Certificate Program in Actuarial Studies

Committee

  • S.R.S. Rao Poduri, Ph.D. (Harvard), Professor of Statistics and Biostatistics and Chair of the Committee
  • Sanford L. Segal, Ph.D. (Colorado), Professor of Mathematics

Certificate Requirements

The College offers a Certificate in Actuarial Studies for students contemplating a career in the insurance industry. The program is supervised by a faculty committee of representatives from the Departments of Statistics, Mathematics, and Economics, with one member designated as Program Adviser, and administered through the College Center for Academic Support, Lattimore 312. Ordinarily, interested students should apply by Spring semester of their junior year.

5 Core courses:

  • STT 212 Applied Statistics for the Biological and Physical Sciences I OR ECO 231 Econometrics (Prerequisites: ECO 207; ECO 230, STT 213 or MTH 203)
  • MTH/STT 201 Introduction to Probability (Prerequisites: MTH 162 or equivalent; MTH164 recommended)
  • MTH/STT 203 Introduction to Mathematical Statistics (Prerequisite: MTH/STT 201 or equivalent)
  • MTH 164 Multidimensional Calculus (Prerequisite: MTH 162 or equivalent)
  • FIN 205 Financial Management OR MTH 210 Introduction to Financial Mathematics OR (ECO 216)* *Previously ECO 216 fulfilled this requirement. Since ECE 216 is no longer offered, FIN 205 or MTH 210 may be used as a substitute.

Additional Courses

1 from the following list:

  • MTH 208 Methods of Operations Research (MOR)
  • MTH/STT 280 Introduction to Numerical Analysis (Prerequisite: MTH 162 or equiv.)
  • STT 216 Applied Statistics II (Prerequisites: STT 211, 212, 213 or equiv.)
  • STT 221 Sampling Techniques (Prerequisites: STT 211, 212, or 213)

1 or more from either the list above, the following list, or an approved substitute:

  • ECO 236 Health Policy (Prerequisites: ECO 207 and STT 213 or equivalent)
  • Independent Study (Approved by the Program Adviser)

For certification, students must complete course requirements with a GPA of at least 2.5. None of the certificate courses may be taken satisfactory/fail.

In addition, some proficiency in a high-level computer language is required. Examples of some of the courses that may be used to satisfy the computing requirement: CSC 108, CSC 170, CSC 171, or ECE 171.

Please note: Course substitutions may be possible with the Program Adviser’s approval.

At graduation, students sucessfully completing the Actuarial Studies Program will receive a certificate at their departmental diploma ceremony.

Many insurance companies offer summer internships for students contemplating the actuarial profession; such an internship may provide important additional training (as well as summer income).

The Society of Actuaries is the professional organization of Actuaries in the United States and Canada. To become an Associate Member of the Society, one must pass a series of examinations. Some or all of these may be taken while employed, or after college graduation; some may be taken while still a student.

The first examination is in Calculus and Linear Algebra; MTH 161, 162, and 164 provide most of the necessary background.

The second examination is in Probability and Statistics.

Certificate students could and are strongly encouraged to take the first two examinations before, or upon, graduation. The exams are given three times a year: February, May and November.

Registration Form

Information about other Certificate Programs