are the designers, technicians, managers, artisans and crew for over a dozen theater, musical theater, dance and opera productions at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and work on these shows in various roles throughout their entire course of study.
Degree Requirements
for the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre, Lighting Design & Technology Concentration
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.
Twelve hours of 300 and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
fulfilled by THEA 304 | ||
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | 6-10 | |
| Language Requirement (Completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | 0-15 | |
Core Requirements for all Theatre Majors
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| FAA 101 | Arts at Illinois | 1 |
| THEA 100 | Practicum I | 2 |
| THEA 200 | Practicum II | 2 |
| THEA 121 | Theatre Foundations: Performance | 2 |
| THEA 122 | Theatre Foundations: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| THEA 123 | Theatre Foundations: Production | 3 |
| THEA 208 | 21st Century Dramaturgy | 3 |
| THEA 304 | Global Theatre Performance | 3 |
| THEA 364 | Topics in Theatre History | 3 |
| THEA 404 | Professional Career Development | 1 |
| Total Hours | 23 | |
Lighting Design & Technology Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| THEA 100 | Practicum I (in addition to the THEA 100 credits required in the theatre core) | 1 |
| THEA 119 | BFA Production Seminar (repeated for 4 total hours) | 4 |
| THEA 491 | Advanced CAD Drafting for Lighting Designers | 3 |
| THEA 151 | Introduction to Digital Audio Workstations | 3 |
| or THEA 153 | Introduction to Theatre Sound | |
| THEA 126 | Stagecraft | 3 |
| or THEA 222 | Introduction to Scenic Design | |
| THEA 231 | Intro to Lighting Design | 3 |
| THEA 300 | Practicum III (repeated for 4 total hours) | 4 |
| THEA 400 | Practicum IV (repeated for 4 total hours) | 4 |
| THEA 405 | Assistant & Associate Lighting Design | 2 |
| THEA 423 | Advanced Lighting Design | 3 |
| THEA 426 | History of Decor | 3 |
| THEA 431 | The Lighting Laboratory | 3 |
| or THEA 432 | Lighting for Non-Theatrical Spaces and Styles | |
| THEA 435 | Professional Lighting Systems | 2 |
| THEA 437 | Software for Lighting Design | 2 |
| THEA 451 | Principles of Stage Management | 3 |
| or THEA 452 | Principles of Arts Management | |
| THEA 242 | Introduction to Costume Production | 3 |
| or THEA 243 | Introduction to Costume Design | |
| Choose 3 credit hours: | 3 | |
| Digital Rendering for Lighting | ||
| Lighting Opera & Musicals | ||
| Advanced Problem Solving for Lighting Designers | ||
| Total Hours | 49 | |
Summary of Credits for Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre, concentration in Lighting Design & Technology
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Core Requirements for All Theatre Majors | 23 | |
| Lighting Design & Technology Concentration Requirements | 49 | |
| Free electives to bring the total hours earned to 120, including a minimum of 40 credits at the 300- or 400-level | ||
| Total Credits for BFA in Theatre, concentration in Lighting Design & Technology | 120 | |
Sample Sequence
for the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre, Lighting Design & Technology Concentration
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
First Year
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| FAA 101 - Arts at Illinois | 1 |
| Composition I or Language Other Than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| THEA 100 - Practicum I | 1 |
| THEA 121 - Theatre Foundations: Performance | 2 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 14 |
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| Composition I or Language Other Than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| THEA 100 - Practicum I | 1 |
| THEA 122 - Theatre Foundations: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| THEA 231 - Intro to Lighting Design | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 1 |
| Semester Hours | 15 |
Second Year
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| THEA 200 - Practicum II | 1 |
| THEA 100 - Practicum I | 1 |
| THEA 123 - Theatre Foundations: Production | 3 |
| THEA 126 - Stagecraft or THEA 222 - Introduction to Scenic Design | 3 |
| THEA 435 - Professional Lighting Systems | 2 |
| THEA 437 - Software for Lighting Design | 2 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 15 |
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| THEA 200 - Practicum II | 1 |
| THEA 208 - 21st Century Dramaturgy | 3 |
| THEA 405 - Assistant & Associate Lighting Design | 2 |
| THEA 426 - History of Decor | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 15 |
Third Year
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| THEA 119 - BFA Production Seminar | 1 |
| THEA 300 - Practicum III | 2 |
| THEA 304 - Global Theatre Performance | 3 |
| THEA 423 - Advanced Lighting Design | 3 |
| THEA 153 - Introduction to Theatre Sound or THEA 151 - Introduction to Digital Audio Workstations | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 15 |
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| THEA 119 - BFA Production Seminar | 1 |
| THEA 300 - Practicum III | 2 |
| THEA 364 - Topics in Theatre History | 3 |
| THEA 431 - The Lighting Laboratory or THEA 432 - Lighting for Non-Theatrical Spaces and Styles | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 4 |
| Semester Hours | 16 |
Fourth Year
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| THEA 119 - BFA Production Seminar | 1 |
| THEA 400 - Practicum IV | 2 |
| THEA 404 - Professional Career Development | 1 |
| THEA 451 - Principles of Stage Management or THEA 452 - Principles of Arts Management | 3 |
| THEA 242 - Introduction to Costume Production or THEA 243 - Introduction to Costume Design | 3 |
| THEA 492 - Digital Rendering for Lighting, THEA 493 - Lighting Opera & Musicals, or THEA 494 - Advanced Problem Solving for Lighting Designers | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 2 |
| Semester Hours | 15 |
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| THEA 119 - BFA Production Seminar | 1 |
| THEA 400 - Practicum IV | 2 |
| THEA 491 - Advanced CAD Drafting for Lighting Designers | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 15 |
Total Hours
Total hours for all requirements: 120
Learning Outcomes
for the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre, Lighting Design & Technology Concentration
- Communicate design and production ideas to collaborators through graphic skills, language and research and the ability to analyze and interpret creative, critical and theoretical works.
- Demonstrates the practical application of learned methodologies including the ability to communicate ideas, concepts, and requirements in order to successfully fulfill a role related to lighting design for a stage production.
- Demonstrates working knowledge of professional practices across genres of theatre, musical theatre, opera, dance and non-traditional venues and styles of design.
- Gain the practical ability to see their designs come to life from concept through realization by collaborating on current productions with peers, faculty, staff and guest artists.
- Demonstrates necessary skills and knowledge to acquire an entry-level position in the field of lighting design and technology including significant technical mastery, showing the capacity to produce work and solve problems independently.
Contact Information
for the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre, Lighting Design & Technology Concentration
Theatre
Theatre Department website
Theatre Department faculty
4-122 Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, 500 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-2371
theatre@illinois.edu
College of Fine & Applied Arts
Admissions
Overview of the College of Fine & Applied Arts Admissions & Requirements
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Undergrad Admissions
admissions@illinois.edu