Launch a high-demand career with the Actuarial Science Certificate. Offered through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, this certificate allows students from any major outside Actuarial Science to build the quantitative, analytical, and financial expertise sought by employers in insurance, consulting, banking, investments, and risk management.

The program is an excellent complement to majors such as statistics, mathematics, data science, economics, engineering, and other STEM disciplines, allowing students to leverage their existing coursework while gaining specialized actuarial training. Students develop a strong foundation in statistics, mathematics, finance, and risk analysis while enhancing the technical and problem-solving skills gained through their major.

Graduates of the certificate program are positioned for success in one of the most respected and rewarding quantitative professions. Students completing the certificate will be prepared to earn credit for up to four preliminary actuarial credentialing exams and gain the specialized knowledge needed to pursue careers in actuarial science, financial risk management, insurance, banking, and investment analysis.

Interested in actuarial science but not ready to add the certificate? Start with the Actuarial Science Pathway. The pathway highlights recommended courses, career opportunities, alumni outcomes, and ways to gain experience in the field. Students can use the pathway to explore their interests before pursuing the Actuarial Science Certificate.

The course requirements for the Actuarial Science Certificate can be used to assist you in preparing for the required Examinations and in completion of the Validation by Educational Experience (VEE) course work for the field. To apply to the VEE requirements, all courses must be completed with a grade of B- or higher.

Foundations

The pathway to becoming an Associate in the Society of Actuaries or in the Casualty Actuarial Society begins with the following Foundation Examinations and VEE coursework. 

Exam – Financial Mathematics (FM)

• MATH 2400: Mathematics of Investment and Credit (ACSCI Cert.)

Exam – Probability (P)

• STAT 3441: Introduction to the Theory of Probability and Statistics I (ACSCI Cert.)

VEE – Economics

• ECON 1010: Principles of Microeconomics (SS Gen Ed)
• ECON 1020: Principles of Macroeconomics (SS Gen Ed)

VEE – Accounting and Finance

• ACCT 2840: Financial Accounting
• FIN 3010: Principles of Finance (ACSCI Cert.)

Additional Preparation

The two actuarial societies have separate educational pathways past the Foundation level. The required coursework for the Actuarial Science Certificate will assist you in preparing for the following Society of Actuaries or Casualty Actuarial Society requirements.