This course provides attendees with an overview of spectrochemical measurements and the instrumental parameters one must choose to obtain valid, precise results. Matching component specifications for an optimal overall design is emphasized. Time, space, and energy resolution, and the influence of noise, are considered. Components such as light sources, gratings, beam-splitters, lenses, mirrors, prisms, and detectors are discussed, as are their combination into absorbance, fluorescence, and scattering spectrometers. Optical aberrations and their influence on resolution and precision are emphasized. High resolution measurement problems (atomic spectroscopy, gas phase diagnostics) are contrasted with low-resolution problems (trace detection in solution).