Top 25 Public Augmented/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) Schools in the U.S. – 2022 College Rankings

Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) launched in October 1888 as the Georgia School of Technology. When it opened, the school had just 84 students. Today, Georgia Tech serves nearly 40,000 students from 50 states and 149 countries. The school also has three campuses—the main campus in Atlanta, Georgia Tech-Lorraine in Metz, France, and Georgia Tech-Shenzhen in China.

Majors and degrees at Georgia Tech are offered through the Colleges of Design, Computing, Engineering, and Sciences, the Scheller College of Business, and the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

A number of programs for students interested in AR/VR are housed in the Ivan College of Liberal Arts, the School of Literature, Media, and Communication, the College of Computing, and in the Schools of Computer Science, Interactive Computing, and Computational Science & Engineering. The Computer Science programs at Georgia Tech provide opportunities for students to select from research areas such Virtual & Augmented Environments, Ubicomp & Wearable Computing, AI and Machine Learning, Robotics and Perception, and Geometry, Graphics, and Animation.

Students in all Georgia Tech programs have access to the school’s GVU Center, which supports Artificial Intelligence (AI), AR/VR, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Robotics, Wearable Computing and other research. Within the GVU Center is the Augmented Environments Lab, which focuses on building interactive computing environments that directly augment the users senses with computer-generated material.

Also located in the GVU Center is the Prototyping eNarrative Lab. Also known as PeN Lab, the Lab focuses on emerging platforms such as AR/VR, experimental television, and the intersection of storytelling with simulation and game design.

Examples of Lab projects include The Lights of St. Etienne: An AR/MR (Mixed-Reality) Experience in the Cathedral in Metz, France, Bringing Interactivity to Static Data Visualizations through Augmented Reality, Escape Room VR, WebXR: Experiences in AR and VR for the Web, Pipping: Exploring Passive Haptics in Virtual Reality, and Interaction Techniques for Children's AR Education, Invisible Cities: Multi-User AR Public Monuments.

Specific degree programs for students interested in AR/VR include the BS in Computational Media, MS and PhD degrees in Computer Science, and Minors in Computing & Devices, Computing & Intelligence, and Computing & People.

With 300 students, the BS in Computational Media is one of Georgia Tech’s fastest growing programs. Students have opportunities to focus in Interaction, Games, Narrative, and more. Course examples include Constructing the Moving Image, Interaction Design, Computer Animation, and Experimental Media. Sample careers include Virtual and Augmented Reality, Special Effects Creation, Interactive Game Design and Simulation, Robotics, and Animation.

Georgia Tech graduates work in leadership positions in areas such as consulting, engineering, financial services, healthcare, law, manufacturing, retailing, transportation, and humanitarian logistics, among others. Georgia Tech alumni have been hired by companies such as Apple, Disney, Tesla, Boeing, IBM, Intel, Cisco Systems, Google, Delta Airlines, and Microsoft.

Founded in 1876, Texas A&M University at College Station (TAMU or Texas A&M) is the state's first public institution of higher learning. This research-intensive, flagship university consists of 17 academic colleges and schools, two branch campuses, the Health Science Center, Quatar campus, and 72,982 students.

The new School of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts at TAMU (TAMU PVFA) houses the Visualization Program. Available pathways for students interested in AR/VR include BS, MS, and MFA degrees in Visualization, and a Minor in Game Design and Development. Students in all programs have access to HCI@VIZ, which is housed in the Department of Visualization in the College of Architecture, and the MAESTRO Lab, located in the Department of Aerospace Engineering in the College of Engineering. The recently launched TAMUVR (Texas A&M University Virtual and Augmented Reality) is also accessible to all students.  

HCI@VIZ is lab that conducts research in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Human-Centered Computing, and Interactive Systems. The Lab consists of five research groups: TEILab, The StoryLab, McNamara Lab, INDIE Lab, and the Soft Interaction Lab. Depending on the group, topics covered include AR/VR, Child-Computer Interaction, Data Visualization, Embodied Interaction, Interactive Storytelling, Soft Materials Interaction, and many others. AR/VR students may be drawn to the INDIE Lab and the Soft Interaction Lab, among others.

The INDIE Lab (Interactive Data and Immersive Environments) engages in human-centered research of interactive visualizations. The group actively collaborates with multiple departments and faculty across the university. Research areas include Virtual Reality, 3D Interaction, Visual Analytics, Information Visualization, and Educational Games.

The Soft Interaction Lab fosters experimentation with physical and virtual experiences, organic materials, and interaction technology.

MAESTRO Lab houses the MAESTRO VR Studio—an Immersive Mechanics Visualization Lab dedicated Immersive and Intuitive Data Environments projects. Focus areas include AR/VR and 3D Displays.

TAMUVR is an organization that focuses on AR/VR development, research activities, educational opportunities, discussion, and practical experience.

Graduates of the Visualization Programs at Texas A&M University are prepared for a range of careers from AR/VR and UI/UX Development to Environment Modeling and Game Asset Development.

University of Maryland (UMD) is the state’s flagship university and one of the original land-grant institutions in America. Established in 1856 and serving 40,700 students, UMD is also one of the largest universities in the U.S.

University of Maryland houses more than 300 academic programs across 12 colleges and schools. Programs for students interested in AR/VR are housed in the College of Arts and Humanities (ARHU) and the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences (CMNS). Options include a BA or BS in Immersive Media Design and BS, MS, BS/MS, and PhD degrees in Computer Science with an AR/VR focus.

Immersive Media Design (IMD) students learn to create, code, and collaborate using the most current digital technologies and tools. Students have the opportunity to focus in Art or Computer Science to graduate with a BA from the College of ARHU or a BS from the College of CMNS.

Housed in the Brendan Iribe Center for Computer Science and Engineering, the College of CMNS-Department of Computer Science serves more than 3,400 students with interests ranging from algorithms and design to VR to Robotics. Department features include research opportunities, internships, participation in the honors program, and study abroad experiences.

Students in all programs have access to the UMD Graphics and Visual Informatics Laboratory (GVIL), and the Mixed/Augmented/Virtual Reality Innovation Center (MAVRIC).

Established in 2000 by the Department of Computer Science, the GVIL explores computer graphics, scientific visualization, and virtual environments through research and education.

Current projects include applications for next-generation AR/VR, including immersive education, augmented navigation, virtual manufacturing, and medical training.

MAVRIC was created to support the future of XR, foster XR talent, and connect developers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and researchers through workshops, events, and programs.

UMD also houses the Maryland Blended Reality Center (MBRC)—a multidisciplinary partnership initially funded by the University of Maryland Strategic Partnership: MPowering the State. Launched in 2017, The Center also partners with the federal government, industry leaders, and other academic institutions to explore and develop AR/VR, MR, and other visual computing tools and applications  based in immersive technologies.

Graduates of the Computer Science, Immersive Media Design, and other programs have established careers in the tech industry, federal laboratories, medicine, teaching, and law. Notable alumni include Sergey Brin, Co-founder of Google; Gary Flake, a Microsoft Distinguished Engineer and founder of Yahoo! Research Labs; Brendan Iribe, Oculus Co-Founder; and Naresh Gupta, Senior Vice President of Adobe’s Print and Publishing Business Unit.

Serving just over 70,400 students, University of Central Florida (UCF) is the largest university by enrollment in Florida. Students at UCF have access to 240 bachelor’s degrees, 214 master’s degrees, and 81 doctorate degrees across 13 colleges. The College of Engineering and Computer Science houses the Department of Computer Science, which has several pathways to study AR/VR. Options include a BS in Computer Science (CS), an Accelerated BS/MS in CS, and MS and PhD degrees in Modeling and Simulation.

The Department of Computer Science at University of Central Florida also houses several labs that allow students to create, collaborate, and conduct research related to AR/VR.

The Synthetic Reality Lab known as SREAL is part of several larger UCF entities, most notably the Institute for Simulation & Training (IST), which houses it. SREAL (pronounced Surreal) is a center for researchers, software developers, artists (modelers/animators), interactors (digital puppeteers), PhD students, and affiliated faculty members. With 7,000 square feet of experimental and office space, SREAL houses areas for the development of AR/VR, mixed reality experiences, the delivery of interactive training using digital avatar technology, human surrogate and robotics research, and developing cultural heritage and STEM experiences.

The Interactive Systems and User Experience Lab focuses on the development of innovative applications, tools, and techniques that enhance the overall experience between humans and machines.

The Computer Science BS at UCF consists of courses such as Advanced AI, AI for Game Programming, Algorithms for Machine Learning, Computer Architecture, Computer Graphics, Game Programming, Robot Vision, and Software Engineering. Graduates of the program are prepared for careers in AR/VR, Computer Architecture, Computer Gaming, Computer Vision, Evolutionary Computing, Media Convergence, Robotics, and many others.

The Computer Science MS at UCF allows students to specialize in a research area. This includes options such as VR, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Mixed and Virtual Reality Mobile Computing, Machine Learning, and Modeling and Simulation. Pairing (combining two research areas) is also an option. In addition a specialization, students CS MS students will study and master programming systems and languages, computer architecture, and computer science theory.

In addition to AR/VR, graduates of the Computer Science MS Program at University of Central Florida work in Computer Science, Aerospace, Computer Systems, Software Development, Defense, Cyber/Information Security, and Software Engineering, among other areas. UCF CS alumni are routinely recruited by Lockheed Martin, Amazon, Siemens, NASA, IBM, Google, Apple, Cisco, IBM, YouTube, Intel, Oracle, and Accenture, among top companies and organizations.

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC) serves more than 47,000 students from all 50 states and 100+ countries. Founded in 1867, the school is one of the original 37 public land-grant institutions created after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Act in 1862.

UIUC offers more than 150 undergraduate programs and over 100 graduate and professional programs in 16 colleges, schools, and academic units. Grainger College of Engineering’s Thomas M. Siebel Center for Computer Science, houses a Computer Science (CS) program suited for students interested in careers in AR/VR. Options include a BS, MS, and 12 credit hour Minor in Computer Science (CS).

Students in the BS in CS have the opportunity to take up to 18 credit hours of technical electives and six hours of CS advanced electives. This allows students focus in an area of interest. The Media, Intelligence and Big Data, and Human and Social Impact areas include course options such as Virtual Reality, AI for Computer Games, Applied Machine Learning, Mobile Interactive Design, Audio Computing Lab, to name a few.

The MS in CS is a research-oriented degree that requires 28 credit hours of coursework and four credit hours of thesis. The program consists of 10 core areas, including Interactive Computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Scientific Computing, and Programming Languages, among others.

In addition to choosing a focus area (BS) or core area courses (MS) that suit their interests, students have access to the VR@Illinois Lab (VR LAB).

Supported by the Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning (CITL) and University Library’s IDEA Lab and Media Commons, the VR Lab is a collaborative initiative that supports AR/VR and extended reality research, exploration, and teaching at UIUC.

The Lab houses studio spaces for VR creation and exploration, mobile virtual reality classrooms, loanable headsets and cameras for viewing and capturing 360 media, and the VR Club, which hosts weekly club meetings. Lab experts provide consultations on implementing VR in the classroom and assistance with VR research projects.

Adjacent to the VR Lab is the Innovation Studio—an active, experimental and emerging technology studio with VR headsets, a video wall, gaming computers, and a range of innovative technologies.

Graduates of the Computer Science and other related programs at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are routinely hired by some of the world’s top companies. Major employers of  Amazon, Google, Microsoft Corp., Deloitte, Ernst & Young and JPMorgan Chase & Co. Other employers include Apple Inc., Tesla, Meta, IBM, Caterpillar, and ADM.

Iowa State University (ISU or Iowa State) opened on March 17, 1869 as Iowa State Agricultural College. The school was one of the first of a new generation of American colleges. Today, this public, land-grant university serves around 30,700 students (2021-2022), making it the second largest university in Iowa. Serving around 31,317 students (as of 2022), University of Iowa is the first largest university in the state.

ISU students have access to more than 300 degree, certificate, and minor programs housed in eight colleges and two schools. The Graduate College at Iowa State offers several programs for students interested in AR/VR. Options include MS and PhD degrees in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and a Master of Human-Computer Interaction. The MS is interdisciplinary, the MHC is delivered on-campus and online, and a 12 credit hour HCI Graduate Certificate is also available. Across programs, students will take courses such as Virtual Worlds and Applications, Visual Design for HCI, Computer Graphics and Geometric Modeling, Learn to Speak AI, Design and Evaluation of Human Computer Interaction, Python Application Development in HCI, and Foundations in Game-Based Learning.

Students in all programs have access to the Virtual Reality Applications Center (VRAC), which leads ISU’s HCI Program. This interdisciplinary research center supports the research of students and faculty from ISU’s seven colleges, as well as a number of industry partners and collaborators from several federal agencies.

VRAC participants have skills and interests in virtual, augmented, and mixed reality (VR/AR/MR) user experience (UX), developmental robotics, haptics interaction, HCI, and mobile computing.

Graduates of the HCI Programs at Iowa State University are prepared for careers in both the private and public sectors. Master’s degree graduates are also prepared for to continue their studies by enrolling in a PhD program.

This fall, Purdue University reached a record 50,884 students, topping last year’s 49,639 students. This is the university’s eighth straight record high. Founded in 1869, Purdue opened its doors on September 16, 1874 with six instructors and just 39 students. Today, the school employs 2,000 full-time faculty that teach and conduct research in Purdue’s 12 colleges and schools, and Purdue Polytechnic Institute.

For students interested in AR/VR, Purdue Polytechnic Institute has a flexible MS in Computer Graphics Technology (MS CGT) Program that allows students to take coursework in one or more areas and customize their plan of study. AR/VR coursework includes Augmented Reality, Collaborative Virtual and Augmented Environments, Product Development Using Virtual Environments, Virtual Environments, Cognition & Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Special Topics In Human-Centered Design And Development, Computer Graphics Programming, and Advanced Real-Time Computer Graphics.

Students in the program have access to the Purdue HRD Virtual Lab, which is equipped with Oculus Rift Virtual Reality Headsets to deliver virtual reality simulations, Microsoft HoloLens for augmented reality training simulations, GoPro Omni and GoPro Hero to create 360-degree training simulation content, and iMotions software to collect biometric data on facial expression analysis (FEA), eye tracking (ET), electrocardiography (ECG), galvanic skin responses (GSR), and facial electromyography (fEMG).

To graduate, MS CGT students will complete several projects including the Computer Graphics Project, Directed MS Capstone, and Directed MS Project.

Graduates of the MS CGT Program at Purdue University-Purdue Polytechnic Institute are prepared to seek careers in all sectors that utilize AR/VR. Graduates have been hired at Google, DreamWorks, Google, Salesforce, Deloitte, and other major companies and studios.

Faculty at the University of Arizona (UArizona) College of Social & Behavioral Sciences’ School of Information (iSchool) engage in virtual, augmented, extended, and mixed reality, video game design and development, and human-computer interaction (HCI) with a goal to advance these interactive technologies for enhanced user experience and performance. In addition faculty with interests in AR/VR and related areas, students interested in studying augmented and virtual reality have access to several labs that highlight AR/VR research, development, and education. Labs include the Extended Reality and Games Lab (XRG Lab) and the 3D Visualization and Imaging Systems Lab.

In the XRG Lab, researchers and participants focus on the research and development of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality techniques. Ongoing research projects are funded by the National Science Foundation, the University of Arizona Social & Behavioral Sciences Research Institute (SBSRI), and others. Projects include Googly Eyes (VR), Mirrored VR, Bounce: A Mixed Reality Serious Game for Teaching Newtonian Physics Concepts, Grabbable Holograms (mixed reality) and Give Me a Hand? (virtual reality).

The 3D Visualization and Imaging Systems Lab is designed for research in emerging technologies such as mixed- and augmented realities (MR-AR), the Lab focuses on the development of 2D/3D display systems, 3D visualization systems, 3D human computer interaction methods, and image acquisition systems. Researchers are interested in applying these technologies in medicine, scientific visualization, and education.

Degree programs for students interested in AR/VR are also housed in the UArizona iSchool. Options include a BS in Information Science and Technology and a Games and Simulation Certificate. The BS Program is organized into three tiers: Core Courses, Intensive Computing, and Research Methods, Computational Arts, and Society. Students have the option to customize a focus area based on their interests. Coursework may include Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, HCI, Neural Networks, and Informatics Applications. The BS Program has a required Individual Studies Component and Senior Capstone course.

The Games and Simulation Certificate explores the creation of virtual interactive environments for a variety of platforms and devices. Course examples for the program include Virtual Reality, Game Programming, Computing and the Arts, Technology of Sound, and Advanced Game Development. Students in this 12 credit hour Certificate Program will gain real-world experience through collaboration with peers and the creation of several working prototypes.

Graduates of the iSchool degree and certificate programs have been hired at Amazon, Raytheon Technologies, Microsoft, Intel Corporation, Lockheed Martin, Texas Instruments (TI), and IBM Systems & Technology Group, among others.  

Established in 1885 and serving more than 47,300 students, University of Arizona offers Bachelors, Master’s, and Doctoral degree programs, first professional and specialist programs, and a variety of undergraduate and graduate minors. Programs are housed in 20 colleges and additional specialized schools.

North Carolina State University (NC State or NCSU) has several pathways to study AR/VR. Students can earn a BA or MA degree in Art + Design (A + D), with access to several AR/VR and mixed reality labs. Founded in 1887 as the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, NC State has provides more than 300 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to 36,000+ students. Programs are housed in 12 colleges and schools and 65 departments. The BA and MA Programs are housed in the College of Design, which also offers a 16 credit hour A + D Minor with a customizable curriculum.

The College of Design is home to the Experience Design (IX) and Mixed Reality Labs (MxR), and the College of Engineering’s Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering houses the Virtual and Augmented Reality Lab (VR).

The IX Lab is a cross-disciplinary community of artists, designers, humanists, scientists, and engineers that focus on expanding worlds through AR/VR and other new and emerging technologies.

The MxR Lab consists of designers, engineers, and individuals interested in experimentation. The Lab focuses on AR/VR and MR technologies. Projects have included Axe One, Morphaces, and Pop’n’Play.

In the VR Lab researchers study the interaction between humans and AR/VR. Projects have included include User Performance Training and Patient Motor Learning. Current projects include Scale Cognition through Advanced Learning Environments in Virtual Reality (SCALE-VR), Virtual Instructor Application using Augmented Reality for Worker Posture Training, and Investigation of Virtual Reality Guided Upper Limb Exercises.

Accessible equipment includes four-sided (C4) Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE) with full-body tracking capability, several head-mounted displays (HMDs), and a head-up display (HUD). In addition, a variety of peripheral devices that support movement tracking are available.

In the College of Design’s interdisciplinary, studio-based  A + D BA, students have the opportunity to learn about and develop creative portfolios in areas such as AR/VR, Interactive and Computational Media, Motion Graphics, Visual Effects (VFX), Graphic and Interactive Narratives, Game Design, 3D Modeling, and others. In addition, three Concentrations are available: Gaming + Interaction Design, Animation (2D + 3D), and Fibers + Soft Construction.

Students may also create a focus through required free electives totaling 12 credit hours. Elective examples include Advanced Digital Techniques, Digital Representation, and Art + Design Laboratory.  Course examples for the program include Visualization, Art + Design Laboratory, Creative Technology, Digital Imaging, Advanced Digital Techniques, Digital Motion, and Animation.  Studios include Creative technology, Art and Design International, and Design, Context, and Experience.

The MA in A +D (M.A.D) focuses on Experimental Media Arts. Depending on the student’s academic background and experience, they may enroll in the 30-, 48- or 72-credit Track. Course examples include Sequential Imaging, Visualizing Narratives, Graduate Studio: Immersive and Experimental narratives, Digital Motion, Special Effects, Animation, Dynamic Data, Digital Modeling, and Coding for Designers. Final projects for the M.A.D. Program may explore AR/VR, VFX, Interactive and Computational Media, Graphic and Interactive Narratives, Visual Composition, and Motion Graphics, among others.  

Graduates of the Art + Design Department at North Carolina State University work in fields such as Software Design, Multimedia, Illustration, Textile Design, Fashion and Apparel Design, Art and Design Education, Photography, Filmmaking, Special Effects-Digital, Set Design, Exhibition Design, Museum Education, and Public Art. Some graduates have launched their own businesses and studios.  Entrepreneurs.

Established in 1876 and serving close to 35,900 students, University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) houses the Alliance for Technology, Learning and Society (ATLAS) Institute. Founded in 1998, the ATLAS Institute is home to a number of labs and centers designed to support student work on independent projects. Current labs and centers include ACME Lab, Living Matter Lab, THING Lab, Unstable Design Lab, Laboratory for Emergent Nanomaterials, Center for Media, Arts & Performance, and BTU Lab.

Past projects include AR Drum Circle, Augmented Reality and Autonomous Systems (ARIAS), Augmented Reality Informs Human-Robot Interaction, Augmented Reality Remote Assistance (ARRA), Haptic VR Wizard, Biolage Reactor, and Jam Station, to name a few.

The Atlas Institute also manages the Creative Design & Technology (CTD) Program, with core courses taught in the Roser ATLAS Center and degrees granted through the College of Engineering and Applied Science. Pathways for students interested in AR/VR include the BS and Minor in CTD.

The BS in CTD (BS-CTD) requires 128-130 credit hours of study and the Minor requires 21 credit hours. BS-CTD students may choose a focus area through elective offerings. Areas include Augmented and Virtual Reality, Interactive Computing, Game Design, Robotics, Physical Computing, Sound Design, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX), and more. Other program features include creative projects, regular professional development opportunities, workshops and guest speakers, internships with industry partners, employment in the CTD research and student labs, and portfolio development. 

To complete the major, BS-CDT students take a two-semester Capstone sequence where they produce one major culminating project.

The ATLAS and the College of Engineering and Applied Science also offer an MS in CTD with a Creative Industries Track.  The project-based curriculum for this program allows students to build their own focus area. Some popular options include Virtual and Augmented Reality, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Interactive Product Design and Development, Game Design and Development, Arts and Media Production, UI/UX, and Learning and Education. Classes, workshops, visiting speakers, and studios provide the opportunity for graduate students to work directly with industry professionals on real-world issues.

Graduates of the CDT Programs at University of Colorado Boulder work in many areas of Art and Entertainment, Technology, Education, Healthcare, Sciences, and Defense, among others. MS graduates also work in Research in all industries and in many departments and agencies of the U.S. government. Examples of employers for CU Boulder graduates include Lockheed Martin, Google, IBM, Walt Disney, Medtronic, Ball Aerospace, CBS Studio Center, Panavision, Hitachi, and Starz Entertainment.

University at Buffalo (UB) is a public research university and a flagship of the State University of New York system (SUNY). Serving 32,332 students, UB is the largest campus in the 64-campus SUNY system. More than 510 degree programs are available across 13 colleges and schools. The College of Arts and Sciences at UB houses the Department of Media Study (DMS) and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences is home to the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. Both have several pathways to study AR/VR.

Programs in the DMS explore games, AR/VR, robotics, experimental film, interactive, fiction, and many other areas. Research areas for DMS faculty include Games and Virtual Reality, Emerging Media, Music and Sound, and Film and Video, among others. Games and Virtual Reality researchers study and build virtual worlds, mixed reality experiences, responsive installations, intermedia performances, and games.

Undergraduate DMS programs for students interested in AR/VR include the BA in Media Study with a Concentration in Production, and the Game Studies Certificate. Graduate options include the MFA in Media Arts Production (including interactive media, computational media, physical computing), the Media Arts and Architecture Program (MAAP) with a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) + Master of Science in Architecture (MS) Track for students with a prior degree in the arts, design, humanities, computer science and engineering or related fields, and the PhD in Media Study ( including interactive media, physical computing, production, and digital  media).

Most coursework across programs have AR/VR and related components. Examples include Virtual Worlds I-II, Emerging Technologies, Media Robotics, Programming Graphics I-II, Game Design, Interactive Fiction, Computational Media, Sound and Space, Physical Computing, Programming for Digital Art, Green Media, Electronic Literature, Sound Design, Video Workshop, Game Design, Machines, Codes, and Cultures, Game and Animation Workshop, Time-Based Concepts, Performative Action, and Designed Play.

Students in all programs enjoy small class sizes (15-18 students), team projects, internship opportunities, and an active study abroad program.

The Department of Computer Science and Engineering at UB has several options for students interested in AR/VR including the Computer Science BA, Computer Science BS/MBA, Computer Science BS/ Computer Science and Engineering MS, the Computer Engineering MS, and the Mechanical Engineering BS. All programs provide access to the UB Virtual Reality Lab, housed in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences’ Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

Course examples across programs include Applied Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Interface Design, Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI), Programming in Python, Machine Learning and Society, Coding Theory, Software Engineering, Computer Vision and Image Processing, Robotic Algorithms, Digital Image Processing, Computer Programming I-II, Systems Programming, Digital Systems, and The Learning Environment.

University at Buffalo graduates are routinely recruited by some of world’s top companies. Examples include Amazon, Lockheed Martin, Google, Fisher-Price, IBM, Carleton Technologies, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Eli Lilly, and BAE Systems. 

The eCampus Immersive Learning Institute at San Jose State University (San Jose State or SJSU) focuses on AR/VR technology and learning. Faculty in the program work together to explore AR/VR and create immersive learning activities for their courses through workshops, hands-on activities, and resources. Workshops include Building Immersive Learning Experienced, Hands-on AR/VR Exploration, Integrating AR/VR into Curriculums, and Best Practices and Showcase. The Immersive Learning Institute provides the opportunity for faculty to apply what they have learned to their classrooms, while helping students learn about and develop skills in AR/VR.

In addition to access to instructors who are heavily involved in AR/VR education and development, San Jose State University has several pathways for students interested in studying AR/VR. Housed in the College of Professional and Global Education’s School of Information, the BS in Information Science and Data Analytics (BSISDA) explores AR/VR, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, and Big Data. The Computer Science Department in the College of Science has BS and MS degree options with heavy VR/AR related coursework.

Across programs, course examples include Python Programming, Human Centered Design, Information Visualization, User Centered Interface Architecture, Tools Lab, Object-Oriented Design, Query Languages, The Emerging Future: Technology Issues and Trends, Software Engineering, Programming Paradigms, and Technology, Culture, and Society.

To enhance both the BS and MS degrees, students may choose six to 12 elective units from upper or lower division courses. Elective examples include Computer Game Design and Programming, Advanced C++ Programming, Machine Learning, Computer Graphics Algorithms, Advanced programming with Python, Programming in Java, Game Studies, Computer Vision, and Advanced Practical Computing Topics.

Established in 1857 as the first State Normal School, San Jose State University is Silicon Valley’s Public University. The school is home to approximately 36,000 students, served by nearly 4,300 employees. Bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees are available in 250 areas of study. Programs at SJSU are managed across nine academic colleges housing dozens of schools and departments.

San Jose State University graduates are routinely hired across industries at companies with headquarters across Silicon Valley and offices around the world. Graduates work in Aerospace, Internet & Software, Government, Computer Networking, Healthcare, Design, Electronic and Computer Hardware, Advertising, and Education, among others. Top hiring companies for San Jose State graduates include Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Cisco, IBM, Oracle, Intel, NASA, SAP America, and Western Digital.