The MS in Operations Research Engineering trains students in solving business problems with computers and mathematics.
International Students: This program is eligible for the OPT STEM extension.
- This program requires completion of 28 units of coursework
- Thesis option and Directed Research (research without thesis) may be requested after completing first semester. Thesis option is not guaranteed
- USC Catalogue
- USC Schedule of Classes
APPLICATION DEADLINES
| SEMESTER | DEADLINE |
| Spring | September 1 (extended to October 1) |
| Fall | December 15 (Scholarship consideration)
January 15 (Final deadline) |
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Applicants to the Master of Science program in Operations Research Engineering must have a bachelor’s degree or be in the process of completing a bachelor's degree. Most applicants have degrees in engineering or closely related fields, such as Math or Hard Science.
Applicants without a bachelor's degree in a directly related field may still be considered if they have completed and demonstrated strong proficiency in the following coursework (or equivalent):
This is not an exhaustive list. Applications are reviewed holistically; simply taking these courses does not guarantee admission.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
The following materials are required to be included with your online application:
- Transcripts
- Resume/CV
- Personal Statement
- Letter of Recommendation (3 highly recommended)
NOTE: The GRE is not required for 2026 applications.
For tips on completing your application visit
Ready to Apply
The following link will take you to an overview of the tuition & fees for graduate engineering students, including payment information. Both on-campus and DEN@Viterbi students pay the same tuition
TUITION AND FEES OVERVIEW
Use the link below to download the Cost of Attendance to see a summary of tuition and fees by semester. The document is a typical example and the number of courses, and time to complete the program, will vary by student.
Estimated Cost of Attendance - 28 Unit Program
2025 First Destinations Survey - Outcomes*
Alumni Employment - 2025*
Companies & Job Titles (multiple positions may be listed)
Average Reported Salary: $95,000
- Alpha International Aviation - Business Data Analyst Intern
- GOFO Express - Management Trainee
- HungryPanda U.S. Inc. - Business Development Specialist
- JJX Consulting LLC - Operation Consultant
- SERES - New Project Quality Engineer
- Speed Xpress Inc. - Data Operation Coordinator
- US Army - Operations Research & Systems Analysis
Previous Years
- Capital One - Senior Data Analyst (2023)
- General Procurement, Inc. - Logistics Coordinator (2024)
- Liftians - Operations Associate (2024)
- MASC LLC - Junior Data Analyst (2024)
- Meta Platforms, Inc. - Logistics Analyst (2023)
- Protiviti - Foundations Consultant (2023)
- RAND Corporation - Technical Analyst (2024)
- Tiami Group, Inc. - Data Analyst (2024)
Internships (2025)**
Total No. of Internships: 1
Beta Fund
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* Information is based on a voluntary survey and should not be interpreted as a comprehensive view of the 2025 graduating class.
** Internship data is from CPT internships done by our international student population.
This program is also available online to professional engineers through DEN@Viterbi. Because the DEN@Viterbi program provides a fully equivalent academic experience, the degree a USC engineering student earns is the same whether they are on-campus or online. If you are interested in beginning classes as a DEN@Viterbi student next semester, explore the requirements and steps to enrolling as a Limited Status Student. Learn More About DEN@Viterbi
Detailed Program Curriculum and RequirementsSchedule of Classes
DEN@VITERBI ONLINE COURSE OFFERINGS The following courses and program requirements serve as program planning for DEN@Viterbi students. Course offerings and availability are subject to change. Please consult with advisor if you have any questions.
| Required Courses |
| All Courses Required - 20 units |
| ISE 536 | Linear Programming and Extensions (4 units) |
| ISE 538 | Markov Models for Performance Analysis (4 units) |
| ISE 580 | Performance Analysis with Simulation (4 units) |
| ISE 583 | Enterprise Wide Information Systems (4 units) |
| ISE 632 | Network Flows and Combinatorial Optimization (4 units) |
| Select one of the following |
| One Course Required - 4 units total. |
| ISE 513 | Logistics and Inventory Systems (4 units) |
| ISE 514 | Advanced Production Planning and Scheduling (4 units) |
| ISE 520 | Optimization: Theory and Algorithms: Numerical Optimization (4 units) |
| ISE 525 | Design of Experiments (4 units) |
| ISE 562 | Decision Analysis (4 units) |
| ISE 563 | Financial Engineering (4 units) |
| ISE 576 | Industrial Ecology: Technology-Environment Interaction (4 units) |
| Advisor Approved Elective |
| One Course Required - 4 units total. |
| Course must be selected with approval from the department advisor. |
Please complete the following form for more information.
