Actuarial Science
Contact Information
Smeal College of Business
The Pennsylvania State University
355 Business Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-865-4172
Email: rm@smeal.psu.edu
On the Web: https://www.smeal.psu.edu/risk-management
Actuarial Science pre-recorded presentation
Career Overview
Actuarial Science has been rated as the No. 1 career path in the nation by The Wall Street Journal. The Actuarial Science major at Smeal prepares students for careers in insurance, consulting, finance, and government agencies that demand quantitative and qualitative skills. This major is also a STEM Designated Degree Program.
Actuaries are vital to the insurance industry, calculating the costs of life or health insurance, or how much an insurance company can expect to pay in claims due to natural disasters, car accidents, and other situations.
Employment Prospects
Smeal Actuarial Science students are highly sought by industry and government for internships and full-time jobs. Due to the size of the Smeal Actuarial Science program, Penn State hosts one of the largest actuarial career fairs in the country with more than 30 companies visiting campus each year.
Major Overview
The Actuarial Science major provides background in the wide range of knowledge needed to be an actuary including calculus, probability and statistics, financial and actuarial mathematics, economics, finance, risk management, pensions, and insurance. Math is a critical part of this major.
Smeal offers the courses needed to satisfy the professional Verification by Educational Experience (VEE) requirements and courses designed to help you pass five of the preliminary professional examinations in the Society of Actuaries (SOA) or Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS), which one needs to be an actuary. Employers often provide support to help students pass the remaining exams after graduation.
Preparing to Enroll in the Major
Enrollment in the Actuarial Science (ACTSC_BS) major is contingent upon several criteria, which include the timing and completion of a specified range of cumulative credits at Penn State. Students apply for the major once they have earned a minimum of 36 but no more than 59 cumulative credits. These credits include required business foundation and related courses. In addition to the course and credit window requirements, students must attain an overall competitive GPA in all courses.
Fast Facts
- Actuary has consistently been rated near the top of The Wall Street Journal’s best jobs.
- The average starting salary for Penn State actuarial science majors is $77,325, while the average across all Smeal majors is $63,668.
- Recruiters prefer Smeal more than any other school according to a Wall Street Journal survey.
- Some Penn State students pass as many as five actuarial exams before graduation.
- Penn State is designated as a “Center of Actuarial Excellence” by the Society of Actuaries.
- Courses taken by our students include Probability Theory (P Exam), Financial Mathematics (FM Exam), Actuarial Mathematics (FAM Exam), and Statistics for Risk Modeling (SRM Exam).
Actuarial Science Major Requirements
A grade of C or higher is required in all major courses.
Prescribed ACTSC Courses (27 credits)
MATH 141 (4): Calculus with Analytic Geometry II
MATH 231 (2): Calculus of Several Variables
MATH (STAT) 414 (3): Introduction to Probability Theory
RM 320W (3): Risk Management and Insurance
RM 410 (3): Financial Mathematics for Actuaries
RM 411 (3): Actuarial Mathematics I (fall)
RM 421 (3): Short Term Actuarial Mathematics- Fundamentals (spring)
RM 430 (3): Life and Health Insurance (fall)
ACTSC Electives (6 credits) select one course from each category:
Category One:
RM 412 (3): Actuarial Mathematics II (spring)
RM 422 (3): Short Term Actuarial Mathematics-Adv. Topics
Category Two:
STAT 380 (3): Data Science Through Statistical Reasoning and Computation (spring)
STAT 462 (3): Applied Regression Analysis
STAT 483 (3): Statistical Programming in SAS (fall)
Employment Statistics
| Averages | Amounts |
|---|---|
| Starting Salary | $77,325 |
| Signing Bonus | $7,389 |
| Internship Wage | $24.63/hour |
Employment By Industry
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Financial Services | 65% |
| Consulting Services | 24% |
| Pharma/Biotec/Health | 3% |
| Other | 8% |
Top Full-Time Companies
- AON Hewitt
- Deloitte
- Prudential
- Highmark
- Willis Towers Watson
Top Internship Companies
- Cigna
- Highmark
- Prudential
- Aetna/CVS Health
- Transamerica
Faculty Advisors
Mandy Hammell, FSA
Professor of Practice
Email: ajw102@psu.edu
Phone: 814-865-4153
Zhongyi Yuan, ASA
Associate Professor
Email: zuy11@psu.edu
Phone: 814-865-6211
Nan Zhu, FSA
Assistant Professor
Email: nxz24@psu.edu
Phone: 814-863-8666