Department of Mathematics & RUTCOR (Rutgers Center for Operations Research)
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B.A. (Mathematics) + M.S. (Operations Research) = Employment Opportunities
WHY MATHEMATICS AND OPERATIONS RESEARCH?
An undergraduate major in mathematics, especially one with an appropriate choice of electives, is an excellent preparation for masters-level study in Operations Research. Thus page describes how to enter this rewarding field at Rutgers.
WHAT IS OPERATIONS RESEARCH?
Operations Research (OR) is an interdisciplinary science. It works at the interface of several fields, including
| Mathematics | Economics | Engineering | Management | Computer Science | Statistics |
Operations Research deals with problems from business, government, industry, science, technology, and many other areas of practical activity.
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LEARNING OPERATIONS RESEARCH AT RUTGERS
RUTCOR and the Department of Mathematics encourage students to prepare for careers in Operations Research by taking advantage of programs available at Rutgers:
- a Major in Mathematics combined with a minor in Operations Research
- a standard B.A. - M.S. sequence
- the intensive five-year B.A. - M.S. sequence
- a B.A. in Math followed by a Ph.D. in OR, possibly including
an intermediate M.S. in OR.
This brochure emphasizes the five-year sequence. Students can obtain brochures describing other offerings in OR at the RUTCOR building on Busch. Advising is available both from RUTCOR and from the Department of Mathematics.
The Masters Program in OR
The masters program in operations research addresses both theory and practice. It prepares students for a variety of careers in both the private and public sectors - careers in which the methods of OR are applied to solve practical problems. Students in the M.S. program are encouraged to expand their horizons by taking courses in related disciplines such as statistics, economics, computer science, and industrial engineering. They are also encouraged to attend seminars and colloquia at RUTCOR on applications in industry and government.
REQUIREMENTS
The M.S. degree requires in Operations Research requires 36 credits of coursework and a comprehensive examination. Up to 12 credits of undergraduate coursework not applied to the B.A. degree may be applied to the M.S. degree provided that all regulations of the Graduate School are satisfied.
THE STANDARD B.A.-M.S. SEQUENCE Most students apply to the M.S. program in their senior year of college. Some return for graduate work after a period of employment. In either case, students should plan their undergraduate program to include electives both inside and outside their major program to strengthen their preparation for graduate work. The M.S. degree can usually be completed in 4 semesters of full-time graduate study. Part-time study is also possible with the permission of the graduate director.
THE FIVE-YEAR B.A.-M.S. SEQUENCE Before graduating from college, students in this sequence take at least twelve credits in addition to those required for their undergraduate degree. These additional courses, if selected appropriately and completed satisfactorily, will transfer to the masters program. Thus students in this track will take at least 132 credits before graduating from college. With careful advising and planning, students in this track can earn the M.S. in one year after graduating from college. This will be easier for students entering Rutgers with relevant AP credits.
Application to the five-year track is made to the graduate director in RUTCOR after the student has completed the Minimal Prerequisites for Application listed below. Early admission to the M.S. program will be offered to qualified students contingent upon successful completion of specified additional coursework.
Students who successfully complete the prerequisites and who achieve an average of at least a B in the four courses taken in addition to their undergraduate requirements, will be guarenteed admission to the M.S. program. Final admission requires formal application to the Graduate School.
FINANCIAL AID Financial support as a teaching assistant, graduate assistant, or fellow is rarely available to students in the M.S. program. Grant-funded support may be available to students with particularly strong preparation and experience in statistics and programming. Some corporate employers provide tuition reimbursement benefits and/or summer internships.
USING a MAJOR in MATHEMATICS to PREPARE for an M.S. OPERATIONS RESEARCH. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MATH MAJOR
- Calculus I (Math 151), Calculus II (Math 152), and Calculus III (Math 251)
- Introductory Linear Algebra (Math 250)
- Ordinary Differential Equations (Math 252 or 244)
- Introduction to Computer Science (C.S. 111)
- Advanced Calculus I (Math 311)
- Either Linear Algebra (Math 350) or Introduction to Abstract Algebra (Math 351)
- Six (6) additional 3- or 4-credit Math courses numbered 300 or above.
Notes:
- Among the prerequisites for Math 311, Math 350, and Math 351 is "Math 300 or permission of the Department."
- Math 350 is more relevant than Math 351 for work in OR.
MINIMAL PREREQUISITES FOR for APPLICATION to the M.S. PROGRAM in OR.
These courses can count to the B.A.; they cannot count to the M.S.
- 01:711:295 Introductory Topics in Operations Research
- 01:198:112 Data Structures
- 01:640:350 Linear Algebra
- 01:640:477 Probability
- 01:640:481 Mathematical Statistics
A. Three credits (3) from each of the following three categories below can be transferred to the M.S. provided that they are not used for the B.A. and that the course is completed with a "B" or better.
- 01:640:424 Stochastic Models in Operations Research
- Either 01:640:429 Industry Oriented Math or 01:711:481 Case Studies in Operations Research
- Either 01:640:453, Theory of LinearOptimization or 01:711:453, Theory of Linear Optimization
- 01:640:478, Probability II
- 01:640:321, Introduction to Applied Mathematics
- 01:640:454, Combinatorics
- 01:198:344, Design and Analysis of Computer Algorithms
- 01:198:425, Computer Methods in Statistics
- 01:960:384, Intermediate Statistical Analysis
- 01:960:463, Regression Methods
- 01:220:322, Econometrics
- 01:220:326, Econometric Theory
- 01:220:409, Mathematical Economics
- 01:220:410, Operations Research II
- 01:220:406, Game Theory and Economics
Additional courses from this list are useful undergraduate electives.
Caution: Students must work closely with advisers in both departments to satisfy all prerequisites, all credit restrictions, and all scheduling constraints.
SAMPLE 5-YEAR B.A.-M.S. in O.R. (Actual programs will vary!) Year 1: at least 30 credits including - Calculus I and II (Math 151 and 152)
- Introduction to Computer Science (C.S. 111)
- Micro-Economics and Macro-Economics (Econ 102 and 103)
Year 2: at least 30 credits including - Calculus III (Math 251)
- Introductory Linear Algebra (Math 250)
- Differential Equations (Math 252 OR 244)
- Probability (Math 477) [u1]
- Topics in Operations Research (711:295)
Summer after Year 2: 6 credits - Linear Optimization (Math 354) [u2]
- Graph Theory (Math 428) [u3]
Year 3: at least 30 credits including - Intro. to Math Reasoning (Math 300) [u4]
- Linear Algebra (Math 350)[u5]
- Intro. to Applied Math (Math 321)[u6]
- Mathematical Statistics (Math 481)[u7]
- Data Structures (Comp Sci 112)
Summer after Year 3: 3 credits - Industry-Oriented Mathematics: Case Studies (Math 429) [u7] or a research internship or a research experience for undergraduates
Year 4: 30 credits including - Advanced Calculus (Math 311) [u8]
- Stochastic Models in O.R. (Math 424) [g1]
- Theory of Linear Programming (Math 453) [g2]
- three (3) more courses from List B of transferrable courses
Summer after Year 4: After graduation, relevant summer internship or employment is suggested. Some students may prefer to use this time to complete undergraduate coursework.
Masters year: - Case Studies in Operations Research (711:481)[g3]
- Seven additional graduate courses chosen in consultation with the graduate director, [g4]-[g10]
Notes: 1: Eight upper-level math major courses are noted [u1]...[u8]. Ten courses applicable to the M.S. program are noted [g1] ... [g10].
2: Undergraduate need special permission to take graduate courses. See your undergraduate college and the ISE graduate director for advice.
3: If the suggested summer courses are not included, then addition courses in Math must be taken during the academic year.
4: Careful advising and planning is essential to ensure that courses are taken in an order that satisfies all undergraduate and graduate prerequisites, all scheduling constraints, and all general education and college requirements.