Morehouse College, founded in 1867, has long been a fixture in the Black community. The school is known for its academic prowess, notable alumni, and community impact as the only HBCU that serves only Black men.
The Atlanta-based institution is now expanding its historic impact by bringing its curriculum into the metaverse.
Morehouse College, according to Atlanta’s WSB-TV, is the first college or university to offer classes in the metaverse.
Students who are interested in the virtual program enter their classroom, put on a headset, and begin learning right away.
“The metaverse is what I call the world’s greatest playground. But besides that, what it really is, is the next iteration of the web,” said Muhsinah Morris, Ph.D., virtual reality program manager for Morehouse College.
According to the college representatives, the level of academic and social engagement the user can experience in the metaverse classroom is not limited.
“You want to climb mountains? Let’s go, you know? Let’s go to Mount Everest,” Morris said.
Morehouse College is capitalizing on its position as the first college to offer classes in the metaverse by doubling down on technological advancement and its practical application for students.
Students in the college’s metaverse program can use the technology to explore the past in addition to the future. Morris, for example, used the headset to take a virtual tour of a slave ship in the metaverse.
And while the faculty and staff are touting the new use of metaverse education, the students also find immense value in the program.
“It’s a whole new experience, and you’re meeting and experiencing things first-hand, such as the Underground Railroad,” Morehouse student Tahj Henry Jackson said.
“We can see that anything can happen, right?” Sid King said.
With expectations that the metaverse is expected to become a $1 trillion industry by 2030, the all-men HBCU wants to ensure that its students are taking advantage of the range of opportunities that exist with the emerging technology.
“They can create. They can produce. They can market. They can create social events. They can create a place of belonging in the community,” Morris said. “The future looks a lot like young people being able to come together from countries all over the world in one singular space.”