Actuarial Science (BS)

Learn to solve problems involving risk

Actuaries analyze the financial consequences of risk and uncertainty. As an actuarial science major at DePaul, you will learn to interpret statistics to determine probabilities of accidents, sickness, death and the loss of property from theft and natural disasters.

Actuarial science students draw upon mathematics, statistics and financial theory to learn to do the following:

  • Apply the laws of probability and statistics to problems
  • Understand the theory of interest and its applications to the pricing of securities
  • Calculate the financial costs and benefits of insurance for various individuals
  • Design, implement and monitor life contingency models
  • Describe risk management frameworks and identify how specific risks can be quantified
  • Study uncertain future events, concerning risk management and insurance

Classes

Coursework

  • Actuarial Science
  • Applied Regression Analysis
  • Mathematical Finance
  • Multivariable Calculus
  • Principles of Risk and Insurance
  • Probability and Statistics
  • Risk Management

Resources

Career Options

Common Career Areas

  • Actuary
  • Assessor
  • Education
  • Cost estimator
  • Credit analyst
  • Insurance underwriter

More career info

93%

of Actuarial Science graduates were employed, continuing their education or not seeking employment after graduation.

Major Requirements

We offer courses that will help you prepare for the actuarial exams offered by the Society of Actuaries and the Casualty Actuarial Society.  These courses include Probability and Statistics I & II (P Exam), Theory of Interest (FM Exam), Mathematics for Finance (IFM Exam), Loss Models I & II (STAM Exam), Life Contingencies I & II (LTAM Exam), and Applied Regression Analysis and Applied Time Series & Forecasting (SRM Exam).  We also offer courses that will allow you to satisfy other requirements in the actuarial credentialing process.

Students are advised to talk with their advisor before double majoring, because some major combinations are prohibited. No more than 50% of the credits that apply to one major may be drawn from another major.

Major Requirements

Course Requirements

Course Title Quarter Hours
Core Courses  
Select one of the following Calculus sequences:  

Sequence One

 

MAT 150

CALCULUS I  

MAT 151

CALCULUS II  

MAT 152

CALCULUS III  

Sequence Two

 

MAT 147

CALCULUS WITH INTEGRATED PRECALCULUS I  

MAT 148

CALCULUS WITH INTEGRATED PRECALCULUS II  

MAT 149

CALCULUS WITH INTEGRATED PRECALCULUS III  

Sequence Three 1

 

MAT 155

SUMMER CALCULUS I  

MAT 156

SUMMER CALCULUS II  
ACC 101 INTRODUCTION TO ACCOUNTING I 4
ACC 102 INTRODUCTION TO ACCOUNTING II 4
BLW 201 LEGAL & ETHICAL ASPECTS IN THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT 4
ECO 105 PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS 4
ECO 106 PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS 4
MAT 260 MULTIVARIABLE CALCULUS I 4
MAT 262 LINEAR ALGEBRA 4
MAT 351 PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS I 4
MAT 352 PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS II (Covers topics relevant to the P Exam) 4
MAT 353 PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS III 4
MAT 361 THEORY OF INTEREST 4
MAT 368 MATHEMATICS FOR FINANCE 4
or MAT 369 ACTUARIAL SCIENCE SEMINAR
FIN 251 CAREER MANAGEMENT IN ACTUARIAL SCIENCE 0
FIN 310 INTRODUCTION TO FINANCE 4
FIN 365 PRINCIPLES OF RISK & INSURANCE 4
ICS 392 SENIOR SEMINAR (Liberal Studies Program Capstone) 4
Data Analysis Requirements  
CSC 241 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE I 4
MAT 341 STATISTICAL METHODS USING SAS 4
?Actuarial Mathematics Major Electives  
Select one of the following two-course sequences: 8

MAT 362
& MAT 363

LIFE CONTINGENCIES I
and LIFE CONTINGENCIES II
 

MAT 362
& MAT 364

LIFE CONTINGENCIES I
and LOSS MODELS I
 

MAT 364
& MAT 365

LOSS MODELS I
and LOSS MODELS II
 
Actuarial Statistics Major Electives  
Select three of the following: 12

MAT 350

BAYESIAN STATISTICS  

MAT 355

STOCHASTIC PROCESSES  

MAT 356

APPLIED REGRESSION ANALYSIS  

MAT 358

APPLIED TIME SERIES AND FORECASTING  

MAT 359

SIMULATION MODELS AND MONTE CARLO METHOD  

MAT 360

GENERALIZED LINEAR MODELS  

DSC 323

DATA ANALYSIS AND REGRESSION  

DSC 324

ADVANCED DATA ANALYSIS  

DSC 341

FOUNDATIONS OF DATA SCIENCE  
   
1

This Calculus sequence is offered only during the summer, in two 6-credit hour courses. Students successfully completing MAT 131, MAT 147, MAT 150 or MAT 160 should enroll in MAT 155; students who successfully complete MAT 148, MAT 151 or MAT 161 should enroll in MAT 156. Students who successfully complete MAT 155 may enroll in either MAT 151 or MAT 156.

Open Electives

Open elective credit also is required to meet the minimum graduation requirement of 192 hours. 

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