Actuarial Sciences
What Can I Do In My Major?
Overview
Actuaries manage risk, and the Actuarial Science (BS) degree at Appalachian State University is a great entry point to this profession that uses numbers to evaluate the likelihood of future events, designs creative ways to reduce risk, and decreases the impact if undesirable events do occur.
In this degree, you will build a firm foundation in basic mathematics, statistics, and economics and finance. Courses will prepare you for the first three actuarial exams, Exam P – Probability, Exam FM - Financial Mathematics, and Exam MLC – Models for Life Contingencies.
Related Careers
The following list contains job titles of Actuarial Sciences majors. Use this as an idea list, and remember that it represents some, but certainly not all, of the careers you might consider. Some of these jobs also require education or experience beyond a bachelor’s degree.
Actuary
Audit Manager*
Bank Manager*
Banking/Credit/Investment Manager*
Budget Analyst
Cost Manager*
Compensation/Benefits Administrator
Data Control Administrator
Economist*
External Auditor
Financial Auditor
Financial Analyst
Insurance Statistician
Inventory Manager
Inventory Control Specialist
IRS Agent
Mortgage Researcher
Mergers/Acquisitions Manager*
Risk & Insurance Specialist
Mutual Fund Manager*
Mutual Fund Trader
Rate Analyst
Research Analyst
Risk Analyst
Sales Analyst
Statistician Stockbroker
Trust Analyst
*additional experience or advanced degree required
Related Major Skills
Appreciation for diversity
Awareness of ethical issues
Computer literacy
Critical thinking and decision making skills
Data analysis and interpretation
Deductive reasoning
Flexibility
Interpersonal skills
Leadership skills
Listening skills Management skills
Mathematical analysis
Mathematical modeling and simulation
Oral and written communication skills
Organizational skills
Problem formulation
Problem solving
Stress management
Symbolic representation and interpretation
Time management
Employers of AppState grads
Actuarial firms
Aon Hewitt
BB&T
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Business consulting firms
Financial institutions
Government agencies
Insurance companies
Goldman Sachs
Lenovo
Lincoln Financial Group
Lowe’s Companies
Newell Rubbermaid
Oliver Wyman PPD
ProMetrics
Samaritan’s Purse
Shutterfly, Inc.
The Financial Risk Group
VF Corporation
Wells Fargo
Professional Associations and Organizations
Actuarial Sciences: Society of Actuaries: SOA
Casualty Actuarial Society
Preparing for Your Career
•Develop excellent interpersonal skills to work with diverse populations
•Look for internships and jobs in to gain knowledge and experience
•Participate in internships and summer jobs in a relevant setting
How can I know if an Actuarial Science degree is right for me?
•Complete a self-assessment inventory at the Career Exploration Office in the Student Union to see how your interests, values, and personality match this major and related career fields.
•Schedule an appointment with a career counselor on careers.appstate.edu/Handshake
•Obtain direct experience by doing a job shadow
•Conduct an informational interview with a professional in the field
For more information on careers & job outlook: onetonline.org