The impetus for this study is the realization that no textbook exists that provides an introduction to modeling and simulation suitable for multiple disciplines, especially those that are outside the science and engineering fields.
Many universities are realizing that modeling and simulation is becoming an important tool in solving and understanding numerous and diverse problems. They have begun to offer introductory courses in this field to acquaint their students with the foundational concepts that will help them apply modeling and simulation in many areas of research. This text serves to provide an orientation to the theory and applications of modeling and simulation from a multidisciplinary perspective.
To students who will be reading this text we offer a concise look at the key concepts making up the field of modeling and simulation. While modeling and simulation necessarily entails mathematical representations and computer programs, students need only be familiar with math at the college algebra level and the use of spreadsheets to understand the modeling and simulation concepts covered in this book.