Chatham and West Allegheny School District Announce Dual Credit Enrollment Program in VR and Immersive Design Fields

Chatham University is pleased to announce a new dual-credit enrollment program in Chatham’s immersive media program with West Allegheny School District.

This will allow West Allegheny High School students to take immersive media (IMM) courses at their high school and, upon completion of each course, earn three college credits from Chatham.

These courses will be taught by a qualified West Allegheny teacher using materials created by Chatham’s IMM faculty and in ongoing dialogue with the University’s faculty and academic leadership.

Chatham University’s immersive media program is diverse and interdisciplinary, equipping students with knowledge of virtual and augmented reality technology, 3D modeling, game development engines, writing, and design thinking. Students blend industry-standard design practices and artistic methods with cutting-edge technology to create experiences across gaming, architecture, software, entertainment, and other industries. Immersive media students have access to cutting-edge virtual reality and augmented reality hardware.

“This program is an exciting opportunity for students,” says Hunter Dyar, assistant professor of immersive media at Chatham. “The benefit isn't just the content but the pedagogy. For example, our intro course uses a project-based, open-ended studio culture. It's a unique type of class for high schoolers. Exposing students to this style early will be a significant benefit, particularly as they begin their college careers.”

West Allegheny students who complete the IMM course sequence and graduate with a minimum GPA will be guaranteed admission into Chatham. They can begin taking these courses in the fall of 2026.

Learn more about immersive media at Chatham University at chatham.edu