George Mason University 1997-98 Catalog Catalog Index
Course Descriptions

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Operations Research and Engineering


Faculty

Professors: Adelman, Friesz, Greenberg, Harris (Chair), Hoffman, D. Miller, Nash, Polyak, Schum, Sofer

Research Professors: Gross, Wagner

Adjunct Professor: Fischer

URL: http://www.gmu.edu/departments/ore


Course Work

Operations research and engineering efforts at George Mason University principally involve the theoretical and empirical study of managerial and operational processes and the use of mathemtical 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 the quantitative modeling and analysis of complex systems. Courses include the optimization and random processes with special stress on computational solutions using contemporary hardware and software. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the field of operations research will be on 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.


Certificate Program 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.


Operations Research and Management Science, M.S.

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 adviser. To obtain the master of science degree, students complete an approved plan of study that contains a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate-level course work.

Students may take courses through the Commonwealth Graduate Engineering Program. Appropriate courses may be transferred, with adviser approval, into this George Mason degree program.


Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the program, a candidate must do the following:

  1. Fulfill all admission requirements for graduate study
  2. 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 322 Linear Algebra
  3. Have a knowledge of at least one scientific computer programming language
  4. 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 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 adviser. 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.

With the permission of their advisers, 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, 745, and 777. The remaining three courses are chosen with the written concurrence of the adviser 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 SITE, 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, 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 adviser and must include at least one in deterministic OR.

A third option is available to students interested in operations engineering. For this option, 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 adviser's approval from the offerings of the other departments in SITE.

Students concentrating in decision analysis must complete OR 635, 671, and 681, in addition to the five required courses. The remaining electives are to be chosen from the following: SYST/STAT 664 (strongly recommended), STAT 652, SYST 642, CS 580, and

CS 681 within SITE; and DESC 710, 720, FNAN 771,

MIS 730, 780, and 795 from the Institute of Graduate and Professional Business Studies.

Particularly important to students planning a Ph.D. program in Information Technology are the core courses that satisfy the breadth requirement for the Ph.D. in Information Technology.

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