The Program of Operations Research in the College of Science at Florida Tech offers a Master of Science (M.S.) degree and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Operations Research. Both degrees offer a variety of concentrations that emphasize areas of application most in demand in today's job market, including computation and simulation, probability and statistics, decision analysis, mathematical programming, as well as the ability to communicate effectively with clients and managers.

1. GRADUATE
OPERATIONS RESEARCH PROGRAM
OVERVIEW
MASTER OF SCIENCE Operations research is a scientific approach to analyzing problems and making decisions. It uses mathematics and mathematical modeling on computers
to forecast the implications of various choices and identify the best alternatives.
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Operations research methodology is applied to a broad range of problems in both the public and private sectors. These problems often involve designing
DEPARTMENT HEAD
systems to operate in the most effective way. Many problems deal with the allocation of scarce human resources, money, materials, equipment or
V. Lakshmikantham, Ph.D.
facilities. Applications include staff scheduling, vehicle routing, warehouse location, product distribution, quality control, traffic light phasing, police
patrolling, preventive maintenance scheduling, economic forecasting, design of experiments, power plant fuel allocation, stock portfolio optimization,
ASSOCIATE HEAD cost-effective environmental protection, inventory control and university course scheduling.
Michael D. Shaw, Ph.D.
Operations research is interdisciplinary and draws heavily from the mathematics program. It also uses courses from computer science, engineering
PROFESSORS management and other engineering programs.
Jewgeni H. Dshalalow, Dr. Sci.
V. Lakshmikantham, Ph.D. MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAM
Syamal K. Sen, Ph.D. The Master of Science in Operations Research offers concentrations that emphasize those areas of application most in demand in today’s job market.
Muzaffar A. Shaikh, Ph.D. Graduates have skills that include probability and statistics, deterministic and stochastic models, optimization methods, computation and simulation,
Wade H. Shaw Jr., Ph.D. decision analysis and the ability to effectively communicate with clients and managers. In addition, graduates have a breadth of knowledge that allows
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR them to work in teams, interacting with people who bring different expertise to a problem. All areas involve expertise with standard computer software
Michael D. Shaw, Ph.D. packages.
PROFESSOR EMERITUS ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Frederick B. Buoni, Ph.D. An applicant for the master’s program in operations research should have an undergraduate major in a science or engineering discipline that requires a
significant amount of mathematics. Business majors with strong quantitative backgrounds are also encouraged to apply. A proficiency in mathematics
covering topics in calculus and linear algebra, and computer literacy must be demonstrated by testing or suitable course work.
General admission requirements and the process for applying are presented in the Graduate Information and Regulations section of the University Catalog.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
The master of science degree can be pursued with either a thesis or nonthesis option; each requires 33 credit hours. Under the thesis option, up to six
credit hours of thesis may be granted in place of electives toward the required 33 credit hours and an oral defense is required. The nonthesis option
requires a comprehensive examination. Courses taken to satisfy admission prerequisites cannot be counted toward the degree requirements.
CURRICULUM
The program’s curriculum is designed to provide breadth with some flexibility to accommodate the diversity of backgrounds typically found in an
operations research program. Greater flexibility is provided for the elective courses beyond the core. A student has the choice of developing greater depth
in one area of specialization, aiming at eventual research in that area, or continuing to develop breadth across more than one area. By choosing courses in
a related field of application, students can prepare for careers in specialty areas such as management science, actuarial science or economic modeling in
addition to conventional areas of operations research.
Each student will complete a program plan that satisfies the requirements listed below, subject to approval of the adviser and program chair.
Substitutions are sometimes permitted.
Core Courses (12 credit hours) Computation/Computer Science Elective Nonthesis option
MTH 5411 Mathematical Statistics 1 (3 credit hours from the following list) Three courses in areas of interest to the student as
ORP 5001 Deterministic Operations Research Models CSE 5100 Data Structures and Algorithms approved in the student’s program plan.
ORP 5002 Stochastic Operations Research Models CSE 5210 Formal Languages and Automata Theory Thesis option
ORP 5010 Mathematical Programming CSE 5211 Analysis of Algorithms At least one course plus up to six credit hours for a
or CSE 5290 Artificial Intelligence thesis. The thesis should be an in-depth study of some
ORP 5003 Operations Research Practice CSE 5610 Computational Complexity topic and/or problem in operations research, subject to
Restricted Electives MTH 5301 Numerical Analysis the approval of the thesis committee.
(9 credit hours from the following list) MTH 5305 Numerical Linear Algebra
MTH 5051 Applied Discrete Mathematics MTH 5320 Neural Networks
MTH 5102 Linear Algebra ORP 5050 Discrete System Simulation
MTH 5401 Applied Statistical Analysis Free Electives (9 credit hours)
MTH 5412 Mathematical Statistics 2
ORP 5020 Theory of Stochastic Processes
ORP 5021 Queuing Theory
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE PROGRAM
The doctor of philosophy program provides a more advanced level of education, as well as demonstrated ability to perform independent research. These
additional strengths should qualify the graduate for vital positions of leadership in industry, business, government and academia.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
An applicant for the doctoral program will normally have completed a master’s degree in operations research or a related discipline. If the master’s
degree is not in operations research, then the student will be required to take the core courses for Florida Tech’s master’s degree in operations research.
These courses may be used toward fulfilling the credit requirements for the Ph.D. in operations research. Students also will be required to take a written
College of Science qualifying examination equivalent to Florida Tech’s master’s comprehensive examination.
Department of General admission requirements are discussed in the Graduate Information and Regulations section of the University Catalog.
Mathematical Sciences
150 West University Boulevard
Melbourne, Florida 32901-6975
(321) 674-8091
http://cos.fit.edu/math
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2. OPERATIONS RESEARCH
FINANCIAL AID DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Graduate student assistantships for A minimum of 48 credit hours beyond the requirements for the master’s degree is required to earn the doctoral degree. These credits include 24 credit
instruction and research are available hours of dissertation research in addition to normal course work.
to well-qualified master’s and doctoral Each student must complete an approved program of study, pass a comprehensive examination, complete a program of significant original research and
degree students. Assistantships carry defend a dissertation concerning the research.
stipends plus a tuition waiver. In some General degree requirements are presented in the Graduate Information and Regulations section of the University Catalog.
cases, a tuition waiver alone may be CURRICULUM
awarded for a limited amount of service. The individual doctoral program of study must be approved by the student’s doctoral committee and the program chair. Students who have not
Assistantships for master’s degree taken MTH 5051 and MTH 5102, or their equivalents, will be required to take them. Students are also required to take at least two courses from the
students are normally for an academic Computation/Computer Science list on the previous page.
year; assistantships for doctoral students The doctoral program in operations research does not fall within the traditional boundaries of a single discipline. The scope is broad and inter-
are renewable on a yearly basis. disciplinary. Consequently, every course in a student’s program of study is evaluated in terms of how it complements other courses and provides
THE UNIVERSITY breadth and depth to the program. Considerable latitude is permitted in course selection, provided the core requirements for operations research/
mathematics/computation are met. The remaining courses are selected in collaboration with the doctoral committee according to the interests and
Florida Institute of Technology is a distinc-
research objectives of the student.
tive, independent university, founded in
1958 by a group of scientists and engineers RESEARCH
to fulfill the need for specialized, Current active research efforts include the modeling of controlled queuing systems, stochastic processes, applied statistics, design of experiments,
advanced educational opportunities neural networks, parallel processing and algorithms, decision-making under uncertainty, simulation, engineering management, quality control,
of Florida’s Space Coast. Florida Tech is optimization models and methods, scheduling and timetabling algorithms, applied graph theory and integer programming.
the only comprehensive, independent
scientific and technological university in
the southeast. Supported by both industry
and the community, Florida Tech is the
recipient of many research grants and
contracts, a number of which provide
financial support for graduate students.
LOCATION
Melbourne is located on the central
east coast of Florida. The area offers a
delightful year-round subtropical climate
and is 10 minutes from the ocean and
beaches. Kennedy Space Center and the
massive NASA complex are just 45 minutes
north of Melbourne. The city of Orlando,
Walt Disney World, EPCOT and many other
attractions are one hour west of Florida
Tech’s main campus.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
To obtain more detailed information
about this Graduate Program or to obtain
application materials, visit our home page
at www.fit.edu/grad or the University
Catalog at www.fit.edu/catalog, or
contact:
Florida Institute of Technology
Office of Graduate Admissions
150 W. University Blvd.
Melbourne, FL 32901-6975
(321) 674-8027
(321) 723-9468/Fax
(800) 944-4348
Florida Institute of Technology is an independent
university located in Melbourne, Florida. Florida Tech
is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools to award associate, baccalaureate,
master’s, education specialist and doctoral degrees.
Florida Tech admits students of any race, color,
national or ethnic origin, and does not discriminate
on the basis of disability in admission or access to
its programs.
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