Operations Research?

[Zeuge]

What is Operations Research? How does an MS in OR differ from an MFE? Is there overlap?

 

[DVV]

you are asking in general or specifically about some program? If second - compare curriculum. If first - FE employs math for financial world, OR employs math for management world, mostly. Management in broad context including logistics, manufacturing planning etc.

 

[UclaColumbia]

It depends on what your concentration is. OR is a much broader subject than FE. FE is evolved from OR. There are many concentrations in OR, and FE is one of them. That's why you see some schools' OR departments have FE classes (Princeton and Cornell and Columbia, for example).

 

[gradaplicant]

If you look at for example the MOR compared to the MFE at Columbia the difference seems to be that the MOR has 4 core courses that are mandatory, but other then that you can choose courses from the MFE curriculum which means that other than the mandatory summer semester for the MFE, the programs are almost the same.

Can anyone here comment on this? If I were to take the MOR instead of the MFE but choose almost all the same classes, will it be looked at differently by employers, since the name of the degree does not indicate finance?

 

[UclaColumbia]

Some of the MSFE classes need advisor's permission to take, but your advisor would more likely to grant you the permission if your grades are good (space permitted, MSFE students have priority).

Also, you need two more classes to graduate from MSFE program than MSOR program.

But you're right, the MSOR program is very flexible.

 

[Zeuge]

Is an MSOR viewed as less prestigious than an MFE? Is it more difficult to get quant positions with an MSOR?