Master of Science in Operations Research | NC State OR

MSOR Curriculum

OR PRO TIP: The Master of Science in Operations Research (MSOR) curriculum helps you plan your path through the three semesters of your MSOR degree.

The Master of Science in Operations Research prepares students for careers as research and development engineers in industry. Additionally, it sets the foundation for entering a Ph.D. Program in Operations Research. The MSOR degree requires a minimum of 31 credit hours and completing a thesis. Therefore, students gain in-depth knowledge and practical research experience. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of operations research analysts is expected to increase by 23% from 2022 to 2032, surpassing the average for all occupations.

Core Courses (15 hours)

To earn the Master of Science in Operations Research degree, you must complete five of the following core courses. OR PRO TIP: OR 504 and OR 505 cannot be used to satisfy this five course requirement, and at least one of OR 505, OR 506 or OR 709 MUST be chosen.

• CSC 505 Design and Analysis of Algorithms
• ISE 537 Statistical Models for Systems Analytics in Industrial Engineering
• MA/ST 546 Probability and Stochastic Processes I
• MA/ST 747 Probability and Stochastic Processes II
• OR 501 Introduction to Operations Research
• OR 504 Introduction to Mathematical Programming
• OR 505 Linear Programming
• OR 506 Algorithmic Methods In Nonlinear Programming
• OR 531 Dynamic Systems and Multivariable Control I
• OR 537 Computer Methods and Applications
• OR 560 Stochastic Models in Industrial Engineering
• OR 562 Simulation Modeling
• OR 706 Nonlinear programming
• OR 708 Integer Programming
• OR 709 Dynamic Programming
• OR 760 Applied Stochastic Models in Industrial Engineering
• OR 761 Queues and Stochastic Service Systems
• OR 762 Computer Simulation Techniques
• OR 772 Stochastic Simulation Design and Analysis
• ST 516: Experimental Statistics For Engineers II, or ST 512: Experimental Statistics For Biological Sciences II

Seminar (1 hour)

Enroll in the OR 601 Seminar in Operations Research for one credit hour. You must attend the seminar throughout your program.

Electives (9 to 12 hours)

You should choose three to four additional elective courses from mathematics, engineering, statistics, computer science, or other STEM disciplines. For example, you can select courses in econometrics or data science. Some business courses are also acceptable as electives. Direct any questions about electives to the OR Program Specialist or your faculty advisor.

Thesis (3 to 6 hours)

You must complete a master’s thesis (3 to 6 credits of OR 695 Master’s Thesis Research). Ideally, your thesis will include publishable research.

Next, form a Graduate Advisory Committee with at least three faculty members. File a committee-approved Plan of Graduate Work with the Graduate School. Your chair or co-chair and another committee member must be OR Faculty. At least one member should represent your minor field of study.

Finally, you must pass a final oral examination conducted by your Advisory Committee. The exam includes, but is not limited to, a “defense of thesis.”

After passing the MSOR final oral examination, each advisory committee member must approve your thesis. Submit the thesis to the Graduate School’s thesis editor, following the Guide for Preparation of Theses and Dissertations.

OR PRO TIP: Know the Graduate School submission deadlines for graduation. Submit your thesis by appointment, call 919.515.2871.

OR Minor

To minor in operations research as part of a Master of Science degree, you need three OR courses (9 credits). Additionally, you must have an OR faculty member on your committee.

If an OR course is cross-listed with other departments, register using the OR prefix.