COURSE CURRICULUM

The M.S. in Architectural Sciences with a concentration in Lighting at Rensselaer is a 30-credit-hour program designed to provide students with advanced, multidisciplinary training in lighting science, technology, and design. The curriculum is structured over two semesters, combining rigorous coursework with practical and research-oriented experiences. In the Fall semester, students take foundational courses including Lighting Design, Lighting Research Design, Human Factors in Lighting, Physics of Light, and the Physics of Light Laboratory, totaling 15 credit hours, which provide a strong theoretical and experimental grounding in lighting principles and human-centered design considerations. In the Spring semester, students progress to advanced courses such as Advanced Lighting Design, Lighting Workshop, and Lighting Technologies and Applications, alongside a 1- to 9-credit Master’s Project that allows students to focus on a specific area of research or design, applying their knowledge to professional or experimental contexts. For students intending to continue to the Ph.D. program, the Research Design Seminar (ARCH 6810, 2 credits) is included in the Plan of Study before the candidacy exam. The curriculum is designed to ensure that graduates are equipped with cutting-edge skills in lighting design, analysis, and technology, preparing them for careers in the lighting industry, design practice, research institutions, and applied lighting projects in architectural and technological environments, blending scientific rigor with creative and practical problem-solving.