Operations Research

Master of Science in Operations Research

The Master of Science in Operations Research degree program explores an interdisciplinary field of applied mathematics used to optimize decision making. Students explore real-world problems and develop a mathematical model that typically includes an objective or goal that is maximized or minimized and a set of constraints. Existing methods or new methods help reach optimal or near-optimal solutions that usually result in dramatic benefits over the previous state of the system.

All courses needed for the degree are available online to students residing both in and out of the United States. Students never need to come to campus for any course work and will travel to the Kansas State University campus only once at the end of their program for an oral examination, which is conducted by their supervisory committee.

Careers in Operations Research   

Operations research models are utilized in nearly every sector of society because people recognize that inferior solutions waste money, time and effort. Graduates in operations research typically have a high salary and are employed in a wide range of industries, including:

• airlines
• financial companies
• governmental agencies
• consulting companies
• transportation agencies