Computational Optimization

IE 486 is about scaling optimization to problems too big to throw at a generic solver — you exploit structure (decomposability, sparsity, special polyhedra) to make tractable what otherwise wouldn't be. Expect three homeworks plus a substantial project where you implement decomposition or cutting-plane methods on real production, network, or logistics instances, alongside grad-student mini-lectures on current research. It assumes you're comfortable with LP/IP from earlier IE courses and is essentially the bridge to research-level OR, whether you're heading into a thesis, an operations role at a firm that actually runs solvers in production, or a PhD.