Providing Students with a Range of Options in a Rapidly Developing Field

From gaming to training surgeons, virtual reality (VR) has become an increasingly used technology for both Young Man Using Virtual Reality Headsetentertainment and learning. Recognizing that VR will only continue to grow as it becomes even more prevalent in our lives, County College of Morris (CCM) has launched an Associate in Applied Science degree in VR.

The degree will be offered starting with the Fall 2018 semester as part of the college’s Photography Technology Program. There also will be a great number of opportunities for CCM students in other programs to work with VR as well.

“Photographers and video graphic artists have been a major source of object based and real-world modeling, which is why we are incorporating this new degree option into our Photography Technology Program,” explains Nieves Gruneiro-Roadcap, chair of the Department of Art and Design. “We’ll also be using the latest technologies including Oculus Rift Headsets.”

Students enrolled in the program will study a range of areas, including photography, digital imaging, computer science and narrative story telling in virtual, augmented and mixed reality.

“What we are offering is a rigorous program so students can take advantage of a wide range of opportunities, from immediate entrance into the job market to continuing on to earn a bachelor’s degree,” says Dr. Bruce Dutra, dean of the School of Liberal Arts. “This degree program will also prepare students for other innovative programs being offered at four-year institutions.”

For additional information, contact the Department of Art and Design at 973-328-5446 or Professor Gruneiro-Roadcap at ngruneiro@ccm.edu/.