Courses: Required classes for a Major in Mathematics with an Actuarial Specialization

I. Lower Division:

• {MATH 1271 + 1272 + 2243 + 2263} or
  {MATH 1371 + 1372 + 2373 + 2374}
• MATH 3283W or
  (MATH 2283 supplemented by an upper division writing intensive class in the major)
• CSE students take 2 physics classes PHYS 1301W + PHYS 1302W.
• CSE and CLA students are required to take a computer programming course: CSCI 1103 or CSCI 1113 (the latter, C/C++ is recommended).

II. Upper Division Math:

• Algebra:
  • MATH 4242,
  • MATH Column X Algebra course (like MATH 5248, MATH 4281)
• Analysis:
  • MATH 5651
  • MATH 5652
• Actuarial:
  • MATH 4065
    (may be taken before "Multivariable Calculus" OR/AND "Sequences & Series")
  • MATH 5067 (Fall)
    (MATH 4065 and MATH 5651 are prerequisites for MATH 5067/5068)
  • MATH 5068 (Spring)
• CSE students: one upper division Math course such as:
  • MATH 5075 (Fall), MATH 5076 (Spring) - the latter is not required but recommended
  • MATH 4428 (Spring),
  • MATH 5485 (Fall), MATH 5486 (Spring) - the latter is not required
• CLA students: MATH 4997W

III. VEE Classes:

VEE credits are granted by the Actuarial Societies ONLY if the required courses are passed with a grade of "B-" or higher. VEE stands for "Validation by Educational Experience" - As part of the Professional Actuarial track, in addition to topics that are tested on the Actuarial Exams, there are topics that have to be studied by taking courses that are VEE approved.

• VEE Economics: ECON 1101 + 1102 or ECON 3101 + 3102
• VEE Corporate finance: FINA 3001 + 4221 prerequisites: ACCT 2050
• VEE Applied Statistical Methods: ECON 4261 prerequisites: ECON 3101 MATH 5651 MATH 4242

IV. Insurance classes

Choose two out of four from

• INS 4100 Corporate Risk Management
• INS 4101 Employee Benefits
• INS 4200 Insurance Theory and Practice
• INS 4201 Personal Financial Management

V. Math 4067W Actuarial Mathematics in Practice

In this unique course students learn to integrate knowledge and skills from various disciplines and apply them to solve real world problems from various actuarial segments. This Writing Intensive course consists of three five-week modules led by practicing actuaries. The course's setting mimics a business environment, where students learn a variety of problem solving techniques for uncertain scenarios, are presented with problems and are asked to make decisions or recommendations based on a series of assumptions. Students also learn to enhance their communication and interpersonal/teamwork skills by working in teams and presenting their results to the practitioner actuaries leading the modules as well as to other students who participate in the course.

This course satisifies the upper-division writing intensive requirement, but not the upper-division math requirement.

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Sample Schedule for CSE Mathematics Major with Actuarial Specialization

(CLA students substitute the two physics courses with four semesters of a foreign language, and MATH 4997W instead of MATH 5075 & 5076)

Year\Term	Fall	Spring	Summer
Freshmen	MATH 1271 or 1371 [4] PHYS 1301W [4] ECON 1101	MATH 1272 or 1372 [4] PHYS 1302W [4] CSCI 1113 or 1103 [4] ECON 1102
Sophomore	MATH 2243 or 2373 [4] MATH 4065 [4] ACCT 2050 CSCI 1103, or 1113	MATH 2263 or 2374 [4] MATH 3832W [4] FINA 3001 Option 1 : INS I + II or Option 2 : only INS I	Study for Exam FM Take Exam FM Internship / Involvement / Activity
Junior	MATH 5651 MATH 4242 FINA 4221 Option 2 : INS II	MATH 5652 MATH Column X Algebra MATH 4067W ECON 3101	Study for Exam P Take Exam P Actuarial Internship
Senior	MATH 5067 MATH 5075 ECON 4261	MATH 5068 MATH 5076 MATH 4997W (CLA)	Study for Exam MLC Take Exam MLC

 

 

A selection of books used in actuarial courses.

 

 

Course : Relevant Actuarial Exam
Math 4065 : Exam FM
Math 5651 : Exam P
Math 5067/8 : Exam MLC
Math 5075/6 : Exam MFE

Address: 127 Vincent Hall, 206 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455     Phone: 612-625-2004     Contact the School of Math