Bachelor of Mathematics (Operations Research)

is a mathematical discipline that considers how to make appropriate and better decisions in complex decision-making problems. It deals with how best to design operate and/or predict behaviour of complex systems like people machinery materials and money in industry business finance education government and defence.

Mathematics graduates play integral roles in the workplace developing mathematical models and numerical algorithms to answer what-if scenarios and design experiments to help guide research and improve processes.

Customise your degree

Foster your passion and shape your career through complementary study areas. As well as choosing a major area of study your course includes a second study area which can be either a second major or double minor.

A second major can complement your major area of study giving you the opportunity to develop a significant depth of knowledge and skills in two discipline areas.

Mathematics Second Major

• Data Science provides the necessary skills to be a data scientist including statistical methods and data visualisation computational tools for and data management techniques for large datasets and high-performance computing resources and techniques. This unique skill-set in statistics and computing will allow you to cope with sophisticated models applied to complex and/or large datasets.

Careers and outcomes

graduates typically have a wide range of choices for employment. The job markets for actuaries finance and operations research analysts have been quite strong in recent years and are expected to remain so in the near future. In addition students with excellent grades who desire more education in these areas will find a large number of opportunities for postgraduate study. The operations research major prepares you for careers or for further postgraduate study in such technical fields as management science information technology industrial engineering strategic planning systems analysis financial analysis and actuarial science.

Professional recognition

On graduation you may be eligible for membership in the Australian Society for Operations Research Inc. (ASOR).

Other study options

• Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Mathematics
• Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Mathematics
• Bachelor of Information Technology/Bachelor of Mathematics
• Bachelor of Games and Interactive Environments/Bachelor of Mathematics
• Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Mathematics

Possible careers

• Actuary
• Financial advisor/analyst
• Ict administrator
• Mathematician
• Operations manager
• Research officer
• Risk manager
• Systems analyst

Your QUT Bachelor of Mathematics degree consists of 288 credit points (24 units) arranged as follows:

• 96 credit points (8 units) of core units which include one core option unit selected from an approved list
• 96 credit points (8 units) of major units
• 96 credit points of complementary studies comprising of either a second major (8 unit set) or two minors (4 unit set each).

Mathematics core units

These units give you the grounding in mathematical theory and practice upon which your major units will build and also provide an introductory taste of each of the three majors: applied and computational mathematics;

; and . Core option units

You may choose from a wide variety of introductory units from other disciplines offered at QUT or you may choose additional mathematics units. The additional mathematics units include a unit specially designed to assist students without a background of successful study in Mathematics C at high school; an alternative unit aimed at high achieving students that explores some interesting and unusual aspects of mathematics in some detail; and a unit introducing the field of computational and simulation science which combines mathematics science and computing to simulate real-world problems.

*** Please note: Students who haven't taken Specialst mathematics (Maths C) in high school must take MXB100 in Semester 1. This unit will count as their core option.

Major units

Your major is your area of specialisation in which you will acquire in-depth knowledge and expertise preparing you for your entry into the workforce or for further study. All majors share the same introductory and advanced units in algebra and calculus meaning you do not need to decide on your major until your second year of study.

Second major or minors

You may choose to undertake a second major: an eight-unit set in which you will acquire a significant depth of knowledge and expertise in an area to complement your major. You may choose a second major in applied and computational mathematics data science statistics computational and simulation science accountancy applied economics and finance biological sciences chemistry earth science environmental science or physics.

Alternatively you may choose to undertake two minors: four-unit sets with intermediate to advanced level content which extend or supplement studies in your major. Minors are available from a range of inter- and intra-faculty disciplines as well as experiential minors such as international exchange.

Course Design

Your QUT Bachelor of Mathematics degree consists of 288 credit points (24 units) arranged as follows:

• 96 credit points (8 units) of core units which include one core option unit selected from an approved list
• 96 credit points (8 units) of major units
• 96 credit points of complementary studies comprising of either a second major (8 unit set) or two minors (4 unit set each).

Mathematics Core Units

These units give you the grounding in mathematical theory and practice upon which your major units will build and also provide an introductory taste of each of the three majors: applied and computational mathematics;

; and . Core Option Units

You may choose from a wide variety of introductory units from other disciplines offered at QUT or you may choose additional mathematics units. The additional mathematics units include a unit specially designed to assist students without a background of successful study in Mathematics C at high school; an alternative unit aimed at high achieving students that explores some interesting and unusual aspects of mathematics in some detail; and a unit introducing the field of computational and simulation science which combines mathematics science and computing to simulate real-world problems.

*** Please note: Students who haven't taken Specialst mathematics (Maths C) in high school must take MXB100 in Semester 1 . This unit will count as their core option.

Major Units

Your major is your area of specialisation in which you will acquire in-depth knowledge and expertise preparing you for your entry into the workforce or for further study. All majors share the same introductory and advanced units in algebra and calculus meaning you do not need to decide on your major until your second year of study.

Second Major or Minors

You may choose to undertake a second major: an 8 unit set in which you will acquire a significant depth of knowledge and expertise in an area to complement your major. You may choose a second major in applied and computational mathematics data science statistics computational and simulation science accountancy applied economics and finance biological sciences chemistry earth science environmental science or physics.

Alternatively you may choose to undertake two minors: 4 unit sets with intermediate to advanced level content which extend or supplement studies in your major. Minors are available from a range of inter- and intra-faculty disciplines as well as experiential minors such as international exchange.