2008-2009 Catalog - United States Air Force Academy

operations research major
Operations Research (OR) is the application of quantitative techniques to managerial decision-making. To gain an appreciation
for the field, it is necessary to look at the origins of Operations Research.
Operations Research, as a discipline, arose from the need to determine optimal resource allocation and assist decision makers
during World War II. Groups of mathematicians, physical scientists, and economists were assembled to perform studies
that would provide quantitative input for commanders. The results of their efforts were impressive and, soon thereafter, the
commercial sector realized the power of these new planning techniques.
Using mathematics to model real world systems was nothing new; physicists and economists had been doing it for years.
What defined this new field called OR was its focus on the operations of organizations. Not only were traditional mathematical
modeling methods, such as statistics and probability used, but new modeling methods, such as mathematical programming and
queuing theory were created.
Operations Research, therefore, entails the development and application of new quantitative modeling methods to real
management and economics problems. This is an exciting field—one that attracts curious problem-solvers who are strong in
mathematics and computer science and are eager to solve real world problems.
The description of OR provided above highlights its interdisciplinary nature. The Academy has captured the essence of the
field by establishing a truly interdisciplinary major. The OR program is jointly administered by the Departments of Computer
Science, Economics and Geosciences, Management, and Mathematical Sciences. In addition to the basic set of OR courses, the
required major’s courses will include courses from each of the four departments.
Suggested Course Sequence
3rd-Class Year 2nd-Class Year 1st-Class Year
Chem 200 Beh Sci 310 Academy Opt
Econ 201 Biology 315 Aero Engr 315
El Engr 231 Comp Sci 211 Astro Engr 410
English 211 Comp Sci 362 Comp Sci 364
Engr Mech 220 Econ 332 Econ 465
Law 220 Econ 333 Econ 466
Math 243 History 302 English 411
Math 343 Math 377 Mgt 400
MSS 200 Math 378 MSS 400
Physics 215 Ops Rsch 321 Ops Rsch 419
Pol Sci 211 Ops Rsch 411 Ops Rsch 420
Sys Opt Ops Rsch 310 Philos 310 Soc Sci 412
OPERATIONS RESEARCH (Ops Rsch)
Offered by the Departments of Computer Science, Economics and Geosciences, Management, and Mathematical Sciences.
Ops Rsch 310. Systems Analysis. Course provides an introduction to rigorous quantitative modeling methods that have
broad application. Focuses on the mathematics of models, computer implementation of models, and application of these
models to practical decision-making scenarios. By demonstrating the application of these techniques to problems in a wide
range of disciplines, the course is relevant to technical and non-technical majors at the Academy. Course consists of six distinct
blocks: decision analysis and utility theory, linear and nonlinear optimization, project management, queuing theory, simulation,
and the systems approach to engineering and decision-making.
Ops Rsch 321. Probabilistic Models. Selected probabilistic models (such as random walks, Markov Chains, queues, and
reliability models) are analyzed as stochastic processes.
Ops Rsch 405. Operations Research Seminar. A course for OR majors that provides for presentation of student and faculty
research; guest lectures; field trips; seminars on career and graduate school opportunities for scientific analysts in the Air
Force; goal setting exercises; and applications of OR.
134 United States Air Force Academy Catalog