Lighting Engineering

The Multidisciplinary Engineering (MDE) concentration of Lighting Engineering is concerned with the esthetics, efficiency, and quality of light and lighting products in our built world. Lighting engineers deploy the skills of product design, electrical engineering, civil engineering, and mechanical engineering to generate innovative products and lighting layout designs for improved and safer quality of life. Deeply technical in focus, they must work independently and collaboratively to harness new materials and innovate novel and pleasing applications in lighting, including connecting to the IoT. View this MDE concentration's plan of study.

Potential Industries: Consumer products and related technologies; interior/architectural design; retail; entertainment/theatre; and construction.

Potential Work: Developing cost effective lighting fixtures, poles, and physical applications (healthcare, landscape, roadway); developing novel personal lighting; and designing new light sources such as LED.  Lighting consultants help construction and architectural firms apply lighting in artistic, esthetic ways as well as for energy efficiency, unobtrusiveness, and personal safety. Smart lighting designs also connect to the IoT to improve product quality and expand user needs and options.

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Purdue fuses students’ passion for engineering and entertainment careers with new center | November 9, 2020


Last Updated: April 29, 2025