Operations research is the study of decision-making and optimization using mathematical and statistical modeling. It is an interdisciplinary study that combines methods and tools from several different areas such as probability theory, combinatorics, game theory, simulations and other topics.
You can get both an undergraduate or graduate degree in Operations Research. Most schools do not require you to have an undergraduate degree in Operations Research per se in order to get a graduate degree, however you must have a very strong background in mathematics and statistics.
Some universities will allow you to customize and create your own operations research degree, even if the school does not have a particular department dedicated to it. You select the appropriate courses from departments such as mathematics, statistics, computer science and engineering. With your adviser's help you create a cohesive program for your degree.
Schools that offer a graduate program in operations research may have an undergraduate program. At some schools, such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, you may have to create your own program. The University of Illinois at Chicago offers a bachelor's of science in statistics and operations research.
Several schools offer operations research as an advanced degree program. You can get a master's degree or a Ph.D. and you can also specialize in certain subsidiary areas of operations research. M.I.T, Cornell, Columbia, Princeton, Carnegie Mellon, Colorado School of Mines and Florida Institute of Technology all offer graduate level degrees in operations research.
Some schools allow you to complete your operations research degree online, including Capella University, Walden University and Colorado Technical University Online.