Lighting design is a growing interdisciplinary field cutting across areas such as architecture, physics, and sustainability. Students of lighting design may study such topics as the interaction of natural and artificial light, using light to affect moods and create environments, and the latest trends in commercial lighting.

Summer courses allow students to take classes and earn academic credit hours during the summertime, when most students are on break. Many schools offer seasonal courses to help students move through their educational programs faster and to gain important skills and knowledge.