Fayetteville State University has introduced virtual reality and artificial intelligence-assisted training into its Master of Social Work program as of spring 2026. According to the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal, FSU became the first school in North Carolina to use the Virtual Social Work Trainer, developed by the University of Utah’s Social Research Institute.
The platform combines the Virtual Home Simulation with the Virtual Motivational Interviewing application. Students participate in high-stakes decision-making during home visit scenarios and client interview situations. The university built this through working with the University of Utah and the Cumberland County Department of Social Services.
Enrollment in the hybrid MSW program jumped 79.4% for the most recent incoming cohort. Why? Improvements to how students learn, including the expansion of simulation-based learning…