The School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University is offering students and professionals alike the opportunity to advance their skills and careers at the intersection of art and technology. The online Virtual Reality Certificate, delivered by the Continuing Education unit, brings the world of immersive experience design to those interested in everything from game design to educational applications, real estate marketing, and event planning, all in an increasingly virtual world. Students will find a balance of technical instruction and aesthetic design fundamentals to give them the skills they need to integrate VR into their careers.

Designed with part-time students in mind, this certificate consists of a series of 6 intensive short courses, each 6 weeks in duration and fully online. Within a year’s time, students can complete the entirety of their Virtual Reality Certificate and add the credential to their resume.

“You have a 360 range of motion creating digitally now, and I think that makes for really rich digital atmospheres and worlds.” says Bella Kiser, an SMFA at Tufts BFA+BS Alum.

Virtual Reality has experienced an increase in popularity for entertainment, gaming, 3D movies, and virtual socializing; in practical uses for education, vocational training, journalism, and therapy; in commercial uses such as real estate walk-throughs, promotional events, and architectural presentations. It is expected that by 2024, virtual reality will be a $300 billion industry and see a 31% increase in users.

The SMFA Continuing Education Virtual Reality Certificate will guide students through custom 3D and advanced immersive environment creation, core coding principles in C# and C++, as well as 3D modeling. Graduates of the certificate will find themselves equipped with the SMFA’s unique interdisciplinary approach to art making and top tier technical tools to carry them forward into the rapidly growing field of virtual reality.

Applications are now open and accepted on a rolling basis until May 13, 2022. For more information about our Virtual Reality Certificate and other offerings at SMFA Continuing Education, visit us at smfa-ce.tufts.edu.

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SMFA's Continuing Education classes, workshops, and certificates foster creative exploration for individuals at every stage of their artistic journey—from novices ready to learn the fundamentals of visual expression to seasoned artists in search of master-level techniques or exposure to new materials and techniques.