MSCS Undergraduate Studies
Preparation
for a career as an Actuary
Actuarial
Science involves the application of probability, statistics, and mathematics to
insurance, pensions, and risk management and evaluation. The professional path to
becoming an actuary involves passing a series of exams administered by the
Society of Actuaries (www.soa.org) and the
Casualty Actuarial Society (www.casact.org).
The two societies work together for several of the early examinations and
maintain a useful informational site www.BeAnActuary.com.
Preparing to become an actuary does not require a major in actuarial science,
but does require adequate preparation for beginning the examination process.
The
Department has prepared a Program of Study to prepare a student for the first
exams and receive VEE (Validation by Educational Experience) for three areas no
longer required as tests (Applied Statistical Methods, Corporate Finance, and
Economics). A student may complete these requirements by way of a Mathematics
or Computational Mathematics major with a Business minor, an Interdisciplinary
major in Applied Mathematical Economics, an Economics major, or any Business
major.
Any
student who has interest in the Actuarial Science Program is urged to consult
the Actuarial Science Coordinator, Dr. Stephen Merrill, for information on
course offerings and details of the Program.
Recommended
Program of Study
MATH080, MATH081
(Calculus I and II)
MATH160
(Probability) -- Test P
[{MATH164
(Statistical Methods) or MATH163 (Regression Analysis)}
& MATH162 (Time Series Analysis)] -- VEE Applied Stat. Meth.
or ECON175 (Introduction to Econometrics)
MATH198
(Intro to Actuarial Science – a “Topics” course) -- Test FM
ACCO030,
ACCO031 (Accounting)
ECON043,
ECON044 (Micro and Macro Economics) -- VEE
Economics
FINA180
(Financial Management) – VEE Corporate Finance
In
addition to the above course work, study groups to prepare for the exams are
organized every semester.
Internships
are strongly recommended. In this area consider