Operations Research and Management Science

Undergraduate Program

Introduction to the Major

The Operations Research and Management Science (ORMS) major provides a solid foundation in the quantitative, model building, and problem-solving skills of operations research and management science. The major is very math intensive and is appropriate for students who enjoy and are good at mathematics, computers, and solving practical, multidisciplinary problems.

The ORMS major is designed for students in the College of Letters & Science and is administered by the Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research (IEOR) in the College of Engineering. The department also offers a major and minor in IEOR, as well as a combined Bachelor’s-Master's program.

Admission to the Major 

To be considered for admission to the ORMS major, students should have a minimum 3.2 overall GPA in the prerequisite courses. The major is impacted and applications are submitted by invitation only. Visit ieor.berkeley.edu/academics/ba-orms/ for more information. 

We recommend students apply during the semester that they are completing their final prerequisite courses or prior to the accumulation of 80 units (not including high school units). For most students, this is typically at the end of their sophomore year. For transfer students, you must apply at the end of your first semester at UC Berkeley.

Amplify Your Major

The IEOR community is vibrant, bright and supportive, which allowed me to navigate through my undergraduate career and find my passion.
Zilan (Eleanor) Yuan, ORMS class of 2020

Four-Year Student Timeline

First Year

Explore Your Major

Connect and Build Community

Discover Your Passions

Engage Locally and Globally

Reflect and Plan Your Future

Second Year

Explore Your Major

Connect and Build Community

Discover Your Passions

Engage Locally and Globally

Reflect and Plan Your Future

Third Year

Explore Your Major

  • Focus on upper division requirements and electives such as machine learning (IEOR 142) or production systems analysis (IEOR 150).

  • Review your degree progress with your major and college advisors.

  • Take a Challenge Lab course (IEOR 185), Data X (IEOR 135) or another project-based class.

Connect and Build Community

Discover Your Passions

Engage Locally and Globally

Reflect and Plan Your Future

  • Update your resume and LinkedIn profile.

  • Discuss post-graduate options with advisors and professors.

  • Attend career and graduate school fairs such as the STEM Career & Internship Fair.

  • Ask professors and graduate student instructors for recommendation letters.

Fourth Year

Explore Your Major

Connect and Build Community

Discover Your Passions

  • Teach your own DeCal course

  • Undertake an optional honors thesis or independent study.

  • Keep pursuing your interests through a fellowship or gap year after graduation.

Engage Locally and Globally

Reflect and Plan Your Future

What Can I Do With My Major?

The IEOR major prepares students for technical careers analyzing a broad array of systems-level decision problems concerned with economic efficiency, productivity, and quality. It provides a strong foundation for those headed for operations management positions or for those intending to go on to specialized graduate study in operations research, analytics, or business administration.

Jobs and Employers

  • Analyst, Cornerstone Research

  • Analyst, WI Harper Group 

  • Consultant, Applied Predictive Technologies

  • Digital Risk Solution Associate, PwC

  • Software Development Engineer, Amazon

  • Software Engineer, Google

  • Technology Analyst, Deloitte

Graduate Programs

  • Business, Masters

  • Computational Math., Masters

  • Computer Science, Masters, PhD

  • Economics, PhD

  • Engineering Science, Masters

  • Industrial Engineering, Masters, PhD

  • Operations Research, Masters 

Examples gathered from the First Destination Survey of recent Berkeley graduates.

Learn More

Connect With Us

Cal Day

Come to Berkeley’s annual Open House in April for information sessions, campus tours, special talks, and more.

Golden Bear Orientation

Join your peers in the campus-wide UC Berkeley orientation program for all new students.

Events

Attend department events with students, staff, and faculty. Visit ieor.berkeley.edu for news and updates.

Advising

ORMS students are assigned to faculty advisors in the IEOR department. Before the enrollment period for each semester, students meet with their faculty advisors to discuss their tentative schedule of classes.

The Undergraduate Advisor for ORMS is also available for advising on academic matters, including academic difficulty, change of major/double majors/simultaneous degrees, withdrawal/readmission, degree completion, education abroad, academic progress, and petitions and exceptions. Contact the Undergraduate Advisor at ieor-student-services@berkeley.edu

How to Use this Map

Use this map to help plan and guide your experience at UC Berkeley, including academic, co-curricular, and discovery opportunities. Everyone’s Berkeley experience is different and activities in this map are suggestions. Always consult with your advisors whenever possible for new opportunities and updates.