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Lighting Design Admissions

University Admission Requirements

A student applying to this program must:

  • Have earned a four-year bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a college or university that is accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting association, or do so by the time of program matriculation.
  • Submit unofficial transcripts from each college or university other than Illinois State at which graduate, undergraduate, or non-degree credit was earned. The unofficial transcript should be easily readable and clearly indicate degree(s) awarded, courses and course grades for each term.
  • If admitted, official domestic transcripts can be emailed from the university to GraduateAdmissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Illinois State University, Graduate School, 208 Hovey Hall, Campus Box 4040, Normal, IL 61790-4040.
  • If admitted, official international transcripts can be emailed directly from the international institution to InternationalAdmissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Illinois State University, International Admissions, Campus Box 6180, Normal, IL 61790-6180.

International students can learn more about specific application requirements by visiting the Graduate School Admission Requirements.

Additional Program Admission Requirements

GPA

You must have a minimum 2.8 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for the last 60 hours of undergraduate work.

The Grade Point Average (GPA) of all undergraduate credentials earned in the United States that are used for graduate degree admission evaluation is calculated by the last 60 hours of undergraduate work. International credentials are evaluated by using cumulative GPA (CGPA) in lieu of the GPA from the last 60 hours of undergraduate work.

Application Materials

A student applying to this program must:

  • Submit a current resume.
  • Provide three professional or academic letters of recommendation.
  • Interview with a member of the faculty. Interviews are held at U/RTA sites in Chicago and New York or on the Illinois State campus.

Design written materials must be submitted by February 15 to:

School of Theatre, Dance, and Film
Campus Box 5700
Normal, IL 61790-5700

For more information regarding MFA in Lighting Design, contact Dan Ozminkowski.

Admission Dates and Deadlines

Term Application Deadline
Fall  March 31 

Graduate Coordinator

Name Office Email Phone
Dr. Lauren Lowell  Centennial East - CE 007  lmlowel@ilstu.edu  (309) 438-5135