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.

A bachelor's degree is given to students who fulfill the necessary requirements given by the college or university they are attending. The requirements include three to seven years of focus on a subject, typically referred to as a major or concentration.