Program Overview

Operations Research and Industrial Engineering

Overview

The program in operations research and industrial engineering is designed to educate engineers who will solve complex industrial-socioeconomic problems by applying fundamental principles from engineering, mathematics, economics, computer science, and systems theory.

Objectives

The principal goals of the program are to provide the student with the educational basis for continued learning and to impart the fundamental skills necessary to be a successful analyst. Students are expected to develop proficiency in one or more programming languages, expertise in mathematical modeling, and an understanding of the uses and limitations of commercial optimization and statistical software.

Areas of Study

The program is rigorous but sufficiently flexible to accommodate the needs and interests of most students. Once students choose a study area, they work closely with one or more faculty members pursuing research in that area. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the program, many projects involve teamwork and collaboration with departments in the Cockrell School of Engineering and the McCombs School of Business. Each student’s program includes a balanced combination of coursework, seminars, computational analysis, and research.

Graduate Studies Committee

The following faculty members served on the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) in the spring 2025 semester:

• Jonathan F Bard
• J Eric Bickel
• Raghu Bollapragada
• Stephen Boyles
• Constantine Caramanis
• Dragan Djurdjanovic
• John J Hasenbein
• Erhan Kutanoglu
• Benjamin D Leibowicz
• Lauren A Meyers
• Purnamrita Sarkar
• Peter H Stone

Admission Requirements

The Admission Committee uses the following policies in considering applicants for admission. Each application is reviewed on its merits.

1. Applicants must provide a Graduate Record Examinations General Test (GRE) score no more than five years old. The applicant should have a grade point average in upper-division undergraduate coursework of at least 3.0 on a 4-point scale, or the equivalent.
2. Both the master’s and the doctoral degree program are designed for full-time study, but part-time students are accepted. From the time of entry until completion, students are expected to show evidence of commitment to the program and of progress toward the degree.
3. As a general rule, students should enter the program in the fall semester, because of the way basic graduate courses are scheduled.
4. Students who do not have undergraduate degrees in engineering, mathematics, or the sciences may be required to remove deficiencies before beginning graduate coursework.

Degree Requirements

The program offers the Master of Science in Engineering and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The master’s degree program balances theory and applications. At the doctoral level, the program’s emphasis on research is intended to enable students to extend their field of knowledge and to develop the analytic techniques that will serve them in academic, industrial, or governmental careers.