Operations Research and Information Engineering

Faculty

V. Averbukh, S. Banerjee, R. G. Bland, K. Caggiano, J. R. Callister, Y. Chen, J. Dai, D. Davis, B. Dietrich, P. Frazier, D. Goldberg, I. Gurvich, S. Henderson, N, Kallus, C. Lee, A. Lewis, M. Lewis, A. Minca, J. A. Muckstadt, D. Patie, J. Pender, J. Renegar, S. I. Resnick, D. Ruppert, G. Samorodnitsky, K. Scheinberg, D. Shmoys, S. Stoikov, É. Tardos, H. Topaloglu, Jr., M. Udell, D. P. Williamson, A. G. Wilson

Operations Research and Engineering:

Offered by the School of Operations Research and Information Engineering

Contact: 203 Rhodes Hall, (607) 255-5088, or visit the ORIE website.

This major provides a broad education in the techniques and modeling concepts needed to design, analyze, and operate complex systems. The major prepares students for a wide range of careers including operations research, information technology, entrepreneurship, operations management, consulting, financial engineering, financial services, and engineering management.

The foundation of the major is the development of basic skills in statistics, probability, mathematical optimization, and computer science. Required courses in industrial systems, cost accounting, and simulation build on these skills and provide engineering analysis experiences. In the senior year the curriculum is quite flexible. Students take ORIE electives to broaden and deepen their expertise in applied probability and statistics, industrial systems, optimization, information technology, financial engineering, and their applications.

Because of the wide range of career goals among ORE students, and the large number of electives, students should consult with their major advisors to select electives that best meet their future goals.

Exceptional students interested in pursuing graduate studies are encouraged to speak with their faculty advisors concerning an accelerated program of study.

A student who intends to affiliate with the major in operations research and engineering should take ENGRD 2700 - Basic Engineering Probability and Statistics after completing MATH 1920 . ORE affiliates are required to complete MATH 1910 , MATH 1920 , and MATH 2940 (or their subject matter equivalents). Either MATH 2930 , CS 2800 , or MATH 3040 may be used to satisfy the fourth semester mathematics requirement. Students should discuss with their advisors which of these three courses is most appropriate to their future program of study in ORE. The following should be considered:

MATH 2930 (differential equations) is essential for advanced study in financial engineering. Also, MATH 2930 is a prerequisite for PHYS 2214 , thus students who do not take MATH 2930 must plan to take CHEM 2080 .
CS 2800 provides an introduction to discrete structures and algorithms of broad applicability in the field of operations research, particularly for fundamental models in the areas of optimization, production scheduling, inventory management, and information technology; it is also a prerequisite for certain upper-class Computer Science courses in the areas of information technology and algorithmic analysis.
MATH 3040 covers fundamentals of formal proof techniques.

Early consultation with a faculty member or the Associate Director for Undergraduate Studies may be helpful in making appropriate choices. Students considering Ph.D.-level study in operations research are encouraged to see the Associate Director for advice regarding the fourth Math course.

Students must complete the courses required for the Common Curriculum plus the major requirements outlined below for a minimum of 122 total credit hours. The required courses for the ORE major and the typical terms in which they are taken are as follows:

Semester 2 or 3:

Note:

*It is highly recommended that ORIE 3120 be taken in semester 4. If the student’s schedule does not permit this, the course may be taken in semester 6 or 8.

The basic senior-year program, from which individualized programs are developed, consists of the following courses:

ORIE 4580 - Simulation Modeling and Analysis
Three upper-level ORIE electives as described below (9)
Two major-approved electives (at least 6 credits must be outside ORIE) (6)
Liberal electives (6)
One advisor-approved elective (3)

Available ORIE electives are as follows:

Manufacturing and distribution systems:

Optimization methods:

Applied probability and statistics:

Financial engineering:

Academic Standing:

Each student in the ORE major should obtain a passing grade in every course; at least C in ENGRD 2700 , at least a C- in all ORIE courses; a GPA of 2.0 each semester; a GPA of 2.0 for ORE major courses; a grade of C– or better in ENGRD 2110 by the end of the sixth semester; and satisfactory progress toward completion of the degree requirements. Each student’s performance is reviewed at the conclusion of each semester.

If at least C– is not earned in a required course, the course must be repeated within one year. The next course in a sequence (ORIE 3310 and ORIE 3510 , in particular) may not be taken until at least a C– is achieved in the prerequisite course. Failure to achieve at least C– in the second attempt will generally result in withdrawal from the major.

Operations Research and Engineering Honors Program:

The B.S. degree with honors is granted to engineering students who satisfy the requirements given on the “Undergraduate Study and Graduation Requirements ” page as well as the following requirements.

The 9 additional credits of course work shall be from one or more of the following, with at least 4 credits in the first category:

Advanced courses in ORIE at the 5000 level or above.
A significant research experience or honors project under the direct supervision of an ORIE faculty member using ORIE 4999 - ORIE Project . A significant written report must be submitted as part of this component.
A significant teaching experience under the direct supervision of a faculty member in ORIE using ORIE 4990 - Teaching in ORIE .

Procedures:

Each program must be approved by the Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies, and any changes to a program must be approved by the Associate Director.