Operations Research and Engineering
Faculty
Professors: Adelman, Friesz, Greenberg, Harris, Hoffman (Chair), D. Miller,
Nash, Polyak, Schum, Sofer
Affiliated Faculty: Gulledge, Houck
Research Professors: Gross, Wagner
Adjunct Professor: Fischer
Course Work
Operations research (OR) and engineering efforts at George Mason University principally
involve the theoretical and empirical study of managerial and operational processes
and the use of mathematical and computer models to optimize these systems. Models
are needed for a variety of decision-making purposes in business, industry, and government
to describe different environments and to relate alternative courses of action to
performance. Thus, the courses in operations research and engineering focus on quantitative
modeling and the analysis of complex systems. Courses stress the use of contemporary
hardware and software in modeling and analysis. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts
that the field of operations research will be one of the fastest growing professions
of the next decide.
Although the department does not offer an undergraduate degree in operations research,
a variety of courses are available for inclusion in other degree programs and a certificate
program exists at the undergraduate level.
The department offers courses designated OR in the Course
Descriptions section of this catalog.
Undergraduate Certificate in Operations Research and Engineering
The Operations Research and Engineering Department offers a certificate program
to students enrolled in the computer science, decision sciences, mathematics, or
systems engineering undergraduate degree programs. The certificate augments the standard
curricula with material on the computational aspects of operations research. Because
the demand for people trained in this area is great, this program expands the career
options available to students.
Inquiries should be directed to the Operations Research and Engineering Department.
Students who plan to work toward one of these certificates should seek advice from
the department.
Certificate Program Requirements
STAT 344, 362; OR 435, 441, 442; one course chosen from ENGR 311 or MATH 313 or
325; and two courses chosen from OR 481, 498, 499; STAT 354; or any 400-level STAT
class.
Graduate Degree (M.S.) in Operations Research and Management
Science
The graduate program leading to a M.S. in Operations Research and Management Science
prepares students for research and professional practice associated with the formulation
and analysis of mathematical models for decision making, and their computer implementation.
Major components of the program include optimization, queueing and network modeling,
computer simulation and modeling, applied and computational probability, and application
of these components to realistic and relevant operational analysis problems. Students
are expected to become proficient in these areas as well as in supporting areas of
information technology necessary to implement OR/MS methods.
To achieve this objective, the program includes core courses and electives selected
by the student with the aid of a faculty advisor. To obtain the master of science
degree, students complete an approved plan of study that contains a minimum of 30
graduate credits.
Students may take courses through the Commonwealth Graduate Engineering Program.
Appropriate courses may be transferred, with advisor approval, into this George Mason
degree program.
Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the program, a candidate must do the following:
- Fulfill all admission requirements for graduate study
- Hold a baccalaureate degree and have taken the following courses or their equivalents:
MATH 113, 114, 213 Calculus, including calculus of several variables; STAT 344, Applied
Probability for Engineers and Scientists; STAT 354, Statistical Methods for Engineers
and Scientists; and MATH 203, Matrix Algebra or MATH 322, Linear Algebra
- Have a knowledge of at least one scientific computer programming language
- Have three letters of recommendation submitted by former professors or supervisors
A student with deficiencies in preparation may be accepted conditionally pending
removal of the deficiencies. Courses taken to remove admission deficiencies extend
the minimum requirements for the degree. Students whose undergraduate training was
in the quantitative social sciences or quantitatively oriented business administration
may be allowed to complete a portion of the mathematics prerequisite requirement
by taking INFT 500.
Degree Requirements
The program consists of 30 credits, divided as shown below. The core curriculum
includes the following four courses (12 credits):
OR 541 Operations Research: Deterministic Models
OR 542 Operations Research: Stochastic Models
OR 680 Applications Seminar
STAT 544 Applied Probability
Also, at least three 600-level or higher methodology courses must be taken, including
at least one course in each of deterministic and stochastic OR.
Up to three additional elective courses may be chosen with the concurrence of
the student's advisor. These courses should be taken in an area appropriate to the
student's interests, such as statistics, business administration, computer science,
information systems, systems engineering, electrical and computer engineering, economics,
mathematics, and public administration. At least one of these electives must be taken
from the department's course offerings.
With the permission of their advisors, qualified students may elect to write a
thesis in place of three credits of course work from the methodological or applications
area.
Students whose primary interest is in optimization may complete a special concentration
by choosing three courses from OR 641, 642, 643, 644, 682, 741, 750, and 777. The
remaining three courses are chosen with the written concurrence of the advisor and
should be tailored to the student's interest and must include at least one stochastic
OR course. These may be chosen from the department's offerings, from appropriate
offerings in other departments within the School of IT&E, and from appropriate
courses in other university departments. A sample of possible courses outside this
department is available from the department.
Students concentrating in stochastic models must complete OR 635, one 600-level
STAT course (but not STAT 610 or 612), and two courses from OR 647, 648, 671, 677,
681, and 682. The remaining two courses are chosen with the concurrence of the student's
advisor and must include at least one in deterministic OR.
Another concentration is available in operations engineering. For this concentration,
the three required OR methodology courses must be chosen from OR 635, 641, 643, 647,
648, 677, and 681. Two of the three additional electives must be selected with advisor's
approval from the offerings of the other departments in the School of IT&E.
Students concentrating in decision analysis must complete and OR 635, 671, and
681, in addition to the required courses. The remaining electives are to be chosen
from the following: SYST 510, 595; STAT 652; SYST/STAT 664 (strongly recommended);
SYST 542; CS 580 and 681 within the School of IT&E, and FNAN 650, 711; and ECON
535, 611, and 615.
Finally, students concentrating in military operations research must complete
OR 635, 651, and 652. The remaining four courses must be chosen from the following
(with at least one being a departmental offering): OR courses with numbers greater
than 635; STAT 634, 656, 658; SYST 542, 611, and 683.
Particularly important to students planning a Ph.D. program in information technology
are the core courses that satisfy the breadth requirement.
Ceritificate in Military Operations Research
The graduate certificate program in military operations research provides knowledge,
tools, and techniques to those who are working in, or planning to work in, the field
of military operations research. It is appropriate for students who cannot complete
all the requirements for a master's degree in operations research, but who want a
concentrated study of military modeling. Admissions requirements to this program
are identical to those for the master's degree in operations research. Certificate
candidates must complete six courses, with an average grade of B or better, for a
total of 18 graduate credits. To obtain the certificate, a student needs to complete
the following: OR 541, 542, 635, 651, 652; and SYST 683. If the candidate has already
had 3 credits of deterministic operations research, then the candidate can receive
the certificate with 15 graduate credits. If the candidate has already taken a course
equivalent to OR 542, then the candidate should substitute OR 681.
Ceritificate in Computational Modeling
The graduate certificate program in computational modeling provides knowledge,
tools, and techniques to those who are working, or planning to work in, the field
of computational modeling. Courses taken for this certificate program can count toward
a master's in operations research and management science or statistics, or a Ph.D.
in Computational Sciences and Informatics. One must be concurrently enrolled in the
program for courses to count toward both the certificate and the other degree. For
admission into the certificate program, the applicants must meet either the minimum
entrance requirements for the M.S. in Operations Research and Management Science,
the M.S. in Statistical Science, or the entrance requirements for the Ph.D. in Computational
Sciences and Informatics. Certificate candidates must complete the following courses:
CSI 700; OR 541, 635; and STAT 634, and must choose any two from the following electives:
CSI 744, 773; OR 542, 680; or SYST 683. If the candidate has already taken the equivalent
of any of the required courses, then the candidate may (with the permission of the
department chair) complete the certificate program taking only 15 credits of course
work.
Ph.D in Operations Research
Doctoral study in operations research is available through the Ph.D. in Information
Technology program, which offers advanced courses in this discipline. The doctoral
program allows the student to take a broad range of courses and research options.
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