The College of Arts and Sciences: Actuarial Mathematics
The core of the Mathematics program is the development of problem-solving ability through creative thinking and rigorous reasoning. In addition to the nationally recognized Actuarial Mathematics program, the Mathematics department offers courses in a variety of mathematical fields including statistics, calculus, and finance.
For more information about the Actuarial Mathematics and Mathematics programs, contact Professor Kristin Kennedy, Department Chair, at kkennedy@bryant.edu.
Bachelor of Science With a Major In Actuarial Mathematics
Offered as a Major and a Minor
Why are you paying more for your insurance than your best friend? How is someone’s credit score determined? What are the chances of a certain candidate winning the election? These questions and more can be answered by actuaries whose work help shape decisions in everyday life.
The Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Actuarial Math requires 12 courses of in-depth study in the field of mathematics, to complement the business and liberal arts core courses. The program provides students with a strong mathematics background that prepares them for a career in the actuarial field.
The minor in Actuarial Math requires four courses and is available to all majors. The focus of the minor is on the application of actuarial mathematics to banking, investments, insurance, and pensions.
Studying Actuarial Math at Bryant University
Actuaries analyze the financial consequences of risk, but their role is dynamic. They also seek creative ways to decrease the likelihood of an uncertain future event, and reduce the impact of an adverse event that actually does occur.
They are an important part of the management team of the companies that employ them. Their work requires a combination of strong analytical skills, business knowledge, and understanding of human behavior to design and manage programs that control risk.
The Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Actuarial Math focuses on the study of mathematics and statistics to give students a range of skills and broad knowledge to prepare them to become actuaries.
Courses in the actuarial math major are taken as early as the freshman year, so students are exposed to the principles of their degree program immediately.
The minor requires coursework in statistics and actuarial math, and electives are chosen from finance, economics, and computer programming courses.
Courses
In addition to the Bachelor of Science degree requirements, students in the Actuarial Math major must complete:
- Actuarial Statistics I
- Actuarial Exam P Prep
- Linear Algebra
- Software Applications
- Actuarial Statistics II
- Actuarial Statistics III
- Theory of Interest
- Life Contingencies I and Life Contingencies II
- Pension Fundamentals
- Advanced Probability
- Investments (students may double-count this course toward a Finance minor)
Students take the following to complete the minor:
- Statistics II
- Mathematics of Finance, Insurance, and Pensions
- Pension Fundamentals
- One course from the following:
- Applied Multivariate Statistics
- Forecasting for Decision Making
- Econometrics
- Software Applications in Mathematics
For complete course descriptions, please refer to the course catalog. Courses are listed in alphabetical order.
Opportunities After Graduation
Students are well prepared to join the actuary profession immediately upon graduation. The skills learned in the degree program also prepare students for a number of other careers, including:
- Insurance
- Financial Services
- Consulting
- Financial Analyst
