Educational games and simulation design

University of Missouri-Columbia
Bachelor of educational studies
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Overview

Are you ready to take the next step in your educational journey? Use your passion for games to meet today’s demand for innovative educational tools such as games and simulations. With Mizzou’s online bachelor of educational studies (BES) degree with an emphasis in educational games and simulation design, you can gain skills necessary to influence change using innovative technology-based learning. The educational games and simulation design emphasis is a great fit for those interested in a career in gaming, virtual reality, technology or other similar areas.

In the BES games and simulations design emphasis area, you will get hands-on experience in educational games and simulations design—including opportunities to work in a real-world setting to design these learning environments. Many courses are taught by experts in the School of Information Science and Learning Technologies. You will have the flexibility to personalize the program to your interests in game or simulation design and development, app design and development, multimedia design and development, digital media production and computer applications. 

No matter where you are in your career, a BES from Mizzou will help you stand out. Prepare to enter the workforce, change your career or advance your current position. A general BES and an educational leadership emphasis are also available.

Top-ranked programs

Mizzou's online bachelor's programs ranked among the nation's finest in U.S. News & World Report 2024.

Quick facts

Official name

Bachelor of educational studies with an emphasis in educational games and simulation design

Campus

University of Missouri-Columbia

Program type

Bachelor's degree

Academic home

College of Education & Human Development | Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis

Delivery mode

100% online

Accreditation

Higher Learning Commission

Freshman credit hours

120

Freshman estimated cost

$68,292.00

Transfer credit hours

59

Transfer estimated cost

$33,576.90

*This cost is for illustrative purposes only. Your hours and costs will differ, depending on your transfer hours, your course choices and your academic progress. See more about tuition and financial aid.

Young black computer programmer coding software while working on PC in the office.

Career prospects

Career outcomes include:

  • Game or simulation design and development
  • App design and development
  • Multimedia design and development
  • Digital media production
  • Computer applications
Burning Glass Technologies. 2021. Salary numbers and employment growth numbers are based on models that consider advertised job posting salary, Bureau of Labor Statistics data and other proprietary and public sources of information for multiple occupations.
7.95%
Employment growth
Burning Glass Technologies. 2021. Salary numbers and employment growth numbers are based on models that consider advertised job posting salary, Bureau of Labor Statistics data and other proprietary and public sources of information for multiple occupations.
$66,000
Median salary

Program structure

This program is 100% online: no campus visits are required. You may meet your course work requirement with both semester-based and self-paced courses.

This degree does not lead to state certification to teach in the public school system.

Course work includes

  • Human learning
  • Project management
  • Leadership
  • Introduction to CAD
  • Computer modeling and animation 
  • Game engine skills
  • Designing games for learning
  • Mobile web app development

Delivery

100% online

Calendar system

Semester-based and self-paced

Accreditation

The University of Missouri is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. The College of Education and Human Development is accredited by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council.

Faculty spotlight

Danielle Oprean

Danielle Oprean's research focuses on understanding the role of immersion in comprehending virtual space as a means to transfer knowledge to a number of applications include learning spatial concepts, decision-making and design. She has experience in developing learning environments, including her experience working with the iSocial project, on different gaming platforms and works with different virtual and augmented reality technology. She currently works in researching the value of creating and using virtual field trips as a means to supplement both the traditional and the online classroom through situated exploratory learning and decision-making.

Danielle Oprean, PhD
Assistant Professor

Learn more about this program

This program is administered by the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis