March 26, 2025

Case Study: New Mexico State University and VR: Reimagining Criminology and Forensics Education

How Meta Quest is helping NMSU bring real-world crime scene investigation into the classroom—virtually.

When you’re preparing students for careers in criminal justice, textbooks aren’t enough. At New Mexico State University (NMSU), faculty and instructional designers teamed up with a former FBI agent to build immersive, hands-on crime scene labs using Meta Quest VR—making forensics education more accessible, engaging, and real.

“With Meta Quest, we created a virtual classroom where students could step into crime scenes—and build their own cases.”
— Ida, Former FBI Agent & Subject Matter Expert

🔍 The Challenge: Hands-On Learning, Limited Access

Criminology students need practice, not just theory. But NMSU faced common hurdles:

🏛️ Limited access to physical crime scene labs
⏱️ Students juggling work, family, and education
📚 Traditional learning didn’t mirror real-world scenarios
🧪 Lack of space and resources for mock investigations

“Adding immersive experiences—even to face-to-face learning—enhances the journey.”

🧠 The Solution: Virtual Crime Scenes Built with Real Experience

Instructional designer Andrew teamed up with Ida, a 22-year FBI veteran, to create an immersive classroom simulation using Meta Quest headsets.

🎓 Students experience:

Interactive crime scenes—search, photograph, and document
Fingerprint analysis, evidence tagging, and mock case building
Fully virtual learning, accessible from anywhere
A collaborative VR classroom with peers and instructors

“We start with small skills, then build to a full investigation.”

✅ Results That Matter

Students are more confident, more engaged, and more prepared.

🕶️ “It makes me feel like I’m in an actual classroom with my professor and classmates.”
💡 “It refreshes what we’ve read—and brings it to life.”
👩‍👧 “This gives me the flexibility to handle mom life and still stay on track.”