Best Online Master’s Degrees in: Management Science

Editor's Picks: Online Schools for Management Science

Value
Stanford University is ranked No. 4 on PayScale.com's list of the best schools for value. It has a return on investment of 10.4% without financial aid and 14.0% with financial aid. In addition, it is ranked No. 5 on U.S. News & World Report‘s list of the best national universities. Stanford University therefore wins the award for the best online management science and engineering master's degree for value.

Flexibility
Stanford University is ranked No. 9 on College Prowler‘s list of the schools with the most flexible curriculums. In addition, it is also ranked as having A+ academics on College Prowler. Because Stanford University provides a flexible education that does not compromise the quality of its classes, it is our winner for best flexibility.

Career Support
Stanford University provides students and alumni with extensive career services, which include networking opportunities and job searches. Students can also get help planning their careers and writing their resumes. In addition, students can network through social networking pages and recruiting events. Stanford University therefore wins the award for best career support.

Financial Support
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the University of Dayton awards 99% of its beginning, full-time students with financial aid. In addition, 91% of University of Dayton undergraduates receive a grant or scholarship. Because the University of Dayton is dedicated to helping its students afford higher education, it is our winner for best financial support.

Technology Support
The University of Dayton is ranked No. 26 on U.S. News & World Report‘s list of the best engineering graduate schools for student services and technology. It provides technical support all day, every day, so online students can always find the help they need for accessing courses. The University of Dayton is therefore our winner for best technology support.

Student Engagement
The University of Dayton wins the award for best student engagement. Its professors understand that student achievement begins with reliable professors, and for that reason, the University of Dayton has also ranked No. 35 on U.S. News & World Report‘s list of the best engineering schools for student engagement and accreditation. At the University of Dayton, professors hold weekly office hours and ensure that students take an active role in their education.

Disability Support
Stanford University has an informative website that provides information for students with disabilities. There, students can access information on accommodations, learning centers, and student rights. They can also find contact information. Stanford University provides library accommodations as well. It is therefore the winner of the best online management science master's degree for disability support.

Library and Research Support
Stanford University is ranked No. 16 on College Prowler‘s list of the schools with the best libraries. Stanford University's library services include online resources, catalogs, subject guides, how-to guides, and research assistance. It is therefore our winner for best library and research support.

Learning Support
The University of Dayton wins the award for the best online management science master's degree for learning support. It is ranked No. 26 on U.S. News & World Report‘s list of the best online engineering graduate schools for student services and technology. It offers live tutoring and streaming video as part of its online education services.

Faculty Credentials
The University of Dayton wins the award for best faculty credentials. It is ranked No. 2 on U.S. News & World Report‘s list of the best online engineering graduate schools for faculty credentials and training. In addition, the university funds online instructor training, to ensure that the faculty body has a strong understanding of how to conduct distance education.

Faculty Accessibility
The University of Dayton is ranked no. 35 on U.S. News & World Report‘s list of the best schools for engagement and accreditation. At the University of Dayton, professors hold eight office hours weekly and respond to student emails within 24 hours. In addition, the National Center for Education Statistics reports that class sizes are kept small. The University of Dayton is therefore the winner of best faculty accessibility.

Alumni Engagement
Stanford University wins the award for best alumni engagement. Stanford alumni have access to multiple resources, including local groups and clubs, classes, and alumni directories. They can also utilize the website and alumni publications to stay up-to-date on university news. In addition, Stanford alumni are provided with career resources.

Explore a Master's Degree in Management Science

Management science, otherwise known as operations research, is the application of analytical and mathematical systems to help make better organizational decisions. This includes determining the allocation of resources, managing production schedules, and setting prices. An online master's degree program in management is available for students who find the concept of making beneficial changes within an organization appealing. Some schools offer management science along with another discipline, such as engineering, to give students a greater degree of specialization. A management science master's degree program may take at least 36 credit hours to complete, although the length of the program may change depending on the institution.

Class Curriculum

Management science students may take a combination of analytical courses, such as deterministic models, as well as core courses in management, operations, and analysis. These courses could include capital markets and investments, corporate finance, production and operations management, enterprise risk management, and supply chain management. Read on for a closer look at three management science courses:

• Dynamic Systems. A dynamic systems course analyzes and researches the human decision-making process and the methods or approaches that can help students make better decisions. Topics covered in this course may include formulation and analysis, solutions of linear dynamic systems, eigenvalues and eigenvectors of linear systems, nonlinear dynamics, phase plane analysis, Liapunov functions, and catastrophe theory.
• Operations Management. An operations management course examines the planning, scheduling, and management of manufacturing and service entities. This includes study in optimal facility location, production planning, inventory control, and capacity expansion.
• Economics of Natural Resources. This course provides students an economic analysis of the use of energy, air, water, and other natural resources. Depending on the institution, the course may cover depletion and extinction conditions, market failure mechanisms, policy options, stock-flow relationships, and optimal long-term decision making.

Management Science students are typically assessed by their performance on homework assignments that test their comprehension of course material, research projects, and exams. Students may be able to access lecture materials, such as PowerPoint presentations or PDF files, through the school's online course system.

Building a Career

Students who graduate from a master's degree program in management science may be qualified to work as operations research analysts. Operations analysis use databases and statistical and modeling packages to solve organizational problems. This includes identifying and defining problems in production, logistics, or sales, gather input from employees involved in the problem area, write reports outlining their findings, and advise managers and executives of the proper course of action. Although a bachelor's degree in operations research may be enough to qualify a person for an entry-level position, many companies prefer candidates with a master's degree in management science or operations research, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Operations research analysts earned a median annual salary of $70,960, according to the BLS. Employment of analysts is expected to increase 15%, or about as fast as average, between 2010 and 2020. Demand for analysts is expected to grow because of the way technological advances can help companies or organizations run more efficiently. Analysts will also be needed to support military organizations and develop policies and programs in other areas of the government, according to the BLS. However, these statistics are no guarantee of actual salary or employment availability, which is dictated by the hiring agency, location, and condition of the economy.