Virtual Modeling & Simulation
Types of Degrees Virtual Modeling & Simulation Majors Are Getting
The following table lists how many modeling, virtual environments and simulation graduations there were in 2018-2019 for each degree level.
|Education Level||Number of Grads|
What Virtual Modeling & Simulation Majors Need to Know
People with careers related to modeling, virtual environments and simulation were asked what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. They weighted these areas on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest.
Knowledge Areas for Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation Majors
This major prepares you for careers in which these knowledge areas are important:
- Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
- Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Skills for Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation Majors
The following list of skills has been highlighted as some of the most essential for careers related to modeling, virtual environments and simulation:
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Programming - Writing computer programs for various purposes.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Abilities for Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation Majors
As you progress with your modeling, virtual environments and simulation degree, there are several abilities you should pick up that will help you in whatever related career you choose. These abilities include:
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
What Can You Do With a Virtual Modeling & Simulation Major?
People with a modeling, virtual environments and simulation degree often go into the following careers:
|Job Title||Job Growth Rate||Median Salary|
|Computer and Information Research Scientists||19.0%||$118,370|
|Multimedia Artists and Animators||8.4%||$72,520|
|Software Developers, Applications||30.7%||$103,620|
Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Virtual Modeling & Simulation?
At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of modeling, virtual environments and simulation majors is as follows:
|Race/Ethnicity||Number of Grads|
|Black or African American||12|
|Hispanic or Latino||29|
Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation. About 10.9% of those with this major are international students.
How Much Do Virtual Modeling & Simulation Majors Make?
Salaries According to BLS
Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $78,230 to $108,080 (25th to 75th percentile). This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.
To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.
Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Virtual Modeling & Simulation
Some careers associated with modeling, virtual environments and simulation require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. Whatever the case may be, pursuing more education usually means that more career options will be available to you.
Find out what the typical degree level is for modeling, virtual environments and simulation careers below.
|Education Level||Percentage of Workers|
|Less than a High School Diploma||0.0%|
|High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)||1.1%|
|Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)||0.5%|
|Some College Courses||10.6%|
|Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)||3.8%|
|First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.||0.5%|
Online Virtual Modeling & Simulation Programs
In 2018-2019, 37 schools offered a modeling, virtual environments and simulation program of some type. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.
|Degree Level||Colleges Offering Programs||Colleges Offering Online Classes|
|Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)||3||0|
|Certificate (1-2 years)||5||0|
|Certificate (2-4 Years)||2||0|
|Doctor’s Degree (Research)||1||0|
|Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)||0||0|
|Doctor’s Degree (Other)||0||0|
Is a Degree in Virtual Modeling & Simulation Worth It?
The median salary for a modeling, virtual environments and simulation grad is $89,580 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.
This is 125% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $993,600 after 20 years!
Explore Major by State
District of Columbia
Majors Related to Virtual Modeling & Simulation
You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to modeling, virtual environments and simulation.
|Major||Number of Grads|
|Web & Multimedia Design||5,607|
|Data Modeling/Warehousing & Database Administration||2,209|
|Other Computer Software & Media Applications||1,492|
*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.
- College Factual
- College Scorecard
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
- Image Credit: By Negative Space under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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