This major is intended to develop analytical and information management skills that are useful in business as well as in public administration. This may be the major for you if you are interested in developing an ability to analyze quantitatively complex business situations or to develop and manage information systems.  To do well in this major, you will need an inclination towards precise and quantitative thinking and towards the use of computers.  Graduates who master the skills provided by this program are sought after in many different areas of business and government and often command a premium.

Management Science is an area of extensive and growing interest. Production and operations management, which are included under the general management science umbrella, are assuming greater importance as American industry competes with foreign manufacturing efficiency.  Decision support systems, which aid managers in making rational decision in ever more complex environments, represent a rapidly growing area.  Logistics is also a growing area within management science with strong interest from all branches of industry and government.  Other areas of strong interest in management science are in financial modeling, distribution systems development, transportation planning, optimization of chemical and petroleum industrial processes and design of communications networks.  All of these represent growth areas in major US industries.

The rapid growth of the use of the computer within organizations has created strong and growing demand for information technology professionals trained in all aspects of computer usage.  Virtually all organizations make extensive use of computers, and the employment market for students with combined business and information systems training is expected to continue to experience major growth over the next decade and beyond.