According to GradSchools.com, there are currently more than 150 schools that offer degree opportunities in operational research. In fact, there are opportunities in schools in almost all 50 states and several more opportunities that exist around the world allowing a student to stay close to home or to study abroad.
According to both Stanford and Columbia universities, potential PhD recipients do not necessarily need a master's degree to enter this PhD program. However, a student must demonstrate a high aptitude for mathematics in the fields of linear algebra, analysis, probability and statistics. Columbia suggests the potential student also have a strong background in programming languages.
Stanford claims the PhD in operations research can be used in the fields of control theory, game theory, optimization, probability and statistics. Moreover, a student can also study for applied degrees in the fields of Organization, Technology and Entrepreneurship, Policy and Strategy, Qualifying Procedure, Systems Programs, Productions and Operations Management and Decision Analysis and Risk Analysis.
According to Stanford, once the potential degree recipient has been admitted to the program, it requires 135 credit hours to graduate. However, while the degree can be completed in as little as two years, Stanford suggests that it typically takes four to five years to complete the PhD. In addition, the student must pass a comprehensive oral examination and complete a PhD dissertation. The student must maintain a GPA of 3.4 in core requirements and a 3.0 in electives.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, operations research specialists with PhDs have excellent career opportunities. The profession is expected to grow faster than the national average through 2018. In fact, the career field is expected to grow by 22 percent. A PhD recipient can expect starting salaries of $50,000 to $80,000, depending on careers in academics versus the private sectors.