<p>Sorry, sport. It <em>is</em> summertime, of course!</p>
<p>Let’s segregate your MBA question into work for the private sector, and work in the government (including defense) sector. An MBA with an OR concentration might qualify you for private sector positions that require an OR degree. But, you will probably look more like any other MBA. An MS in OR will distinguish you a lot more from the pack. In the public sector, an MBA with OR may meet the minimum qualifications for the 1515 (OR) series, but I would put such a person lower on the list. I need real practitioners and analysts, not the product of some broad “management” curriculum who dabbled in some spreadsheets. </p>
<p>As for courses, multivariable calc, DE, linear algebra (or linear programming), and calc-based statistics would make a great foundation. I would strongly recommend you become proficient in a modern programming language: Java or C++ would probably be best. Other courses you should be taking (as part of the degree) would include probability, non-parametric statistics, experimental design, forecasting, modeling and simulation, and decision theory.</p>
<p>Notice that many of these would not be offered as part of an MBA program, and rarely would ALL of them be included in an MBA degree. I consider these core courses for an MS in OR.</p>
<p>Industrial engineering is NOT operations research. I’ve looked at several curricula, and the courses overlap only to a moderate degree. I think schools put IE and OR in the same department because both are non-specific with respect to what type of engineering they work with (chem, EE, mech, CS, or civil, for example). </p>
<p>Systems engineering, however, is close enough. In fact, it’s almost interchangeable with OR. </p>
<p>The question of whether one is ‘smart enough’ for this is very hard for any of us on CC to answer. I note with a chuckle the low opinion many have of our field – the common opinion is that all animals and most plants could do this. In reality, I find lots of folks making their way through an MS OR program. Some do so with ease and some have to work hard. If you can handle the four foundation courses you said you would try, you should be able to make it all the way.</p>