WHAT TO STUDY

Let's suppose that you want to make a career in the computer simulation field. What subjects do you study? Is there an academic major in computer simulation, or do simulation departments exist? Simulation is not yet at the ``department" stage of academic infrastructure evolution, but there are some important guidelines:

1. Take computer simulation classes, and make sure that you get a good douse of modeling, algorithms and analysis. Some simulation classes may offer only one or two of these three sub-fields. Computer Science, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Decision Science, and Statistics departments usually have simulation courses in their curricula.

2. Look at some closely related subjects which form the foundation for simulation such as Cybernetics, System Theory and System Science. Some of these topics may not be widely disseminated through lectures, but there are lots of good references in the library.

3. Take classes which serve as good auxiliary forums for computer simulation work. Computer Graphics and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) are good courses.