Courses

• List of Courses
• Detailed Description

Graduate Studies

• Learning Goals
• Admission
• Masters Program
• Doctoral Program
• Financial Support
• Ph.D. Requirements
• Ph.D. Examination
• Research Proposal
• Student Research
• Thesis Defense
• Transfer of Credit
• Additional Information

Undergraduate Studies

• General Information
• Minor Requirements

             Graduate Program in Operations Research

Ph.D. Degree Learning Goals and Assessment:

The goal of a Ph.D. degree in Operations Research is to train students on an advanced level in order for them to assume positions of leadership in research, teaching, and service in industry, business and government.

Learning Goal 1 for Students: Attain marked ability, scholarship and research skills in Operations Research.

Assessment of student achievement of Goal 1:
    · Grades in graduate courses
    · Qualifying examinations assessing depth and breadth of knowledge
    · Review by faculty of student progress with close advising and mentoring
    · Self-reported student learning outcomes as indicated in exit surveys
    · Placement in positions and careers that require ability and scholarship in the field of Operations
        Research.

Role of the graduate program in helping students to achieve Goal 1:
    · Close advising to assure that students are being prepared in an academically rigorous fashion and
         to develop ability to solve practical problems in operations research
    · Monitoring of student progress
    · Evaluations of teaching effectiveness of instructors in graduate courses
    · Periodic review of curricular offerings and assessment tools
            o By program faculty
            o In consultation with the dean of the graduate school
            o In consultation with experts in other schools and outside of the university
            o Through exit surveys completed by students upon graduation
            o Seek funds for the support of students.


Learning Goals 2 for Students: Engage in and conduct original research.

Assessment of graduate student achievement of Goal 2:
    · Preparation of and defense of Ph.D. dissertation proposal
    · Assessment of quality of Ph.D. dissertion
            o Public defense of dissertation
            o Critical reading of dissertation by committee of graduate faculty members and a committee
                 member from outside of the specific Rutgers graduate program            
            o Submission and acceptance of peer-reviewed articles and conference papers based on the
                 dissertation
    · Achievement of students as evidenced by professional placement, selection for conference
         presentations, peer-reviewed publications and individual grant attainment.

Role of the graduate program in helping student achieve Goal 2:
    · Provide early introduction to research methods and opportunities for research
    · Provide opportunities to present research and receive feedback
    · Maintain adequate funding levels through the research phase
    · Provide comprehensive advising and assist in the identification of mentors
    · Provide assistance to students seeking external funding.


Learning Goal 3 for Students: Prepare to be professionals in operations research.

Assessment of graduate student achievement of Goal 3:
    · Review evidence of papers presented, publications and professional networking
    · Evaluations of teaching effectiveness of instructors
    · Collection of placement data · Review by external advisory committees both inside and outside to
         the academy.

Role of the graduate program in helping students to achieve Goals 3:
    · Encourage enrollment in Introduction to College Teaching I and II
    · Develop modeling ability through presentation of case studies in operations research practical
         problem solutions
    · Promote professional development programs in library and software use, interview and
         presentation skills and proposal writing
    · Acquaint students with academic and non-academic career opportunities.

The leaders of the Operations Research Ph.D. Program:
Regularly review the structure and contents of the program. The objective of the reviews is to provide the best possible education to students in order to meet both the academic and non-academic needs for specialists of operations research.


Master’s Degree Learning Goals and Assessments:

The goal of Master’s degree in Operations Research is to train students on an advanced level to the theoretical and practical methodology of operations research in order to efficiently participate in and lead quantitative project activities in non-academic environments.

Learning Goal 1 for Students: Attain mastery of the methodology of operations research.

Assessment of student achievement of Goal 1:
    · Grades in graduate courses
    · Review by faculty of student progress with close advising and mentoring
    · Comprehensive examinations assessing depth and breadth of knowledge or a capstone paper or
         project or a research thesis
    · Continuation of graduate studies or placement in a position that requires ability in this field

Role of the program in helping students to achieve Goal 1:
    · Close advising to assure that students are being prepared in a rigorous academic way and being
         able to participate and lead practical problem solutions
    · Monitoring of student progress
    · Evaluations of teaching effectiveness of instructors and improve on it if necessary
    · Periodic review of curricular offerings and assessment tools
            o By program faculty
            o In consultation with the dean and outside the academy experts.


Learning Goal 2 for Students: Engage in the conduct original research (for Master’s degree with thesis)

Assessment of graduate student achievement of Goal 2:
    · Assessment of quality of Master’s thesis
            o Public defense of thesis
            o Critical reading of thesis by committee of graduate faculty members
            o Submission and acceptance of peer-reviewed articles and conference papers based on the
                 thesis
    · Achievement of students as evidenced by continuation of graduate studies or professional
         placement

Roles of the Graduate School and the graduate program in helping graduate students to achieve Goal 2:
    · Provide early introduction to research methods and opportunities for research
    · Provide opportunities to present research and receive feedback
    · Provide comprehensive advising and assist in the identification of mentors
    · Establish standards for membership of student committees.


Learning Goal 3 for students: Prepare to be professionals in the discipline

Assessment of graduate student achievement of Goal 3:
    · Participation in internships and other work tailored to career goals, assessed accordingly
    · Collection of data on professional placement or continuation of graduate studies
    · Review by external advisory committee, both inside of and external to the academy

Role of the program in helping students achieve Goal 3:
    · Host professional development and career exploration activities
    · Develop internship opportunities
    · Host external advisory committees

The leadership of the Operations Research Graduate Program will regularly review the structure and content of the program and the feedback received from outside sources. The collected information will be used to provide the best possible education to students, one to meet current needs in Operations Research practice.