Operations research programs prepare people to apply math and science to systems involving human interaction. Students learn math, science, and engineering. They learn how to make models to study a problem. They also learn to use statistics and information technology.

Operations research (OR) is an odd duck in the engineering cluster. In fact, some people consider it a branch of mathematics. And it is sometimes called management science, or decision technology. Other branches of engineering involve a lot of science; for example, mechanical engineering uses a lot of physics, and petroleum engineering leans heavily on geology. OR uses the scientific method, but it uses mostly mathematics.

In OR you learn how to apply the scientific method to analyzing problems and making decisions. You use math to calculate the probabilities of various outcomes. You use computers to create mathematical models and see which alternative works best. As in other fields of engineering, your goal is to solve practical problems.

For example, OR can help a business decide the most efficient routes for distributing its products. It can help a communications company choose the best layout for stringing its cable. A hospital may use OR to develop a plan to make the most efficient use of its equipment.

OR also differs from other fields of engineering in that the normal route to the job market is a master's degree, not a bachelor's. In fact, a bachelor's program in OR is almost unheard of. You may start by getting a bachelor's in math, statistics, engineering, physical science, or computer science. This usually takes four years of full-time study beyond high school. Then you study for an additional one or two years to get a master's degree in OR. Over 30 graduate schools in the U.S. offer such a program.