Professors in charge: Ahti Salo
Other professors: Pauliina Ilmonen, Risto Lahdelma, Fabricio Oliveira, Antti Punkka, Kai Virtanen, Harri Ehtamo
Credits: 40–43 ECTS (compact major)
Abbreviation: OR
Code: SCI3055
Objectives
The objective of the major in Systems and Operations Research is to educate experts who master quantitative methods and have professional skills for solving decision problems arising in the planning and management of complex systems. Core topics in the major are optimization, statistics, forecasting, dynamic systems, simulation, and decision and risk analysis. The major includes hands-on laboratory exercises and project assignments on real problems posed by external organizations.
Overall, the major is founded on a balanced engineering-economic approach which builds on structured problem solving, systems thinking and mathematical modelling. This approach allows operations research (OR) professionals to optimize the use of limited resources, to improve the efficiency of production and services, and to support decisions in recognition of risks and multiple objectives, for instance.
Methods of systems and operations research are used extensively in application areas such as finance, logistics, manufacturing, services, defence, energy, environment and healthcare. OR is widely known as “the Science of Better”. The rapidly expanding field of analytics employs OR methods to provide data-driven decision support.
Graduates in Systems and Operations Research are in growing demand by firms, consultancies, research institutes and the public sector. Many start their careers as analysts and then advance to more senior positions and even to top management. The major provides an excellent basis for continued studies and graduates often choose to pursue a doctoral degree.
Content and structure
All courses can be taken in the first or second year of studies. The recommended years for the core courses are shown below.
Mandatory courses (30 ECTS)
Code | Name | Credits | Period | Year |
Multivariate statistical analysis | 5 | III-IV | 1./ 2. | |
| MS-E2121 | Linear optimization | 5 | I-II | 1./ 2. |
| MS-E2122 | Nonlinear optimization | 5 | I-II | 1. |
Systems analysis laboratory II | 5 | I-II | 2. | |
Decision making and problem solving | 5 | III-IV | 1. | |
| Dynamic optimization | 5 | III-IV | 1. |
Select one seminar (5–7 cr):
Code | Name | Credits | Period | Year |
Optimointiopin seminaari | 5 | I-II (every other year) | 1./ 2. | |
Seminar on case studies in operations research | 5-7 | III-V | 1./ 2. | |
Graduate seminar on operations research | 5 | I-II (every other year) | 1./ 2. |
Select one additional course (5–6 ECTS), for example:
| CODE | NAME | CREDITS | PERIOD | YEAR |
Investment science | 5 | I–II | 1 or 2 | |
Experimental and statistical methods in biological sciences | 5 | I–II | 1 or 2 | |
Riskianalyysi | 5 | III–IV | 1 or 2 | |
Integer optimization | 5 | III–IV (every other year) | 1 or 2 | |
Systeemien identifiointi | 5 | I–II (every other year) | 1 or 2 | |
Matemaattinen malliajattelu | 5 | I-II | 1 or 2 | |
Simulation | 5 | IV | 1 or 2 | |
Microeconomics: Pricing | 6 | I | 1 or 2 | |
Industrial organization (Micro III) | 6 | III | 1 or 2 |