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• ID&T Program • M&S Program • Department of STEM Education and Professional Studies • VMASC

			Contact

• Dr. Ginger S. Watson

Simulation and gaming are used extensively as teaching tools and environments in a variety of education and training applications.  The certificate is the first of its kind in the U.S. and is a natural concentration area in ID&T given the widespread use of simulation and gaming as instructional tools in Pre-K-12 education, colleges, universities, and corporate and military training programs.  This certificate is one of several such certificate programs offered as part of the M&S strategic plan of VMASC and ODU.

M&S Graduate Certificate Program consists of a minimum of four 3-credit graduate courses.  These courses will include two required M&S core courses (Fundamentals of M&S I, MSIM 611; Fundamentals of M&S II, MSIM 612; to be offered beginning fall '08) and two M&S - related courses specified by the host program.  Students with sufficient background in computer science or engineering may opt to take MSIM 601 instead of the two course sequence of MSIM 611 and 612.  Students opting to take MSIM 601 must take another elective to fulfill the 12 hour required.  This elective, and all electives, must be approved by the Darden College of Education M&S advisor. 

Required Courses

MSIM 601 - Introduction to Modeling and Simulation.  3 hours; 3 credits.  This course, a required core course for those seeking a Master of Engineering or a Master of Science in modeling and simulation, provides an overview of the field of Modeling and Simulation (M&S).  After a brief historical review, a range of M&S concepts are explored with special attention to those elements of the field that are widely practiced. Students are required to develop a substantive research paper on an approved topic in the field.

OR

MSIM 611. Modeling and Simulation Fundamentals I. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits.  Prerequisites: MATH 102M or 162M or equivalent; CS 101D or equivalent; graduate standing. Introduction to the discipline of modeling and simulation for students not in engineering or sciences. Topics include: basic terminology and concepts; M&S paradigms including Monte Carlo, continuous, and discreet event simulation; and important concepts from supporting disciplines including probability and statistics, systems modeling, analysis and operations research, and computer visualization.

MSIM 612. Modeling and Simulation Fundamentals II. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits.

Prerequisites: MSIM 611. Topics include:  concepts from supporting disciplines including human factors and project management; M&S methodologies including modeling approaches, verification and validation, distributed simulation, and interoperability and integration. Overview of M&S applications in engineering, science,

education, health science, business, and arts & letters.

Elective Courses

ID&T 795/895 - Theory and Design of Instructional Simulations.  3 hours; 3 credits.  Prerequisites:  None.  Recommended:  IDT 749/849.  This course focuses on learning theory, design, and evaluation of instructional simulations and simulators.  Topics include history, instructional design, validation, and integration of instructional simulations. 

IDT 756/856. Instructional Gaming:  Theories and Practice. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits.  Provides both a conceptual framework and experience in the design and development of instructional games. The course introduces the student to the history, research, theory, and practice of instructional games. Topics include discussions of relevant learning theories associated with instructional gaming, analysis and design of games and current research in instructional gaming.

OTED 750/850 - Trend and Issues in Training:  Modeling and Simulation.  3 hours; 3 credits.  This course is designed to explore the issues and trends in developing and implementing technology- based training with emphasis on modeling and simulation.

Other modeling and simulation courses must be approved by the Darden College of Education M&S advisor.