The B.A. in Theatre with a concentration in Lighting Design and Technology offers students the opportunity to explore how light shapes storytelling across stage, television, film, and live performance. Students develop both artistic vision and technical expertise, learning to design with intention while gaining hands-on experience with industry-standard tools and technologies.
The program emphasizes collaboration and versatility. In addition to focused training in lighting design, students engage with other areas of design, including projection, sound, costume, and set design. This cross-disciplinary learning is designed to prepare students to be a part of a creative team. Students also have the opportunity to design departmental productions, building real-world experience and a portfolio before graduation.
At its core, the program encourages students to think critically and creatively about the role of light in storytelling. Students explore how light interacts with space and time while using technology as a tool to build dynamic composition. The program is designed to prepare students to pursue career paths in entertainment, design, and production, or to continue their studies at the graduate level.
Concentration-Level Learning Objectives:
In addition to the four B.A. in Theatre Learning Objectives, the Lighting Design and Technology Concentration includes the following unique learning objectives:
- LIGHTING DESIGN and TECHNOLOGY FOR THEATRE, FILM, and INDUSTRY: Explore the specific techniques that lighting designers use to develop and communicate their ideas through research, synthesis of skills including drafting, computerized/virtual reality pre-visualization, automated lighting programming, and application of emerging technologies with a robust understanding of how the lighting designer supports, collaborates, and interacts with the creative team.
- DESIGN ARTISTRY: Develop an understanding of the Lighting Designer as a collaborative artist, creative visionary, and technician, and by practicing organizational, design, and technical skills to realize a show from concept to production, and building a portfolio of creative design and/or technical work.
Lighting design and technology offers students several ways to express their creativity and artistry:
- Lighting designers for theatre, musicals, opera, or dance
- Lighting engineers for stage, television, and film
- Lighting technicians for stage, dance, live productions, television, and film
Interview for Lighting Design and Technology:
In addition to applying to CSU through the Office of Admissions, a successful interview with CSU Theatre faculty is required to enter the Theatre Design and Technology Concentrations. Please visit the theatre website for information on the interview.
Current CSU Students: To change your major to theatre, you must be accepted to the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance through a successful audition or interview. Please wait until you are notified of acceptance before contacting the College of Liberal Arts Academic Advising Center. Please visit the theatre website for information on theatre major auditions and interviews, or email smtd@colostate.edu.
Visit the CSU Theatre website for more information about the department and this degree.
Effective Fall 2023
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| AUCC | Credits | ||
| CO 150 | College Composition (GT-CO2) | 1A | 3 |
| TH 140 | Text Analysis | 3 | |
| TH 160 | Drawing for Theatre | 3 | |
| TH 161 | Stagecraft | 3 | |
| TH 186 | Theatre Practicum I--Crew Assignment | 1 | |
| TH 192 | First Year Seminar--Telling Your Story | 3 | |
| Select two of the following courses: | 6 | ||
| Introduction to the Visual Arts (GT-AH1) | 3B | ||
| Understanding Dance (GT-AH1) | 3B | ||
| Music Appreciation (GT-AH1) | 3B | ||
| Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 1C | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 1B | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 28 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| TH 242 | World Theatre History I | 3 | |
| TH 243 | World Theatre History II | 3 | |
| TH 260 | Computer Assisted Drafting for Theatre | 3 | |
| TH 262 | Stage Management I | 3 | |
| TH 264 | Lighting Design I | 3 | |
| TH 268 | Projection Design I | 3 | |
| TH 269B | Makeup and Hair Design I: Designers | 3 | |
| TH 286 | Theatre Practicum II--Shop Assignment | 1 | |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | ||
| Theatre Practicum III: Production Crew | |||
| Theatre Practicum III: Asst. Designer in Conceptual Design Process | |||
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 3A | 7 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | ||
| Junior | |||
| TH 364 | Lighting Design II | 4A | 3 |
| TH 386C | Theatre Practicum III: Assistant Designer Applied | 1 | |
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | ||
| Theatre Design and Production Seminar: Lecture Only | |||
| Theatre Design and Production Seminar: Lecture and Lab | |||
| Theatre Design and Production Seminar: Lab Only | |||
| Select one course from the following: | 3-6 | ||
| Global Dramaturgies | |||
| Global Theatre | |||
| Study Abroad--South Africa: Performing Arts and Culture | |||
| Theatre in London: Travel Abroad | |||
| Theatre Internship | |||
| Select one of the following: | 1 | ||
| Theatre Practicum IV: Lead Production/Technical | |||
| Theatre Practicum IV: Lead Designer--Conceptual | |||
| Advanced Writing | 2 | 3 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3C | 3 | |
| Historical Perspectives | 3D | 3 | |
| Upper-Division Electives | 10-13 | ||
| Total Credits | 33 | ||
| Senior | |||
| TH 371 | Musical Theatre History and Repertory I | 3 | |
| TH 460 | Design Portfolio and Professional Preparation | 4B,4C | 3 |
| TH 486C | Theatre Practicum IV: Lead Designer--Applied | 1 | |
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | ||
| Stage Management II | 4A | ||
| Projection Design II | 4A | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | ||
| Theatre Design and Production Advanced Topics: Lecture | |||
| Theatre Design and Production Advanced Topics: Lecture and Lab | |||
| Theatre Design and Production Advanced Topics: Lab | |||
| Upper-Division Electives1 | 16 | ||
| Total Credits | 29 | ||
| Program Total Credits: | 120 | ||
- 1
Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to a minimum of 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be Upper-Division (300- to 400-level).
| Freshman | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| CO 150 | College Composition (GT-CO2) | X | 1A | 3 | |
| TH 161 | Stagecraft | X | 3 | ||
| TH 186 | Theatre Practicum I--Crew Assignment | X | 1 | ||
| TH 192 | First Year Seminar--Telling Your Story | X | 3 | ||
| Select one course from the following: | X | 3 | |||
| Introduction to the Visual Arts (GT-AH1) | 3B | ||||
| Understanding Dance (GT-AH1) | 3B | ||||
| Music Appreciation (GT-AH1) | 3B | ||||
| Total Credits | 13 | ||||
| Semester 2 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| TH 140 | Text Analysis | X | 3 | ||
| TH 160 | Drawing for Theatre | X | 3 | ||
| Select one course from the following: | X | 3 | |||
| Introduction to the Visual Arts (GT-AH1) | 3B | ||||
| Understanding Dance (GT-AH1) | 3B | ||||
| Music Appreciation (GT-AH1) | 3B | ||||
| Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | X | 1C | 3 | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning | X | 1B | 3 | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | ||||
| Sophomore | |||||
| Semester 3 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| TH 242 | World Theatre History I | X | 3 | ||
| TH 260 | Computer Assisted Drafting for Theatre | X | 3 | ||
| TH 264 | Lighting Design I | X | 3 | ||
| TH 268 | Projection Design I | X | 3 | ||
| TH 286 | Theatre Practicum II--Shop Assignment | X | 1 | ||
| Biological and Physical Sciences | X | 3A | 3 | ||
| Total Credits | 16 | ||||
| Semester 4 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| TH 243 | World Theatre History II | X | 3 | ||
| TH 262 | Stage Management I | X | 3 | ||
| TH 269B | Makeup and Hair Design I: Designers | 3 | |||
| Select one of the following: | 1 | ||||
| Theatre Practicum III: Production Crew | |||||
| Theatre Practicum III: Asst. Designer in Conceptual Design Process | |||||
| Biological and Physical Sciences | X | 3A | 4 | ||
| Total Credits | 14 | ||||
| Junior | |||||
| Semester 5 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| TH 386C | Theatre Practicum III: Assistant Designer Applied | X | 1 | ||
| Select one course from the following: | X | 3 | |||
| Theatre Design and Production Seminar: Lecture Only | |||||
| Theatre Design and Production Seminar: Lecture and Lab | |||||
| Theatre Design and Production Seminar: Lab Only | |||||
| Advanced Writing | X | 2 | 3 | ||
| Social and Behavioral Sciences | X | 3C | 3 | ||
| Historical Perspectives | X | 3D | 3 | ||
| Upper-Division Elective | X | 3 | |||
| Total Credits | 16 | ||||
| Semester 6 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| TH 364 | Lighting Design II | X | 4A | 3 | |
| Select one course from the following: | X | 3-6 | |||
| Global Dramaturgies | |||||
| Global Theatre | |||||
| Study Abroad--South Africa: Performing Arts and Culture | |||||
| Theatre in London: Travel Abroad | |||||
| Theatre Internship | |||||
| Select one of the following: | X | 1 | |||
| Theatre Practicum IV: Lead Production/Technical | |||||
| Theatre Practicum IV: Lead Designer--Conceptual | |||||
| Upper-Division Electives | X | 7-10 | |||
| Total Credits | 17 | ||||
| Senior | |||||
| Semester 7 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| TH 371 | Musical Theatre History and Repertory I | 3 | |||
| Select one course from the following: | X | 3 | |||
| Stage Management II | 4A | ||||
| Projection Design II | 4A | ||||
| Select one course from the following: | X | 3 | |||
| Theatre Design and Production Advanced Topics: Lecture | |||||
| Theatre Design and Production Advanced Topics: Lecture and Lab | |||||
| Theatre Design and Production Advanced Topics: Lab | |||||
| Upper-Division Electives | X | 6 | |||
| Total Credits | 15 | ||||
| Semester 8 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| TH 460 | Design Portfolio and Professional Preparation | X | 4B,4C | 3 | |
| TH 486C | Theatre Practicum IV: Lead Designer--Applied | 1 | |||
| Upper-Division Electives | X | 10 | |||
| The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study. | X | ||||
| Total Credits | 14 | ||||
| Program Total Credits: | 120 | ||||