Mar 28, 2024  
Rensselaer Catalog 2014-2015 
    
Rensselaer Catalog 2014-2015 [Archived Catalog]

Mathematics of Operations Research


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The First Two Years - Mathematics


First Year


Fall


  • HASS Elective Credit Hours: 4

Spring


  • Science Elective Credit Hours: 4
  • Elective Credit Hours: 4
  • HASS Elective Credit Hours: 4

Second Year


Fall


  • Elective Credit Hours: 4
  • HASS Elective Credit Hours: 4
    (See footnote 2 below)

Spring


  • Science Elective Credit Hours: 4
  • Elective Credit Hours: 4
  • HASS Elective Credit Hours: 4

Program Information


In the above curriculum, the first-year seminar courses MATH 1900 and MATH 1910 are not required, but are strongly recommended. This weekly seminar course for math majors presents interesting and challenging mathematical problems and ideas for discussion.

The science electives should be courses from the School of Science outside of math. Note that mathematical science includes all courses with MATH and MATP codes (and any course cross listed with a MATH or MATP course).

Mathematics of Operations Research Curriculum


Third Year


Fall


  • Mathematics Option Credit Hours: 4
  • Elective Credit Hours: 4
  • HASS Elective Credit Hours: 4

Spring


  • Elective Credit Hours: 4
  • HASS Elective Credit Hours: 4
  • Mathematics Option Credit Hours: 4
  • MATP 4xxx OR Option Credit Hours: 4

Fourth Year


Fall


  • Mathematics Option Credit Hours: 4
  • Elective Credit Hours: 4
  • Elective Credit Hours: 4

Spring


  • Mathematics Option Credit Hours: 4
  • Elective Credit Hours: 4
  • Elective Credit Hours: 4

Program Information


The above curriculum emphasizes the use of mathematics for developing and studying analytical models of systems. These models are used to form better decisions in areas such as management, engineering, and the social sciences. In mathematical programming, a problem is modeled as an objective function with constraints on the possible solutions, then the resulting model is optimized. The models are solved using computer programs. Algebra, analysis, and discrete mathematics all play a role in analyzing the models and in developing computer algorithms to solve them. Frequently, the inputs and outcomes of the model are not known with certainty, thus probability and statistics are used.

Students should note that the mathematics options listed above are any 4000-level or higher course from the Department of Mathematical Sciences, plus up to two 4000-level or higher courses from Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISYE) or Computer Science (CSCI). In other words, of the four mathematics options, a minimum of two must be coded MATH or MATP, and at most one of these four courses may be taken Pass/No Credit. (Students planning on graduate study are advised against using Pass/No Credit on mathematics options.)

Also, the OR option in this curriculum is either MATP 4600 or MATP 4820 and may not be taken Pass/No Credit. 

Footnotes


  1. The courses BIOL 1010 and PHYS 1100 may be taken in any semester they are offered and in either order.
  2. The course PHIL 2140 is strongly recommended as an HASS course in the fall of the first or second year.
  3. Students taking MATH 4090 in the fall semester of their sophomore year may consider MATH 4120, MATH 4020, or MATH 4010, as another proof based course for spring semester.

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