The School of Architecture, in association with the Lighting Research Center (LRC), offers a 30-credit, one-year curriculum leading to the Master of Science in Lighting degree. This program is based in the internationally renowned Lighting Research Center, the world’s largest university-based research facility dedicated to lighting.
The Master of Science in Lighting is the premier master’s level graduate degree offered in the field of lighting. This multidisciplinary degree allows students to work closely with faculty at the LRC to study the various disciplines involved in lighting research and design. This one-year program allows for a comprehensive, “hands-on” study of lighting which culminates in a master’s project in the spring semester during which each student studies a particular area of interest in-depth directly with a faculty adviser.
Students completing the M.S. in Lighting degree can go on to careers in the lighting industry or design practice, or can continue on to further study in the Ph.D. in Architectural Sciences with a Concentration in Lighting, to prepare for university and/or advanced research careers.
The curriculum is normally completed in two semesters. Facilities and equipment specific to this program include the LRC laboratories, various other Rensselaer laboratories, field study facilities, optical tools, the Laboratory for Human-Environment Interaction Research, the School of Architecture Workshop, and Rensselaer’s Libraries and Information Services.
Outcomes of the Graduate Curriculum
Graduates of the Master of Science in Lighting program will reliably demonstrate the ability to:
- identify and analyze the visual, biological, energy, and other relevant factors for a lighting application using appropriate instrumentation and assessment tools and methods.
- develop lighting solutions that address client goals and each lighting-related issue identified for a variety of lighting applications.
- document and communicate a lighting solution to a client using drawings, specifications, computer simulations, oral communication and other appropriate means.
- evaluate various types of lighting equipment, including light sources, luminaires, and controls, in terms of photometric and operational performance.
- apply the research process in the analysis of lighting-related problems and develop an appropriate solution using scientifically valid methods.
- analyze the various characteristics of light including quantity, spectral power distribution, color, distribution, timing, exposure, duration, and other factors and apply this information in the analysis of a variety of lighting questions and issues.
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