Operations Research certificate programs

A bachelor degree is required for admission to a certificate program. The certificate with this concentration is available to students who hold bachelor degrees in engineering and scientific disciplines or are in graduate status in such programs. Admission requirements are identical to those for the Systems Engineering, MS. The certificate with this concentration in communications and networking is open to all students who hold BS degrees in scientific and engineering disciplines from accredited universities. The certificate with this concentration is available to any student who holds a bachelor degree in an engineering or scientific discipline or has graduate status in such a program. Admission requirements are identical to those for the Systems Engineering, MS, except that the math requirements include only MATH 113 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (Mason Core), MATH 114 Analytic Geometry and Calculus II, and a probability and statistics course. The certificate with this concentration will be open to all students who hold a BS degree in scientific and engineering disciplines from an accredited university program, with a GPA minimum established by VSE for all MS programs. Students who are already enrolled in a master program must submit an application form to enroll in this certificate with concentration program all others must for graduate admission to this certificate with concentration program. Students applying to the certificate with this concentration must hold a bachelor degree in either computer science or computer engineering. Prospective students without these specific degrees will need to have a technical bachelor degree and show academic competence in the areas of: C (C , C#, Objective C), Assembler, discrete mathematics, and computer networking. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required. The Systems Engineering Graduate Certificate may be pursued on a part-time basis only. For policies governing all graduate certificates, see AP.6.8 Requirements for Graduate Certificates.

Operations research is the application of advanced analytical methods to help make better decisions, by employing techniques that range from mathematical modeling, statistical analysis, and optimization. The goal is to identify optimal or near-optimal solutions to complex resource allocation and management problems. OR is the basis for solving many of the scheduling, distribution, staffing and design problems in the industry. This certificate is designed to be the analytic-oriented compliment to the Graduate Certificate in Operations Management (management-oriented). The certificate consists of four 3-credit courses. Each course is in-class online hybrid that enables students to participate either fully online, fully in-class or any combination of the two. Those seeking admission to the graduate certificate program without such a degree may petition to have their baccalaureate degree and professional experience accepted as a substitute. Students who earn this Graduate Certificate, and later seek to transfer the course credit towards a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering or Engineering Management must earn a minimum 3.5 GPA for the certificate, and only classes with B or better will transfer for credit.