Sacred Heart Students Use VR in Coursework

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 03/29/21

Communications students studying online at Connecticut's Sacred Heart University will be doing at least some of their learning via virtual reality. The institution's online master's program for strategic communication and public relations will send Facebook Oculus Quest headsets to students, enabling them to connect with their instructors and peers through avatars. In addition, students will work with the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite to learn how to create multimedia content with high-definition video.

The project-based coursework is meant to highlight the intersection of communication and technology. Participants will learn how to create multimedia campaigns and apply new and emerging forms of media to their public relations and digital advertising work. Students will also create their own agency and develop a growth management strategy.

student using virtual reality

Sacred Heart University's online master's program for strategic communication and public relations features virtual reality coursework to provide immersive learning opportunities and improve student engagement. Source: Sacred Heart University/Mark F. Conrad

"Sacred Heart is leading the way in public relations education with this innovative program, which prepares students to succeed as professionals in public relations, advertising and digital marketing," said Candace Parrish, program director and assistant professor, in a statement. "We've developed a progressive, forward-thinking program that incorporates cutting-edge technologies to deliver an unparalleled experience for online learners."

This 36-credit program is currently enrolling for the summer 2021 term.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

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