Professional Science
Gain mathematical and statistical skills to manage risks and excel in insurance and finance.
Professional Science, Actuarial Science Concentration, M.S.
Actuarial science is a special discipline for training students to apply mathematical skills and statistical techniques to study uncertain future events, especially those of concern to insurance and pension programs.
The Actuarial Science concentration in the Master of Science in Professional Science degree offers preparation, basic knowledge, and professional skills to work as an actuary and to pass actuarial professional examinations. The program offers training so that students can make practical use of probability theory and statistical analysis for managing risks and solving practical problems.
An internship takes the place of writing a thesis.
Actuaries may work for insurance companies, consulting firms, government, employee benefits departments of large corporations, hospitals, banks, and investment firms, or, more generally, in businesses that need to manage financial risk. A career as an actuary is better described as a "business" career with a mathematical basis rather than as a "technical" mathematical career. The occupation of an actuary has been ranked for many years as one of the best jobs based on a variety of factors.
The Actuarial Science program at MTSU is nationally and internationally recognized as one of the best in the southeastern region of the USA. The program won the 2020 University Award from the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) and has been listed as a UCAP advanced program by the Society of Actuaries (SOA).
If you live in one of these states: AL; you may be able to attend MTSU at in-state rates under the Academic Common Market program.
News Briefs
Major organization recognizes MTSU as ‘Center of Actuarial Excellence’
Middle Tennessee State University mathematical sciences professor Don Hong has been waiting years for this news: MTSU recognized as a Society of Actuaries Center of Actuarial Excellence.[ Read More ]
March ‘Out of the Blue’ features Actuarial Science, Grammys recap, True Blue Core launch [WATCH]
MTSU celebrates the midpoint of this spring semester with the March 2024 edition of “Out of the Blue,” the television magazine for Middle Tennessee State University. Viewers will be treated with a preview the burgeoning Actuarial Science program, a look back at the university’s wildly successful trip back to the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles [ Read More ]
News Briefs
Major organization recognizes MTSU as ‘Center of Actuarial Excellence’
Middle Tennessee State University mathematical sciences professor Don Hong has been waiting years for this news: MTSU recognized as a Society of Actuaries Center of Actuarial Excellence.[ Read More ]
March ‘Out of the Blue’ features Actuarial Science, Grammys recap, True Blue Core launch [WATCH]
MTSU celebrates the midpoint of this spring semester with the March 2024 edition of “Out of the Blue,” the television magazine for Middle Tennessee State University. Viewers will be treated with a preview the burgeoning Actuarial Science program, a look back at the university’s wildly successful trip back to the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles [ Read More ]
Professional Science, Actuarial Science Concentration, M.S.
An actuary can assess and manage the risks of financial investments, insurance policies, and other potentially risky ventures. Actuaries use data to help predict future outcomes with good analytical skills. They help organizations evaluate risk, and plan and protect from financial loss. It's a crucial role in the psychological, physical, and financial stability of society. From impacting social policies to tracking climate change, to helping businesses grow, actuaries play a major role in everyone’s peace of mind.
With a median salary of more than $100,000, the profession has a strong employment outlook and projected job growth, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A master's degree from MTSU in Professional Science with a concentration in Actuarial Sciences can lead to opportunities for becoming an actuary, a career that is well paying and in high demand. Graduates are well positioned to fill the growing need for individuals with this highly specialized training in the financial services and consulting industries in addition to the traditional insurance and health care industries.Examples of potential positions include
- Actuarial analyst
- Actuarial auditing
- Annuity pricing actuary
- Chief actuary and vice president
- Consulting actuary
- Data analyst
- Financial actuary
- General liability actuary
- Health actuary
- Investment researcher
- Investment valuation
- Life reinsurance pricing
- Life valuation
- Model validation financial actuary
- Mortality valuation
- Product actuary
- Risk and hedging
- Risk management
- Specialty pricing actuary
- Underwriting
Employers of MTSU alumni include
- Acuff & Associates
- Aetna
- Alfa Insurance
- American General Life and Accident Insurance Co.
- Bank of China
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee
- BPS&M — Wells Fargo Commercial, Brentwood
- Caterpillar Finance
- China Actuarial Society
- China PingAn Insurance
- Cigna
- Consumers Insurance
- Direct General Group of Companies
- Farm Bureau Insurance
- Farmers Insurance
- First Acceptance Insurance
- Genworth Financial
- Humana Inc., Kentucky
- Humana Inc., Texas
- Lincoln Financial Group
- Nationwide Insurance
- Select Actuarial Services
- Sigma Actuarial Consulting Group, Inc.
- State Farm Insurance
- Tower and Watson, Memphis
- Tower and Watson, Atlanta
- Travelers Insurance
- Willis North America Inc.
- Zurich Insurance
MTSU’s Career Development Center
MTSU offers a comprehensive Career Development Center that serves students throughout the full student experience and beyond. They collaborate with faculty and staff to equip students with the tools to be marketable to the world of work and continuing education.
Students can schedule an appointment or check online resources and job boards at mtsu.edu/career.
Students can find current internship opportunities by talking to faculty and visiting the University job and internship board called Handshake.
Wondering what you can do with your major? Check out our What Can I Do with A Major In guides.
- Actuarial Exam Information (including instructions to candidates and study notes information)
- Forms
- MTSU College of Business
- MTSU Department of Mathematical Sciences
- ScienceMasters.com (PSM National)
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