Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Lighting Design (Face-to-Face)

THEA 3553-01

Course: THEA 3553-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Theatre, Dance, & Arts Admin
CRN: 33923

Course Description

This course will provide students with the basic skills necessary for the execution of lighting design for the theatre. This will include the proper implementation and use of equipment, basic electrical theory, and an understanding of the tools and software used in theatrical lighting. Students will understand the key personnel in the lighting and creative teams and will be prepared to take responsibility in a variety of roles. Students will train in the observation of lighting and exercise the ability to express lighting and design ideas both descriptively, visually, and technically. 

Required Texts

Required Text: Stage Lighting (free through library)

Required Tools: Access to a computer. Assorted drawing supplies. Tools as you determine necessary to accomplish the assignments and projects as you envision them.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Become familiar with the operation and maintenance of basic lighting equipment used in the theatre.
  2. Gain awareness of vision and the physics of light.
  3. Analyze and critically review peer and professional designs to strengthen knowledge of lighting design for the theatre.
  4. Execute basic production processes in the areas of lighting design and technology.
  5. Develop research skills and script analysis techniques to support the work of both realized and unrealized lighting designs.
  6. Create a lighting portfolio.

Course Requirements

Quizzes

Quizzes will be given periodically throughout the semester to place emphasis within reading and research assignments.

Assignments

Below is a brief overview of projects assigned over the course of the semester; additional homework and reading is required but not covered here:

Review Papers (two required):

During the course of the semester you will be attending various theatrical productions put on during the mainstage season or second studio. Other productions may also satisfy this requirement with instructor permission. Write a review of two productions. The review should concentrate on the technical and design aspects of the production’s lighting.

Lighting Morgue:

Assemble and organize a collection of lighting imagery to use as inspiration in future lighting designs. 

Lighting Observations:

Spend time observing the lighting around you. Each week a new observation will be documented using a variety of forms, ranging from sketches, photographs, written descriptions, etc. 

Projects

Design Challenges:

Throughout the semester, a series of (much) smaller designs will be assigned, focusing on specific challenges. 

Complete Lighting Design:

Over the course of the semester, you will complete a lighting design as assigned. This one, large project will be broken into a series of steps across the semester but ultimately turned in as a complete package. This will include research, documentation, drafting, and rendering.

Grading

The following grading standards will be used in this class:

Grade Range
A 94% to 100%
A- 90% to < 94%
B+ 87% to < 90%
B 84% to < 87%
B- 80% to < 84%
C+ 77% to < 80%
C 74% to < 77%
C- 70% to < 74%
D+ 67% to < 70%
D 64% to < 67%
D- 60% to < 64%
F 0% to < 60%

Course Outline

Week: | Topic:
W1 | Review and apply lighting essentials as taught in previous coursework. 
W2 | Lighting research and presentation. Exploration of color as it relates to light and vision.
W3 | Creation of lighting ideas from past research. Overview of lighting technology. 
W4 | Continuation of lighting technology and Photoshop as a design tool.
W5 | Script analysis for the lighting designer. Production meetings. 
W6 | Exploration of lighting instrumentation and technical research. 
W7 | Lighting photometrics and drafting - application of lighting math in various scenarios.
W8 | Computer drafting of lighting plots. 
W9 | Drafting continued and light plot presentations. 
W10 | Overview of Lighting paperwork and Lightwright tutorial.
W11 | Exploration of lighting focus including work with physical fixtures as well as focus prep as a designer.
W12 | Light cuing lab including previsualization and real-world scenarios.
W13 | Review of electrical theory for the lighting designer as well as the budgeting process. 
W14 | Discussion of jobs/contracts within lighting design.
W15 | Final presentations.

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late Assignments:

Except as noted, assignments will be submitted online. Consult the assignment information on Canvas for all due dates and times. As many assignments will be shared and critiqued during class, it is essential that assignments are submitted on time for optimal feedback. Presentations must meet the due dates as scheduled. Presentation dates will not be rescheduled except as required under university policies. Such exceptions MUST be documented and have advanced notice, otherwise no accommodation will be provided. Late projects may be accepted with a penalty increasing 3% daily. If you need to be absent, work due during your absence must be turned in ahead of time.

Attendance Policy

Departmental Absence Policy

Attendance policies vary by instructor and course section. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the specific attendance expectations for each course. These policies will be clearly outlined in the instructor's syllabus or course information. If clarification is needed, students should proactively contact their instructor.

Lecture Based Courses

Attendance is required for all classes unless excused by the instructor or for official university travel. Students who miss more than four class meetings for courses scheduled three days a week; three in courses scheduled two days a week, or one is courses scheduled one day a week, shall have their grade lowered by 1/3 of a letter grade with an additional 1/3 for every additional absence.

Studio Based Courses

Attendance is required for all classes unless excused by the instructor or for official university travel. Students who miss more than four class meetings for courses scheduled three days a week; three in courses scheduled two days a week, or one in courses scheduled one day a week, shall have their grade lowered by a full letter grade with an additional 1/3 grade for every additional absence.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Religious / Conscience Belief Accommodation

RELIGIOUS / CONSCIENCE BELIEF ACCOMMODATION: In accordance with SUU Policy 6.7 Student Belief Accommodation, students may request, in writing, that their faculty accommodate their sincerely held religious or conscience beliefs. Students should provide their faculty with sufficient advanced notice, if possible within the first five (5) business days of the semester or session, or thereafter with good cause for requesting an accommodation after the first five (5) business days.

Faculty must provide a schedule accommodation or excuse an absence, in any course, for students to observe or participate in religious holidays or an organized activity conducted under the auspices of the student’s religious tradition or religious organization.

In courses that are required for graduation or for an academic major, a faculty member may accommodate a religious or conscience belief by modifying an assignment or examination if its content conflicts with the student’s belief. Faculty may decline the accommodation if it would fundamentally alter the course requirements. If declined, the student may request review by a neutral arbiter using the Belief Accommodation Request Form: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv&layout_id=5

Questions go to Assistant Provost Jake Johnson at johnsonj@suu.edu.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.