<p>UIUC offers an Operations Research concentration for Math majors which consists of the following courses in addition to the core</a> curriculum:</p>
<p>Methods is a completely different course (obviously) than Stat. & Probability:</p>
<p>Methods looks like an introduction to some modeling and regression analysis; the Stat & Prob. course is a second semester intro to Stats and Prob that would introduce you to Mathematical Statistics - hypothesis testing, maximum likelihood estimators, etc. The Stat & Prob is going to be more theoretical - however you would definitely use the results from it to aid in testing results in the Methods class.</p>
<p>The answer for Graph Theory and Nonlinear Programming is the same, except here these courses are much more different than the two previous ones.</p>
<p>I would suggest, that you actually take the full Stat & Prob. series as well as the Methods course; if you are interested in Operations Research these are areas you are going to want to be fluid in, as they will most definitely arise in any graduate level Operations Research/Stat. based program.Graphy Theory. . .tsk - no clue. I may be biased, but I would think Linear/Nonlinear Programming would be the better option since - again - your work is going to be built around optimization.</p>
<p>As for employment opportunities - skies the limit really. Any industry that needs an effective management of its resources. Here is a [url=<a href=“http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos044.htm]link[/url”>http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos044.htm]link[/url</a>] from BLS on job out look and a general overview of job description.</p>
<p>My suggestion - stick with a Applied Math/Stats degree. You will no doubt cover the same classes, however when it comes time for grad school, you will most definitely have a more robust mathematical background than someone who specialized at the undergrad level.</p>
<p>Applied Math at UIUC includes differential equations; more differential equations (regular or partial) or numerical methods; complex variables (regular or applied); combinatorics, linear programming, or graph theory; and one elective. With this background will grad school be necessary before I can enter the OR field? BLS states “some entry-level positions are available to those with a bachelor’s degree.” This makes it seem as though some specialization is necessary during undergrad in order to be employable. Is it just not worth it to specialize this early? Maybe I should set my sights on grad school immediately after undergrad if I want a good job.</p>
<p>If I do concentrate on OR during undergrad, your advice has made me consider pursuing a minor in stats. Would this make the OR concentration broad enough for grad school as you described? I know it’d make the BS more attractive to employers.</p>
<p>This is just me, but the only reason I would specifically major in something specialized like OR, if I knew I was going to grad school, was if I were going to do grad school at the same campus as my undergrad, and stay in-house. </p>
<p>I am doing my undergrad in Mathematics (Applied Math & Stats to be specific), knowing full well that grad school will be BioStatistics. By doing it this way, you are far more well versed in the graduate work you will be doing while still having the same (as far as I’m concerned) footing as another OR grad student. Of course this all depends on the description of grad programs you are seeing - but most like folks who have had a background in math prior, though its not often “required”.</p>
<p>Theres only so much specialization you will get undergrad though. Looking at your Mathematics department, I would choose the Applied Math option in a hearbeat. There is significant overlap, however the AM concentration has “more”; you will still be a mathematics major, but I think you’ll be more attractive to grad programs going the straight Applied Math route.</p>
<p>As for the bachelors/entry-level issue; if you can do grad school - do it. Yes a bachelors in any science based discipline is good - but there is a ceiling. You wont hit it before other majors, but you will hit it. A masters program is 4 more semesters - well worth it to not be stuck 10 years down the line.</p>