Coordinator: Kurt Gaubatz

Description

Over the past several years, GPIS has added faculty with expertise in this area, and has received significant external funding for modeling and simulation projects. A number of connections have been built between GPIS and the Virginia Modeling, Analysis, and Simulation Center. The M&S in international studies concentration could be pursued by students in several ways, which are outlined below. In each case, courses would be selected in close consultation with the M&S track coordinator. Modeling and simulation in the social sciences generally, and in international studies particularly, takes several different forms. The most prominent of these are:
Statistical modeling
Formal modeling/game theory
Simulation/agent-based modeling
Geographic/spatial modeling
Network analysis
Event simulation exercises

Requirements

M&S Certificate (4 courses)
Any student who would like to get a certificate in M&S will need four courses from course list, including the two MSIM core courses. The certificate can be pursued regardless of a student's field of concentration, although for PhD students this would require additional coursework beyond the usual thirty credit hours of post-master's work.

Field Seminars

Core I: MSIM 610 - M&S Fundamentals I. Prerequisite: College algebra. Part one of two. Introduction to the fundamentals of M&S; topics cover M&S body of knowledge.

Core II: MSIM 611 - M&S Fundamentals II. Prerequisite: MSIM 610. Part two of two. Introduction to the fundamentals of M&S; topics cover M&S body of knowledge.

MSIM 601 - M&S Fundamentals is an alternative one semester core course for students with more advanced mathematical skills (through differential equations).

IS7/8XX - M&S in the Social Sciences. An overview of M&S methods with a focus on applications to social science problems and specific contemporary issues.

IS7/8XX - Statistical Modeling in International Studies. Prerequisites: IS600, IS620. Issues and problems in advanced statistical modeling, including Bayesian analysis, time-series panel data, statistical computing, and resampling methods.

IS7/8XX - Modeling and Game Theory in International Studies. Theory and application of Game Theory and formal and spatial models to international studies.

IS7/8XX - Simulation Modeling in International Studies. Theory and application of agent-based simulation models in international studies.

IS7/XX - Geographic Information Science for International Studies. Theory and application of geographic information science in the analysis of international issues.

IS7/8XX - Network Models in International Studies. The modeling and analysis of social networks in homeland security and international studies.

ID&T 7/895 - Special Topic: Instructional Simulations. 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.

ENMA 712/812. Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis and Decision Support Systems. Currently, complex engineering-economic-societal decisions are made by involving numerous sometimes conflicting criteria and attributes, different decision rules and in the presence of various stakeholders with individual preferences who are willing to go into negotiation procedures. A number of multi-criteria decision tools involving quantitative as well as qualitative methods, together with adequate decision support tools will be introduced. Case studies on a variety of engineering, environmental and security related aspects will also be considered

ENMA 724/824. Risk Analysis. Approaches to the management of risk; probability assessment methods; risk modeling; use of software packages; extensions of decision analysis, including stochastic dominance and multi-attribute methods; applications of project management, scheduling, and cost estimation.