The doctoral program in Systems Engineering and Operations Research offers a unique integration of systems engineering and operations research. This integration gives students a strong analytical and computational capability on the one hand and an overarching systems perspective that is well-grounded in application on the other. No other department in the nation offers a PhD degree program that covers systems engineering and operations research in this integrated manner. The program prepares students for leadership positions in research and development in government, industry, research organization, and academia. The program includes: course requirements; a qualifying exam that tests fundamental concepts in systems engineering and operations research; a comprehensive exam that tests the research competency of the student; dissertation proposal defense; dissertation research; and dissertation predefense and defense. All general Mason and specific Volgenau School requirements apply to this program. PhD dissertations are extremely time intensive, and successful completion requires full time focus. It is expected that students who have reached candidacy (that is, successfully presented their dissertation proposal) will spend full time on their research for at least one academic year and will attend the majority of the SEOR departmental seminars throughout that period.

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