Best major to become operations research analyst?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the best major for becoming an operations research analyst, particularly in the context of educational pathways and career prospects. Participants explore alternatives to formal degrees in operations research or industrial engineering, considering various academic backgrounds and their relevance to the field.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that a strong background in applied mathematics, statistics, or a related quantitative field is beneficial for entering operations research.
  • One participant shares their experience working in operations research for the Army, emphasizing the importance of a "hard" science background and the prevalence of statistical work in the field.
  • Another participant questions the complexity and intensity of operations research in the military, noting bureaucratic challenges and the nature of decision-making processes.
  • There are mentions of the necessity for effective communication skills, particularly in briefing decision-makers, as an important aspect of the role.
  • Some participants discuss the challenges of changing majors or transferring schools, highlighting financial considerations and the availability of programs.
  • One participant notes that a BS may suffice for entry-level positions, but a master's degree is often preferred or required for more advanced roles in operations research.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of opinions on the best educational background for operations research, with no clear consensus on a single ideal major. There is acknowledgment of the importance of statistics, but differing views on the necessity of physics and the complexity of military operations research remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various educational paths and the potential need for further qualifications, such as a master's degree, without reaching a definitive conclusion on the best approach. The discussion reflects individual experiences and perspectives, which may not apply universally.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals considering a career in operations research, particularly those evaluating their educational options and the relevance of different majors to the field.

annoyinggirl
Messages
217
Reaction score
10
What is the best major to become an operations research analyst?
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/operations-research-analysts.htm

Most schools don't offer majors in operations research or industrial engineering (mine doesn't!), so what is the next best alternative?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Um, if your school doesn't offer the degree you want, why are you there?
 
Vanadium 50 said:
Um, if your school doesn't offer the degree you want, why are you there?

It's possible he decided to change career paths but did so after he already enrolled at his university. It is often not easy to transfer to a different school.
 
I currently work in OR for the Army and really enjoy it a lot! If you like applied math than this is definitely a good career path to take.

My background education was a BS in pure math and minors in physics and astrophysics. So, I would say you can still find an OR position fairly easy if you have a "hard" science background.

Here is what a typical OR job posting looks like - it has all of the educational requirements listed: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/397256300

Let me know if you have any specific questions.
 
Vanadium 50 said:
Um, if your school doesn't offer the degree you want, why are you there?
yeah the other post was correct. I changed majors. Also, the nearest school that offers industrial engineering is about 50 miles away, so i would have to move, and i attend school in my hometown. If i were to attend the nearest school that offers industrial engineering, i would have to take out a lot more loans. Attending the school in my hometown allows me to live with my parents, so i go to school for almost free (financial aid covers a huge chunk of my tuition since my parents make very little income)
 
CJ2116 said:
I currently work in OR for the Army and really enjoy it a lot! If you like applied math than this is definitely a good career path to take.

My background education was a BS in pure math and minors in physics and astrophysics. So, I would say you can still find an OR position fairly easy if you have a "hard" science background.

Here is what a typical OR job posting looks like - it has all of the educational requirements listed: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/397256300

Let me know if you have any specific questions.
oh great, thanks! that's very helpful. I would love to work for the army in OR, since that is what OR stemmed from, and the strategic thinking is probably much more complex and intense than it is in industry. Do you think I could work in OR with the army if i have a strong math background (one that a statistics major would provide) but very little background in physics?
 
annoyinggirl said:
the strategic thinking is probably much more complex and intense than it is in industry.

Don't count on it being complex. As to intensity, Army OR is heavily bureaucratic so there can be intense arguments in the big meetings. It isn't the Operation Research Analysists who make the decisions. If you set goals like "Giving a briefing that impressed the General", you might like it.
 
Stephen Tashi said:
Don't count on it being complex. As to intensity, Army OR is heavily bureaucratic so there can be intense arguments in the big meetings. It isn't the Operation Research Analysists who make the decisions. If you set goals like "Giving a briefing that impressed the General", you might like it.
do you like it? is it frustrating for you when management doesn't take the plan you know is best with mathematical modeling and data analysis?
 
I'm retired. It was average job. Look at material from the Office Of Personnel Management. You can find the requirements for various government jobs. If you have a technical major, you can qualify for a variety of jobs with official titles like "Operations Research Analyst", "Mathematician", "Statistician", "Physicist" without much trouble. To qualify as some sort of "Engineer" is harder and the pay is probably higher. If you are wanting to get into military OR, it will help if you are ex-military or retired military. There are summer intern programs for undergraduates at some government sites, including military installations. You might be able to get a preview of the work that way.
 
  • #10
sorry annoyinggirl. I meant "she". Not "he". :)
 
  • #11
annoyinggirl said:
oh great, thanks! that's very helpful. I would love to work for the army in OR, since that is what OR stemmed from, and the strategic thinking is probably much more complex and intense than it is in industry. Do you think I could work in OR with the army if i have a strong math background (one that a statistics major would provide) but very little background in physics?

Statistics is actually the most ideal background to have (barring an OR degree, of course.) 95% of the things I do in Army OR are statistics related. Oddly enough, in astrophysics we covered spherical trig and that ended being extremely useful in some of the projects I have worked on where I needed to find the distance between two locations on a sphere. This is the only case so far where I have used anything from my physics background - you shouldn't need physics!

One other thing to keep in mind, which Stephen Tashi hinted at in his post, is you will often be required to brief decision makers (SES's and General Officers), so I would also suggest trying to squeeze in a few public speaking courses. Almost as important as your analysis is how well you can communicate it to leadership, who very rarely have a deep math background!
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Niflheim
  • #12
I have a friend that went into OR after undergrad in electrical engineering
 
  • #13
Operations research involves applying mathematical and quantitative methods to solve practical logistic and management-type questions. Typically, most people working in OR study a quantitative/mathematical field during their undergraduate program (math, applied math, statistics, computer science, physics, industrial engineering, other engineering, etc.) and then pursue a masters degree or a PhD in OR. From what I understand, a BS may be sufficient to break into the OR field, but more often than not, most positions will require at least a Masters.
 

Similar threads

Job Skills Occupational outlook and career exploration
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
2K
Engineering Is a career in Optics/Photonics engineering right for me?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Physics Experimental undergrad research in SOP for theoretical grad research?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
What is the IQ required to do a statistics major?
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
15K
Job Skills Labelling one's questions, interests and education (career wise)
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Job Skills Becoming a Quant: Advice for STEM PhDs - Expert Insights
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
Physics From Software Engineering to Astrophysics Grad School
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
Physics Lost undergrad looking for advice on career path and grad school
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
How to become a commercial nuclear plant operator?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Which Engineering Major is Right for Me?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K