The Lighting Program offers both undergraduate and graduate level courses in illumination engineering. These courses are taught through Architectural Engineering (AREN). The Lighting Program at CU has a long history of excellence and is one of only a handful of programs to teach more than a single course in illuminating engineering. The strength of our program is derived from a delicate balance of strong technical content applied through creative design. Graduates of our program can expect to find work in areas of the lighting industry such as electric lighting and daylighting design, product sales, software design, and optical and control system product development.
As an undergraduate, you have a number of options you can pursue in lighting education based on your interests. After completing Illumination I & Illumination II, which teach the fundamentals of illuminating engineering, you may choose to focus on Design, Application & Sustainability, or Modeling of Light. If you prefer breadth in lighting you may take any and all courses of your choice.
As a graduate student, you can take courses that will prepare you to research the human response to light or to develop technologies or processes that improve the way we light our built environment.
Available Courses
AREN 3540: Illumination I
Teaches the fundamentals of architectural illumination. Introduces and applies basic principles and vocabulary to elementary problems in the lighting of environments for the performance of visual work, accounting for the effect of architectural surfaces. Course prerequisites: CSCI 1200, Computational Thinking and APPM 2350, Calculus 3.
AREN 4550: Illumination II
Applies the principles studied in Illumination I or Building Energy Systems. Provides further study in architectural lighting design methods. Uses lighting studio work to develop a broad knowledge of lighting equipment, design methods, and their application in a series of practical design problems in modern buildings. Course prerequisites: AREN 3540 or AREN 5001.
AREN 4130/5130: Optical Design for Illumination and Solid State Lighting
Covers the optical design process used for illumination-based optics, with an emphasis on applications in architectural lighting. Includes in-depth coverage of luminaire photometry, lamps, materials, manufacturing methods, and product performance requirements. Optical design projects teach students optical design software and include a variety of lamp types including LEDs using both reflector and lens optics. Course prerequisites: AREN 3540 or AREN 5001. Restricted to AREN majors.
AREN 4560: Luminous Radiative Transfer
Teaches fundamentals of radiative exchange as applied to illuminating engineering. Describes and uses principal numerical techniques for radiative transfer analysis. Applies techniques to lighting design and analysis. Course prerequisites: AREN 3540 or AREN 5001. Restricted to AREN majors.
AREN 4530: Advanced Lighting Design
Helps students understand light as a medium in design, begin the formulation of a philosophical perspective for its application, and continue to develop the research and communication skills required to design and implement lighting systems. Knowledge from previous lighting classes (Illumination I and Illumination II) is essential to this course. Course prerequisites: AREN 3540 or AREN 5001, and AREN 4550.
AREN 4580: Daylighting
Applies the fundamental principles of illuminating engineering to architectural daylighting design, exploring the quantitative methods and tools used to develop daylighting designs and evaluate their performance. Topics include solar and sky modeling, luminous radiative transfer, design methods, and controls for integration with electric lighting systems. Course prerequisites: AREN 3540 or AREN 5001, and AREN 4550. Graduate section available upon request.
AREN 4510: Adaptive Lighting
Builds on architectural lighting principles studied in Illumination I and Illumination II. Uses the design process and quantitative methods to develop architectural lighting controls solutions. Topics include novel applications of lighting controls, codes and standards, control system network architecture and components, design documentation, and commissioning. Design projects allow students to explore adaptive lighting outcomes such as energy efficiency, demand management, occupant wellbeing, and smart city integration. Course prerequisites: AREN 3540 or AREN 5001, and AREN 4550. Graduate section available upon request.