Bachelors Actuarial Program

Degree Requirements:

General:

for all B.S. degrees (see catalog).

Math Core (23 hours):

MATH 113   Calculus I

MATH 114   Calculus II

MATH 203   Matrix Algebra

MATH 213 or MATH 215   Calculus III

MATH 216   Differential Equations

MATH 290   Foundations of Mathematics

MATH 322   Linear Algebra

Actuarial (24 hours):

MATH 351   Probability

MATH 352   Statistics

MATH 551   Regression and Time Series

MATH 554   Mathematics of Compound Interest

MATH 555   Actuarial Mathematics I

MATH 556   Actuarial Mathematics II

Actuarial Electives (6 hours):

MATH 441   Operations Research

MATH 442   Operations Research

MATH 446   Numerical Analysis

Laboratory Science (8-9 hours):

(one of the following sequences)

BIOL 213, 303 or 304

CHEM 211, 212

GEOL 101, 102

PHYS 160, 161, 260, 261

Accounting (3 hours):

ACCT 203   Survey of Accounting

Economics (6 hours):

ECON 103    Contemporary Economic Principles and Issues I

One of the Following:

ECON 306   Intermediate Microeconomics

ECON 310   Money and Banking

FNAN 321   Financial Institutions

Computational (7 hours):

CS 112          Computer Science I

STAT 362     Intro. to Computer Statistical Packages

Recommended:

Further business and economics courses such as FNAN 301 and ECON 310.  Students should also consider a minor in business or finance. 

Participation in activities of the Actuarial Sciences Club. This club provides study support for actuarial exams and a venue to meet practicing actuaries and actuarial trainees.

Internships or Co-ops. These are readily available in the local area and can greatly improve one's marketability.

Society of Actuaries Exams. The most common route to certification as an Actuary is to attain Associateship in the Society of Actuaries by passing a series of exams comprising 300 &quotcredits" (these credits do not correspond to semester credit hours). The courses taken to satisfy the degree requirements will prepare students for seven exams comprising 150 &quotcredits." Students are strongly urged to pass as many exams as possible, while attending GMU, since their marketability and starting salary are strongly impacted by exam experience. The difference in starting salary between no exams passed and seven exams passed can be as much as $15,000. Below we summarize the relationship between the SOA exams and GMU courses.

EXAM 100--Calculus and Linear Algebra--MATH 113, 114, 215, 216 (322 is also helpful).

EXAM 110--Probability and Statistics--MATH 351, 352.

EXAM 120--Applied Statistical Methods--MATH 551.

EXAM 130--Operations Research--MATH 441 (plus some supplementary topics).

EXAM 135--Numerical Analysis--MATH 446 (plus some supplementary topics).

EXAM 140--Mathematics of Compound Interest--MATH 554.

EXAM 150--Actuarial Mathematics--MATH 555,556.

Application and Registration

For application information and forms call Admissions at (703) 993-2400 or click on Admissions.

For further details about our actuarial degree programs, courses, and other actuarial activities, contact Undergraduate Coordinator, Mailstop 3F2, Department of Mathematical Sciences, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax VA, 22030, (703) 993-1461