Page Contents
Using the Handbook
The Undergraduate Student Handbook (Operations Research and Information Engineering) is a supplement to the information contained in the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook. It contains information specific to the Operations Research and Engineering (OR&E) major. You are responsible for checking College and University documentation for other rules and regulations pertaining to the degree.
Ultimately, it is your responsibility to understand the degree requirements (see Operations Research and Engineering (OR&E) Degree Requirements) for the major and to plan your course of study accordingly. You should consult the Operations Research and Engineering (OR&E) undergraduate major office by sending an inquiry to orie-ug-support@cornell.edu for specific information relating to the fulfillment of degree requirements. Your faculty advisor will assist you in course selection, but it is your responsibility to ensure that the courses you select will fulfill degree requirements.
What is Operations Research?
The Operations Research and Engineering (OR&E) undergraduate major will give you a broad understanding of the techniques and modeling concepts needed to analyze and design complex systems. As an operations researcher, you will make many decisions that involve the interplay of people, time, money, technology and materials. Operations research is foremost about general resource allocation problems that naturally can be represented and analyzed mathematically. Specialists in operations research use a variety of mathematical techniques and sophisticated computing tools to develop strategies for getting the most out of valuable resources while still being mindful of desirable restrictions (e.g., maintaining employee satisfaction).
An online retailer, for example, might benefit from careful statistical analysis of massive amounts of sales data, leading to modifications of how its website interacts with users, and perhaps resulting in a redesign of its supply chain so as to reduce inventory holding costs while simultaneously improving on-time deliveries. A manufacturer might be able to save significant recurring costs by identifying and eliminating a few bottlenecks in an assembly line. Operations research methods are integral to our daily lives, providing the underpinnings for apps which quickly result in assignments made to fulfill customer demand, such as those for Lyft and Uber, and for ridesharing.
See Careers in Operations Research and Engineering.
History of the School
Cornell’s educational contributions to our discipline reach back almost to its beginning. In the 1890’s, Frederick Taylor introduced ideas for improving the efficiency of labor by breaking down the steps required for a task and designing “the one best method” for all steps and the task they comprise. When Taylor presented a paper, “Shop Management,” at the 1903 meeting of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Dexter Kimball, then works manager at Stanley Electric Manufacturing Company, later the first Dean of the College of Engineering at Cornell, was in the audience. By 1905 Kimball was teaching about the economics of production at Cornell. In 1913, Kimball wrote in Principles of Industrial Organization, “the application of these well-known methods …. has become known as efficiency engineering, industrial engineering, or scientific management.” Since that time, many other terms have been linked to the discipline(s) that grew from this approach, among them: administrative science, administrative engineering, systems analysis, systems engineering, management science, engineering management, management engineering, operations management, operations research. One could debate whether these terms are all variations on a theme, or whether they represent distinct descendants of a common ancestor. Their standard short definitions are very similar – application of scientific methods to systems in order to design and operate them efficiently. They might diverge only when the succinct definitions were expanded to include shades of emphasis and delineations of both methods and application areas.
The designation operations research first emerged during World War II in England. Military planners worked with civilians from a variety of disciplines, including mathematics and engineering, to tackle the challenges imposed by the logistical support of massive military operations. Operations Analysis (or, Operational Analysis, in British English) was the name that was initially associated with their systematic approach to planning and with the collection of mathematical tools employed. Over time, it came to be called Operations Research.
Even within Cornell, the name of the academic unit tasked with teaching industrial engineering and its namesakes has changed several times to reflect changes in emphasis within the unit, as well as changes in perspective within the broader professional community: administrative engineering, industrial engineering, operations research and information engineering have all appeared in the name of our unit at various times. It was part of the Sibley School of Mechanical Engineering until the 1960’s, when a separate unit was created, which (eventually) became the School of ORIE. For decades, ORIE stood for Operations Research and Industrial Engineering; it now decodes as Operations Research and Information Engineering.
Why the change in 2006 to Operations Research and Information Engineering? The ongoing information revolution has dramatically broadened the impact of operations research. Information Engineering, the process of transforming data into useful information, has always played a key role in operations research, but the rapidly increasing scope and scale of available data challenges us to better understand this process. The role of information is further highlighted by the transformation of the US economy being based primarily on manufacturing to being oriented towards service industries, where information itself is often a key commodity. The names of some courses recently introduced in Operations Research and Information Engineering (ORIE) – “Urban Analytics”, “Statistical Data Mining”, “Service System Modeling and Design”, “Learning with Big Messy Data” – indicate how the School’s mission is expanding in this direction.
The current Operations Research and Information Engineering (ORIE) faculty has carried forward the strong traditions established by an earlier generation, building more powerful mathematical foundations, designing faster more robust computational methods, and greatly expanding the scope of applications. Operations Research is truly a multidisciplinary field, with great reach in its relevance to business and society.
In teaching, as in research, Operations Research and Information Engineering (ORIE) at Cornell has put a premium on mathematical rigor, pushing the envelope, not merely presenting what works and what doesn’t, but showing why it works or doesn’t. Armed with such training, graduates of the Operations Research and Engineering (OR&E) major are typically able to make broader, more fundamental contributions to the practice of operations research. They are able to adapt to the ever more rapidly changing workplace, where tools that work today may be based on assumptions that won’t hold tomorrow. Cornell’s Operations Research and Engineering (OR&E) major is considered premiere in the world of operations research.
Curriculum
College-level requirements can be found in the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook specific to your matriculation year. For first-year students intending to affiliate with Operations Research and Engineering (OR&E), CS 1110 is recommended rather than CS 1112. The most suitable Introduction to Engineering course for OR&E majors is ENGRI 1101.
For a general overview of the major curriculum, see Operations Research and Engineering (OR&E) Degree Requirements. For an in-depth list of all requirements for the degree, see the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook specific to your matriculation year.
Curriculum Checklist
For each student, an updated copy of the major requirements checklist is maintained by the Undergraduate Coordinator (orie-ug-support@cornell.edu). Students can see their checklists at Duffield Engineering: Student Checklist. Students should contact the Undergraduate Coordinator with any questions or concerns about the checklist.
Grade Requirements
Operations Research and Engineering (OR&E) affiliation eligibility requirements can be found on Operations Research and Engineering (OR&E) Degree Requirements.
OR&E affiliates must receive at least a C in MATH 2940. Each remaining course in mathematics used to fulfill a common core math requirement must be passed with a grade of at least C-. If the required grade level is not achieved, the course must be repeated.
ENGRD/CS 2110 is required of all OR&E majors and must be passed with a grade of C- or better before the end of the sixth semester. If this grade level is not achieved, the course must be repeated.
Each ORIE major required course (ORIE 3120, ORIE 3150 or a substitute, ORIE 3300, ORIE 3310, ORIE 3500, ORIE 3510, and ORIE 4580) must be passed with a grade of C- or better. If this requirement is not met the first time a course is taken, the course must be repeated within one year and a satisfactory grade attained before the next course in the sequence (ORIE 3310 and ORIE 3510 in particular) may be taken. Failure to achieve at least a C- the second time will generally result in withdrawal from the program. Courses taken a second time in order to meet this requirement do not yield additional credit toward the degree.
Credits for a Course Can Be Spread
The three categories of the major’s electives can be viewed as an ordered list:
ORIE Electives → Major Approved Electives → Advisor Approved Electives
Excess credit is allowed to flow in the direction of the arrows. If, for example, a student takes three courses each allowed as an ORIE Elective, and whose credits are 4, 4 and 3, then 9 of those credits can be used to complete the requirements for ORIE Electives, and the remaining 2 credits can be distributed among Major Approved Electives and Advisor Approved Electives. Likewise, excess Major Approved Electives can count towards Advisor Approved Electives (but not towards ORIE Electives). In order to use excess credit toward Advisor Approved Electives, the student’s advisor must sign off on the Duffield Engineering: Advisor Approved Elective Form.
Engineering Communications
The Engineering Communications requirement can be fulfilled by ORIE 4100 (which simultaneously can be used as a Major Approved Elective or as an ORIE elective). It may also be fulfilled by other designated Engineering Communications courses.
For more information on the Engineering Communications Requirement, see the Engineering Communications Requirement page.
Major GPA
The Major GPA includes engineering core courses, engineering distribution courses (ENGRI, ENGRD 2700 and CS/ENGRD 2110), major required courses, ORIE electives, and major approved electives. It does not include liberal studies courses or courses taken to fulfill the requirements for another major/minor. With courses that are repeated, only the highest grade is used in the calculation. Students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 and a Major GPA of at least 2.0 in order to be awarded the degree.
Minimum Credit Requirement
The minimum course load required to be considered a full-time student is 12 credit hours in each semester, except in the student’s final semester. In the final semester, the minimum course load is simply the number of credit hours needed to complete degree requirements.
Exceptions to Curriculum Requirements
Occasionally, a student may perceive a need for an exception to one or more of the curriculum requirements, either a College or School requirement. Such exceptions are considered on a case-by-case basis by the appropriate College or School committee. Contact orie-ug-support@cornell.edu regarding petitions.
Good Standing Status
Criteria for good standing status can be found in the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook. Students who fail to achieve good standing status may be warned, suspended for one or more terms, or withdrawn from the major. The specific action in each case will be based upon the pertinent circumstances as well as the student’s previous record.
Decisions regarding academic matters are made by the Academic Standards Committee of the School of Operations Research and Information Engineering (ORIE). Each student’s record is reviewed at the end of each semester upon receipt by the School of semester grades. In cases for which some form of academic action is found to be necessary, students may appeal the decision and/or request to appear personally before the committee.
Transfer Credit
A detailed explanation of the transfer credit application process can be found on the Engineering Registrar’s Transfer Credit Application Process page. Only in exceptional circumstances will approval be granted for technical courses; these must be offered by an accredited institution.
Transfer credit will not be granted for ORIE major required courses except for (1) transfer students who took an equivalent course at another institution prior to enrollment at Cornell, and (2) students formally enrolled in Cornell’s “Study Abroad” program.
Data, Decisions, and AI
Many students are interested in focusing on the elements of the Operations Research and Engineering (OR&E) curriculum that highlight an understanding of the emerging interactions among “data, decisions, and AI.” In fact, there is an ongoing process to make the following set of courses into a Focused Elective. Students graduating in Fall 2026 or later will be eligible to complete the Focused Elective. The courses included in the Focused Elective are as follows:
Use the following course to fulfill either an Advisor Approved Elective or liberal studies requirement:
- CS 1340 Choices and Consequences in Computing
Take at least 3 of the 5 courses:
- ORIE 3320 Optimization for AI
- ORIE 3741 Learning with Big Messy Data
- ORIE 4570 Reinforcement Learning with Operations Research Applications
- ORIE 4740 Statistical Data Mining I
- ORIE 4750 Foundations of Causal Inference for Data-Driven Decisions (first offered in AY 2026-2027)
Within the 3-4 Major Approved Electives in the Operations Research and Engineering (OR&E) major, include the following:
- CS 3700 Foundations of AI Reasoning and Decision-Making
- 1 course from the list of electives for the AI Minor that is a) an ORIE course or b) has CS 2800 as a prerequisite.
Preparing for Ph.D. Programs
Pursuing a Ph.D. in Operations Research is an exciting, rewarding, and challenging experience. The OR&E major at Cornell can be tailored to prepare students for rigorous Ph.D. programs in Operations Research. Beyond classes, our department offers many opportunities to prepare for a Ph.D. program and to become a more competitive applicant. We encourage students to start by discussing their interest in graduate programs with their advisor and other faculty in the department. Due to the rigor of Ph.D. programs, we also suggest that students take electives that strengthen their mathematical background; several of these are suggested below. Students interested in Ph.D. programs might also discuss on- and off-campus research opportunities with our faculty.
Ph.D. programs in Operations Research generally assume mathematical maturity and the ability to read and write sophisticated mathematical arguments (proofs). Taking at least three of the following courses is highly recommended as preparation for Ph.D. programs, especially a course in analysis (MATH 3110 or MATH 4130) and a course in theoretical linear algebra (MATH 4310 or MATH 4330).
- CS 2800 Discrete Structures*
- CS 4820 Introduction to Analysis of Algorithms
- CS 4850 Mathematical Foundations for the Information Age
- MATH 3040 Prove It!*
- MATH 3110 Introduction to Analysis**
- Math 3360 Applicable Algebra
- MATH 4130 Honors Introduction to Analysis I**
- Math 4310 Linear Algebra**
- MATH 4330 Honors Linear Algebra**
* These courses can fulfill the fourth engineering math requirement and/or be substituted for PHYS 2214
** Only one of MATH 4310 and 4330 can be taken for credit, and only one of MATH 3110 and 4130 can be taken for credit
The following electives build on core topics in Operations Research. Taking a few electives in an area you are excited about builds depth and experience.
- ORIE 3741 Learning with Big Messy Data
- ORIE 4570 Reinforcement Learning with Operations Research Applications
- ORIE 4742 Info Theory, Probabilistic Modeling, and Deep Learning with Scientific and Financial Apps
- ORIE 6xxx (PhD courses)
- CS 4220 Numerical Analysis: Linear and Nonlinear Problems
- MATH 4410 Introduction to Combinatorics I
The following course entails working on an independent project in Operations Research, appropriate for delving into research.
- ORIE 4900 Undergraduate Research in ORIE
More information and advice about how to best use the undergraduate curriculum to prepare for competitive Ph.D. programs can be found on the Continuing to a Ph.D. Program page and by speaking with your advisor.
Internal Transfers
Applications to transfer from other majors in the College of Engineering are considered by the Academic Standards Committee on a case-by-case basis. Internal transfer students must satisfy the Operations Research and Engineering (OR&E) affiliation eligibility requirements.
A student contemplating transfer into OR&E should make an appointment with the Undergraduate Coordinator as early as possible. The student will need to complete a Change of Major form available on the Engineering Registrar’s website. Applications to transfer from outside the College of Engineering and Cornell University are handled by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Awards for Outstanding Seniors
Several prizes have been established to recognize outstanding academic accomplishment in the Operations Research and Engineering program, with certain awards designated specifically for students who intend to pursue the Master of Engineering degree. These prizes are named in honor of Cornell graduates who have made significant contributions in the field of Operations Research and Information Engineering.
-
Lynn Bussey Prize
Lynn E. Bussey dedicated his career to the teaching of engineering economics. His well-known text, “The Economic Analysis of Industrial Projects”, is valued as a particularly thorough treatment of this topic at the graduate level. The Lynn Bussey Prize is awarded annually at commencement to an outstanding student in OR&E who is continuing in the ORIE Master of Engineering Program.
-
Allan H. Mogensen Award
Allan H. Mogensen was one of the pioneers in the field of industrial engineering. He developed the concept of work simplification in the 1920’s and led the movement for quality work and employee involvement from 1929 until his retirement in 1985. The Allan H. Mogensen award is also designated for an outstanding student in OR&E who is continuing in the ORIE Master of Engineering Program.
-
Byron W. Saunders Award
The Byron W. Saunders Award is named in honor of a former faculty member of the School of OR&IE who also served as Dean of the University Faculty. Professor Saunders devoted his energy for many years to the encouragement of excellence in academic performance by OR&E undergraduates. The Saunders prize is awarded each spring to the senior(s) who have achieved the best academic record in the School of OR&IE.
-
Geraldine and Sam Dell Master of Engineering Fellowship
In 2008, Samuel M. Dell III (’65, MEng ’66), a leader and manager at Exxon Mobil for 35 years, established the Geraldine and Sam Dell Master of Engineering Fellowship. This award recognizes exceptional students who were undergraduates at Cornell University and are pursuing a M.Eng. in ORIE. The recipient(s) must demonstrate strong ethical grounding, leadership, teamwork, and have a fundamental understanding of the application of theory to practical business problems.
-
Jack and Linda Muckstadt Graduate Award for ORIE Master of Engineering Excellence
In recent years, Professor Muckstadt and his wife Linda endowed the Jack and Linda Muckstadt Graduate Award for ORIE Master of Engineering Excellence, a generous tuition award for a Cornell undergraduate to pursue the ORIE Master of Engineering degree. Recipients of the Muckstadt Fellowship are selected for their outstanding professional character, their leadership, and their passion for applying OR methods to practical business problems.