Virtual Reality at UC Berkeley

Program Highlights

Analyze the best examples of virtual reality (VR) games and products to discover why they're successful and why some are failures through failure analysis.

Learn the essentials of world design - how to add details, effects, lighting, textures, layers, and materials.

Learn the fundamentals of VR interaction, such as how to place and transform different world geometries and allow users to interact using in-world physics.

Learn the Unity development platform to create unique virtual reality and mixed reality experiences.

Prototype, test, and refine a game of your own with rules you define.

Residential Tuition:
$5,698

Session 2:
July 2, 2023 July 14, 2023

University of California at Berkeley
Berkeley, CA

Course Overview

Once confined to the realm of science fiction, virtual reality (VR) is now revolutionizing sectors as diverse as entertainment, business, education, and healthcare. The VR industry is evolving at a rapid rate, and new platforms and capabilities are constantly emerging. The industry heavy hitters like Google, Microsoft, and Meta are increasingly focusing on this amazing technology and the opportunities it offers.

This innovative college-level course is perfectly designed to help high schoolers gain real world knowledge and experience before committing to a Virtual Reality pathway in college. Students will get the opportunity to apply their newly gained skills to a hands-on project by prototyping, testing, and refining a game of their own design with rules they define. While specific briefs vary from course to course, all of the projects are selected to perfectly complement the skills covered in class and enable students to create their own virtual reality experience. They will also earn a Certificate of Virtual Reality bootcamp course completion from an expert teacher. No prior VR experience required for this course.

Meet your instructor

Courses are taught by accomplished and passionate faculty recruited from many area colleges, universities and professional forums. Each faculty member is selected for their subject area expertise and proven ability to both challenge and captivate students.

Topics you'll explore

Real World Insight

Students may get the opportunity to visit technology companies that are developing virtual reality gaming and working in the augmented reality metaverse.

SSB business students at Facebook campus

Hands on Learning

UC Berkeley is located near the heart of Silicon Valley, which provides opportunities for students to interact with professionals in the virtual reality field. They may also have the chance to visit a company specializing in this area of study.