Operations Research
The Master of Operations Research (MOR) online program is designed to meet the needs of professionals by deepening their mathematical modeling abilities while broadening key analytical and problem-solving skills. An Operations Research degree provides graduates a wide range of relevant skills to succeed in today’s technical and data-intensive work environments. The program delivers the knowledge and experience required by working professionals currently not served by the full-time resident MOR program. The individuals best served by this online program are professionals in the local, national and global community who are looking to advance their education, but, due to family or employment commitments, are unable to participate in a full-time resident program. The online program provides schedule flexibility and remote access so students can earn a MOR from a nationally recognized program in two to three years.
The majority of the courses in the online program are campus courses that are captured live and delivered through an asynchronous online format. Each class includes dedicated online office hours where students can interface directly with the faculty member and graders. In practice this takes on many forms. Distance Education (DE) students may interact within normal office hours, but are often unable to due to employment or other obligations. Some instructors choose to hold separate office hours to accommodate this obstacle. More frequently, instructors use a hybrid of virtual teleconference software, phone calls and emails to provide assistance to DE students tailored to student availability. This hybrid format allows instructors to more naturally interact with students, creating a more engaging experience for online students. Similar to the full-time resident program, the online program requires 30 credit hours to complete. In addition to the core curriculum, students choose elective courses from a directed but flexible elective course set in keeping with the discipline’s breadth and depth.
Eligibility
Applications for master’s degree programs are accepted from undergraduate majors in mathematics, the mathematical sciences, e.g., economics and statistics, and engineering.
GRE scores are required of all applicants. No minimum requirement has been established, but the following average scores for a recent entering class of twenty students may serve as a guide (Verbal 491, Quantitative 735, Analytical 4.0).
Plan of Study
The MOR Degree requires a minimum of 30 credit hours. To earn the Master’s of Operations Research, the student must:
- Successfully complete five Core courses
- Electives: Five additional courses should come from mathematics, engineering, statistics, computer science, or other STEM disciplines (e.g., econometrics, data science, etc.). Some business courses are also acceptable as electives. Questions regarding electives should be directed to the OR Director or the student’s faculty advisor.
- Seminar: Enroll in OR 601 (OR Seminar) for one credit hour during residence. Students are expected to attend the seminar throughout their program.
Career Prospects
Operations research as a discipline provides the foundation for optimizing systems design and systems operations decisions, procedures and protocols. Professionals trained in operations research use diagnostics rooted in observation and modeling to develop prescriptive recommendations that impact both the design and implementation of best practices affecting operations systems.
As the need to improve systems operations efficiency, output, and accuracy increases, the demand for engineers, statisticians, analysts and mathematicians with expertise in operations research is also anticipated to grow. Professionals already working in these positions may find opportunities for career advancement through deepened knowledge of the models and predictive technologies explored in the Master of Operations Research program. In addition to civilian positions, graduates may find employment opportunities with the U.S. government, including the Department of Defense.