 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|||||
|
--------------- |
|
|
What are the prerequisites for admission to the Actuarial Certificate program?The minimum mathematical background required for admission to the Certificate program is completion of the following GMU Mathematics courses or their equivalent. Descriptions of these courses and their prerequisites can be found in the Graduate Catalog.
Alternately, the requirements are met if a student has passed SOA Course 1, or has completed a course of study for SOA Course 1. Note that no course should be taken without the proper prerequisites.
If you are not sure whether or not courses you have taken as an undergraduate are sufficient, contact the graduate coordinator. What if I don't meet all of the prerequisites?We recommend that you take the appropriate undergraduate courses under the Extended Studies Program. To determine exactly which courses you should take, contact the graduate coordinator. Can I take some courses without being admitted to the Certificate program?The Extended Studies Program allows students to take a course for which they have the necessary prerequisites without being admitted to a degree or certificate program. If a student subsequently is admitted to a program, any course taken under the Extended Studies Program is treated as transfer credit, and is subject to all applicable restrictions (indicated here in the CAS Policies for Graduate Students webpage). However, if a student registers for a course under the Extended Studies Program and then at some point during that semester is admitted to a degree program, the course automatically counts toward the degree and is not treated as transfer credit. How do I apply for admission to the Actuarial Certificate program?The online application process can be started here. Paper application forms and other information is available here. A completed application packet consists of: (1) the application form, (2) your undergraduate transcripts, (3) three letters of recommendation, and (4) a goals statement. International students are no longer required to get an international transcript evaluation. These are now done by CAS. Completed applications are forwarded to the Mathematics Department and are acted on by the Graduate Committee within a short time. What if I am already in another degree program at GMU?If you are currently enrolled in a Ph.D. or Doctoral degree program, If you are currently enrolled in a Ph.D., Doctoral, or Masters degree program, you can apply to the Certificate in Actuarial Sciences program using a Secondary Degree Application form. If you are currently enrolled in a different Certificate program at GMU, you will need to apply to the Certificate in Actuarial Sciences program as a new student. In some cases, credits earned toward your Ph.D., Doctoral or Masters degree can also be applied to the MS degree. Please note that you cannot count the same courses for two different Graduate Certificates. What is the application deadline?Applications are processed in the Mathematics Department on a rolling basis, which means that applications are acted on shortly after they are complete and after the application materials have been forwarded to the department by the CAS Graduate Admissions office. However, in order to ensure that your application materials are forwarded in a timely fashion, the following deadlines are recommended: For admission for the Fall semester, March 15; for admission for the Spring semester, October 1; and for admission for the Summer semester, Febraury 1. An application deadline is imposed by the College of Arts and Sciences on international students. See this document for further information. Is it possible to waive the application fee?No. It is the policy of the College of Arts and Sciences not to waive the application fee under any circumstances. Is the GRE required?The GRE is not required for admission to the Certificate in Actuarial Sciences program. Is there any financial aid available?The Mathematics Department does not make Graduate Teaching Assistantships available to students in the Certificate in Actuarial Sciences program. Other part-time job opportunities not originating with the Mathematics Department are brought to our attention from time to time. Information on such positions will be posted under News for Graduate Students. I am an international student. Is there anything special I should know?International students who wish to apply to a Certificate program are subject to certain policies. For example, they are subject to application deadlines imposed by the College of Arts and Sciences, they must take the TOEFL exam. Students no longer need to supply their own International Transcript Evaluation. This is now done by CAS. Information on deadlines and required TOEFL scores can be found on this form. Students may obtain more information from the Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS). Are graduate courses offered at night?All graduate courses are held at night, starting at 4:30pm or later. Are graduate courses offered in the summer?The only graduate course that regularly runs in the summer is Math 554 (Mathematics of Compound Interest). It should be noted that this course is a requirement for the Certificate in Actuarial Sciences. The student who wishes to complete the Certificate Program as efficiently as possible should take this course during the summer, as it is a prerequisite for Math 555 and 556 (Actuarial Mathematics I, II). How can I find out when a particular graduate course will be offered?The graduate course frequency chart indicates when all courses numbered 500 and above are typically offered. Also on this page is a listing of the graduate course offerings for the past several years. The student should understand that this is a planning document and not a guarantee that these courses will be offered in the semester indicated. Is an undergraduate allowed to take graduate courses?Qualified undergraduates may take graduate courses. Details and links to the necessary forms can be found at the CAS Policies for Graduate Students webpage. I intend to graduate this semester. What do I do?Everything you need to know and do, together with all relevant deadlines, can be found here. How can I get more information?The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) maintains a very informative website. Click here for the CAS Policies for Graduate Students webpage.
GMU | Mathematics | Contact Us Last Modified: Thu, 10 Jul 2003 14:26:57 GMT |