BSc in Operations Research and Engineering in Ithaca United States | Cornell University

The undergraduate program in operations research and engineering (ORE) focuses on data-driven decision-making methods that drive today's technology-based economy. Students gain expertise in data science, optimization, machine learning, and mathematical modeling. The curriculum shows how these skills apply to the sharing economy, online market design, transportation systems at companies like CitiBike and Uber, e-Logistics at firms such as Wayfair and Amazon, healthcare, and many other fields. These systems integrate people, equipment, information, materials, and processes to meet financial, scheduling, and quality objectives. Operations analysts examine these complex systems, analyze their behavior, and propose enhancements—such as improved workflow organization, better forecasting techniques, and more effective decision-making and resource allocation methods. The field employs operations research techniques (optimization, probability, statistics, simulation, and stochastic processes) alongside engineering economics and behavioral science. Professionals collaborate across organizational levels, from frontline operations to executive leadership, utilizing advanced software for analysis and sometimes creating new methodologies and tools to implement solutions.