William Paterson’s Criminal Justice Program Becomes One of First in U.S. to Use Virtual Reality Training Technology

Students in William Paterson University's Criminology and Criminal Justice, Sociology, and Social Work programs starting in Fall 2026 will have access to a new virtual reality training system designed to enhance their classroom learning with immersive, scenario-based experiences.

The University recently acquired the WrapReality virtual reality platform, which allows students to engage in realistic simulations, making it one of the pioneers in utilizing this technology for student success across the country. The VR system supports William Paterson's emphasis on experiential learning by giving students hands-on practice with situations they may encounter in careers across law enforcement, corrections, social work, law, and related fields. The technology will be integrated into coursework to provide students with opportunities to practice communication, ethics, critical thinking, decision-making, and de-escalation skills in a controlled learning environment, says Professor Colleen Eren, who directs the University’s Criminology and Criminal Justice program. 

"The Criminal Justice, Criminology, and Social Work programs at William Paterson have strong academic components. We teach students social science theory, how to understand and apply empirical research. But we also want to give students the kind of applied knowledge that will set them apart in their chosen professions and keep them excited about learning,” Eren says.

Students will find themselves, among dozens of VR simulations guided by their professors, entering prisons and interacting with incarcerated people—both those seeking to harm and those seeking to improve themselves, conducting constitutional traffic stops, investigating and mediate domestic violence situations, facing active shooters on a school campus, teaching individuals with substance abuse disorders how to resist relapse, de-escalating potential violent confrontations with aggressive civilians, and confronting officers engaged in unethical policing practices.

The addition of the new training system reflects William Paterson's ongoing commitment to experiential learning and the use of innovative technologies that support student success.

Learn more about the University’s bachelor’s degree program in Criminology and Criminal Justice here.