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Ph.D. in Operations Research

The Operations Research Ph.D. program fosters rigorous, independent exploration of open problems, leading to original, high-caliber scholarly work. Graduates are well-prepared for academic teaching and research roles, as well as opportunities in the private sector.

Format

In-Person

Page Contents

Note: This page provides a general overview. For complete and accurate information, please consult with your advisor. For current course offerings and information, refer to the Cornell University Registrar: Courses of Study.

Degree Requirements

Downloadable PDF of the Ph.D. Handbook

The most recent version of the Operations Research Ph.D. Handbook is available at the link above and it lists all degree requirements.

Examinations

There are three mandatory examinations over the course of your Ph.D. program.

Qualifying Exam (The Q Exam) (See Ph.D. Handbook for more details.)

Admission to Candidacy Exam (The A Exam)

  • This exam is a formal requirement of the Graduate School.
    • Because the Special Committee often views passing your Qualifying exam as demonstrative of your competence in the fundamentals of the Field, the A exam focuses instead on assessing your mastery of your areas of research.
  • It will typically be taken during your third year, and will be administered by your Special Committee.
    • At the time of your exam, you must submit to the DGS a summary of the courses used to satisfy all program requirements.
    • In the rare event that not all coursework has been completed at this time, you will need to specify your intended courses for satisfying these requirements.
  • The format of the A exam is largely up to the discretion of your Special committee – in some cases, it is primarily a presentation of proposed research for a thesis, for others, it may follow the format of an oral examination.
    • Your Special Committee will be available for consultation on what you should expect in your A exam.
  • A degree cannot be awarded until at least two units of residence have been earned after passing the exam.
  • There will be at least three examining members of the Graduate School present at your exam.
    • The DGS will ensure this many will be present if one or more members of your Special Committee are unavailable.
    • Any member of the Field may attend your exam.

Final Exam (The B Exam)

  • This exam is your presentation and defense of your Ph.D. thesis.
  • It will also be announced as an Operations Research and Information Engineering colloquium.

Student Progress Review

Beginning in your second year and for the duration thereafter, Ph.D. students are required to meet annually with their Special Committee and complete a Student Progress Review (SPR) through the Graduate School’s online system.

These forms help track progress towards your degree, but also serve as a useful record for you to refer to throughout your program and in preparation for your post-graduate career planning.

Procedure

  • Schedule an SPR meeting with your Special Committee’s Chair.
  • Complete and submit your portion of the SPR form at least ten days prior to your scheduled meeting.
    • It may be saved as a draft, but a final deadline will be communicated to you (typically in late November).
    • Upon submission, it will be sent to your Committee Chair.
  • Discuss your progress/planning with your Committee Chair.
  • They will submit their portion of the online form within the next two weeks. A final deadline will also be communicated to them.