Operations Research and Industrial Engineering (PhD)
Department website: https://www.me.utexas.edu/academics/graduate-program/areas-of-study/operations-research-and-industrial-engineering
The program in operations research and industrial engineering is designed to educate engineers who will solve complex industrial-socioeconomic problems by applying fundamental principles from engineering, mathematics, economics, computer science, and systems theory. In support of this end, a wide variety of research and study areas are offered by a faculty whose expertise covers such fields as optimization, simulation, statistics, stochastic processes, decision analysis, and manufacturing systems. The program is rigorous but sufficiently flexible to accommodate the needs and interests of most students.
Once students choose a study area, they work closely with one or more faculty members pursuing research in that area. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the program, many projects involve teamwork and collaboration with departments in the Cockrell School of Engineering and the McCombs School of Business. Each student’s program includes a balanced combination of coursework, seminars, computational analysis, and research. State-of-the-art computer facilities, specialized laboratories, and the latest versions of applications software are available to all graduate students.
Graduate Handbook
Graduate handbook information is updated and maintained by each program. Graduate handbooks are available within each program's office and online. Please contact the program with concerns or questions.
Admission
The Admission Committee uses the following policies in considering applicants for admission. Each application is reviewed on its merits.
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Applicants must provide a Graduate Record Examinations General Test (GRE) score no more than five years old. The applicant should have a grade point average in upper-division undergraduate coursework of at least 3.0 on a 4-point scale, or the equivalent. Students who feel that their GRE scores and grades do not reflect their ability to do high-quality graduate work should submit a statement explaining this belief.
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Both the master’s and the doctoral degree program are designed for full-time study, but part-time students are accepted. From the time of entry until completion, students are expected to show evidence of commitment to the program and of progress toward the degree.
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As a general rule, students should enter the program in the fall semester, because of the way basic graduate courses are scheduled.
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Students who do not have undergraduate degrees in engineering, mathematics, or the sciences may be required to remove deficiencies before beginning graduate coursework.
Total Hours Required: 24
Requirements
The chief components of this program are scholastic excellence and original research. Although there is no specific number of semester hours required for the doctoral program, the student must meet the requirements of the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC), which means completing at least 24 hours of graduate coursework beyond a master’s degree in a related field. The graduate advisor, in consultation with the members of the GSC, will determine the exact coursework requirements for those doctoral students with a Master's degree from another program. Formal admission to candidacy is considered by the GSC after a thorough review of the student’s overall academic record and performance on the doctoral qualifying examination.
Students are expected to complete 90 credits hours after their BS degree (including coursework and research credit) to earn a PhD. This expectation, however, may be waived simply by the agreement of the student's research advisor(s) and/or dissertation committee.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All students must also follow the following requirements and policies: | ||
| Graduate Natural Sciences Requirements | ||
| Graduate University Requirements | ||