MGTSC-MS - Management Science and Engineering (MS)

The MS degree program represents substantial progress in the major field beyond the bachelor’s degree.

See Graduate Degrees for university requirements for the master’s degree.

MS&E master’s students complete breadth as well as depth. All are required to develop competence in optimization and analytics, organizations and decisions, and probability. In addition, every student pursues a specialty in one of eight areas:

1. Computational Social Science: The Computational Social Science track teaches students how to apply rigorous statistical and computational methods to address problems in economics, sociology, political science, and beyond. The program prepares students for diverse career paths in data science, information technology, and policy analysis. The core coursework covers fundamental statistical concepts, large-scale computation, and network analysis. Students can explore topics such as experimental design, algorithmic economics, and machine learning through electives.

2. Financial Analytics: Students who concentrate in Financial Analytics are prepared for careers requiring analytical rigor and the ability to innovate around market challenges. Example career paths include financial services, risk management, investment management, financial technology and data processing, financial regulation and policy, exchanges and clearing houses, and auditing and compliance. The concentration combines the in-depth study of quantitative techniques with practical, hands-on business problem-solving. Students learn to use mathematical models and quantitative tools to solve complex problems in finance practice. The concentration exploits the intellectual ties between finance, operations research, computer science, and engineering. It offers a high level of flexibility and a range of elective courses that allow students to tailor the program to their specific career goals. Required courses immerse students in quantitative methods and deepen their understanding of finance fundamentals. Projects courses feature practical, data-driven team projects and case studies, fostering group learning and peer interaction. 

3. Operations and Analytics: The Operations and Analytics track prepares students in the fundamentals and applications critical to careers ranging from operations management in the service, health care, production, manufacturing, computer, telecommunications, and banking industries, to modern Silicon Valley information technology and data analytics. The program emphasizes a balance between the technical rigor of methodologies with lasting value and insightful modern applications and design challenges in various established and emerging industries and operations environments. It offers a portfolio of courses in probabilistic modeling, optimization, simulation, algorithms, data science, networks, markets, and corresponding applications.

4. Technology and Engineering Management: Students who concentrate on Technology and Engineering Management are prepared for careers including product and project management, management consulting, and entrepreneurship. They acquire skills to manage technical organizations, foster innovation, and deal with rapidly evolving technologies and dynamic markets. Specialized coursework is flexible, allowing students to explore and gain depth and understanding of technical organizations to develop a culture of successful innovation and entrepreneurship, along with decision-making methods under uncertainty, financial analysis, and strategic planning.

5. Advanced Technologies and Applications: Students intensely interested in significant (i.e., “deep”) technologies and their use within commercial firms, non-profit organizations, and/or government agencies. Students can deeply dive into their technical interests via coursework, directed readings, and projects. The range of possible technical interests is broad, including space, cybersecurity, energy technologies, AI, climate solutions, semiconductors, advanced materials, medicine, UAVs, etc. Simultaneously, this path provides real-world grounding in application contexts with courses in geopolitical competition, economic policy, engineering systems, and corporate strategy. Prepares students for leadership roles in engineering, product management, government and public policy, technology-based non-profits, and venture capital investment.

6. Decision and Risk Analysis: Students specializing in Decision and Risk Analysis are prepared for careers including management consulting, policy analysis, and risk management, applying engineering systems analysis to tackle complex economic and technical management problems in the private and public sectors. They acquire the skills to identify and develop opportunities in uncertain situations while recognizing and hedging the downside risks. Specialized coursework includes the mathematical foundations for modeling in dynamic, uncertain environments to value and manage uncertain opportunities and risks, applications to public policy, and a chance to work on a client project under faculty guidance. 

7. Energy and Environment: The Energy and Environment track is designed for students interested in energy and environmental issues from the perspectives of public policy, non-governmental organizations, or corporations. This track includes core courses in economic analysis, energy resources, and energy/environmental policy analysis; and an individually designed concentration, typically emphasizing policy, strategy, or technology. Seminars provide insights into current corporate strategy, public policy, and research community developments. Energy/environmental project courses give practice in applying methodologies and concepts.

8. Health Systems Modeling: The Health Systems Modeling track is designed for students interested in health care operations and policy. The courses in this track emphasize applying mathematical and economic analysis to problems in public health policy and the design and operation of health care services.

This program allows Stanford undergraduates to work simultaneously toward a BS in Management Science and Engineering or another quantitative major and an MS in Management Science and Engineering.

Additional Coterminal Requirements

Coterminal master’s degree candidates are expected to complete all master’s degree requirements as described in this Bulletin. Coterminal Master's Degrees describes university requirements for the coterminal master’s degree. Graduate Degrees describes university requirements for the master’s degree.

Coterminal master’s degree students may request a transfer of courses from the undergraduate to the graduate career to satisfy the requirements for the master’s degree. Transferring courses to the graduate career requires review and approval of both the undergraduate and graduate programs on a case-by-case basis. In this master’s program, courses taken during or after the first quarter of the sophomore year are eligible for consideration for transfer to the graduate career; the timing of the first graduate quarter is not a factor. No courses taken before the first quarter of the sophomore year may be used to meet master’s degree requirements. Course transfers are not possible after the bachelor’s degree has been conferred.

See Management Sciences and Engineering Admissions for information about applying to the Management Science and Engineering MS degree.