Dear Students, Faculty, and Partners,
Welcome to the School of Modeling, Simulation, and Training (SMST) at the University of Central Florida!
I am glad you decided to visit our site and explore the fascinating world of Modeling and Simulation. Our academic programs are among the most recognized in the U.S. and internationally with 25 years of history in graduate education.
Modeling and Simulation (M&S) is the interdisciplinary area in which knowledge from different disciplines come together to create computer models and simulations of complex systems or phenomena for better understanding, analyzing, and predicting the behavior of real-world systems or phenomenon. In that sense, SMST is truly transdisciplinary with faculty from diverse backgrounds in engineering, computer science, AI, human factors, urban planning, healthcare, and psychology.
Under UCF’s College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS), SMST offers Ph.D. and Master’s degrees in M&S, a certificate in Behavioral Cyber Security, and new certificate in Digital Twins. Given that our programs are interdisciplinary, we accept students from various educational backgrounds such as engineering, sciences, education, psychology, digital media and others. Students with STEM backgrounds excel here, but those from non-STEM fields also thrive with the right guidance and resources. Our collective goal is to nurture students passionate about M&S and ensure their success.
Our collective vision is to achieve national and global leadership in advancing M&S education while fostering groundbreaking academic research and innovation to address complex real-world challenges.
SMST is proud to be the first in the nation to offer a a graduate degree in M&S driven by our vision to achieve national and global leadership in advancing M&S education while fostering groundbreaking academic research and innovation to address the world’s most complex challenges. Our programs provide a comprehensive and interdisciplinary educational experience, drawing on the collective expertise of six Engineering and Computer Science departments and the other colleges at UCF. We bridge disciplines to prepare students for leadership in this dynamic field. Our strong and unique partnership with UCF’s Institute for Simulation & Training (IST), empowers our faculty and students to conduct cutting-edge research at its world class facilities and labs.
Situated in the heart of Central Florida Research Park, SMST benefits from unparalleled proximity to industry leaders, government agencies, and a thriving M&S ecosystem. This environment allows our students, faculty, and partners to collaborate on advanced research, tackling challenges in areas such as healthcare, defense, education, and beyond.
Our school is not just a hub for research and innovation but also a vibrant community of learners and leaders committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Whether you are joining us as a student, researcher, or partner, you are becoming part of a mission to shape the future of Modeling, Simulation, and Training.
Thank you for being part of this exciting journey. Together, we will continue to lead, innovate, and transform the world through modeling and simulation.

Dr. Ghaith Rabadi
Interim Director and Graduate Program Director
School of Modeling, Simulation, and Training
University of Central Florida