Actuarial Studies & Quantitative Finance Program, Certificate

Degrees Offered:

  • Certificate*

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* = Certificates are not technically a degree, but can be pursued to supplement a bachelor's degree

The Actuarial Studies Track

Actuaries are the chief professionals in the insurance industry: there are 20,000 nationwide working on insurance and pension plans for industry and government. Their job is to measure risks associated with events and the magnitude (costs) of those risks. Actuaries do this using high level mathematics, probability, and statistics. In order to earn the designation of "actuary," you must pass a series of actuarial exams. Consequently, the supply of actuaries is limited.

Actuaries are highly respected and highly compensated: the job of "actuary" is annually rated among the best jobs in America in The Jobs Rated Almanac.

The Actuarial Studies Track is designed to help students obtain the mathematical, economical, and financial expertise necessary to become actuaries. Students are required to enroll and excel in the courses that will prepare them for the series of actuarial exams. Because of the nature of the actuarial profession and the actuarial exams, our program is extremely challenging, focusing on an extensive applied mathematics education.

Students who are contemplating joining the program should have both a strong interest and an exceptional talent in mathematics.

The Quantitative Finance Track

The Quantitative Finance is designed to provide candidates with a strong analytical grounding for application in the business environment, particularly in the finance function. Recruiters have consistently listed strong analytical skills highly on their list of desired characteristics in job candidates, even more so when recruiting to fill highly competitive complex financial analysis positions including the following:

  • Financial consulting
  • Pension consulting
  • Investment management research
  • Portfolio management
  • Corporate treasury functions
  • Institutional securities sales & trading
  • Investment Banking

Our program combines a rigorous finance and accounting education with an equally demanding education in mathematics and economics. The confluence of these skills is in high demand in the finance world.

Due to the scarcity of competitive programs nationally which combine rigorous training in quantitative methods and extensive financial training, our students that successfully complete the program encounter strong job demand in areas of direct interest. In addition, the Quantitative Finance curriculum provides a strong foundation for students interested in additional academic training in the future.

The Actuarial Studies and Quantitative Finance Certificate Program is an undergraduate certificate program housed in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Leeds School of Business, designed to provide the foundation for a lifetime of analytical problem solving. The Program appeals to accomplished students who enjoy solving analytic problems as applied in their career of choice. Students with these skills and interests are in high demand in the business world which becomes more analytical and mathematical every year. In addition, successful candidates will be well-prepared for further study at the graduate level. The program offers two tracks:

  • Actuarial Studies Track
  • Quantitative Finance Track

The two tracks differ only in application. Although similar, each curriculum is tailored to the area of application.

Curricula are rigorous and multi-disciplinary, with required coursework drawing from the Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, and the Economics Department, as well as the Finance Division of the Leeds School of Business. The confluence of such widely varying material is one of the unique features of the program. Successful completion of the Program requirements is a significant accomplishment.

The Program is not a major and is open to students majoring in any subject. However, the program has extensive course requirements which mesh most closely with students majoring in Business (finance emphasis), Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, and Economics.

Actuarial Track

Actuaries are the chief professionals in the insurance industry: they work on insurance and pension plans for industry and government. They work both for firms offering fixed insurance and pension plans and as industry consultants.

The Quantitative Finance Track

Graduates of the Quantitative Finance Track work in complex financial analysis positions including the following:

  • Financial consulting
  • Pension consulting
  • Investment management research
  • Portfolio management
  • Corporate treasury functions
  • Institutional securities sales & trading
  • Investment Banking
 

The courses listed below are the minimum required in order to complete the Actuarial Studies track of our program. You must score a "C-" or better in all courses.

Required Mathematics Courses

  • MATH 1300/ APPM 1350    Calculus 1
  • MATH 2300/ APPM 1360    Calculus 2
  • MATH 2400/ APPM 2350    Calculus 3
  • MATH 3130/ APPM 3310    Linear Algebra
  • MATH 4510/ APPM 3570    Probability
  • MATH 4520/ APPM 4520    Mathematical Statistics
  • MATH 4540 / APPM 4540    Intro to Time Series

Required Economics Courses

  • ECON 3070    Intermediate Micro
  • ECON 3080    Intermediate Macro
  • ECON 4070    Topics in Microeconomics

Required Finance/Accounting Courses

  • BCOR 2000    Intro to Accounting
  • BCOR 2200    Intro Finance
  • FNCE 3010    Corporate Finance

The Quantitative Finance Track

Below is a list of the minimum coursework required to obtain the Quantitative Finance Certificate. Please note that students must pass Calculus I, II, and III with a "B" grade or better in order to be admitted into the program. Students are encouraged to go beyond the minimum requirements, and most students do.

Required Mathematics Courses

  • MATH 1300/ APPM 1350    Calculus 1
  • MATH 2300/ APPM 1360    Calculus 2
  • MATH 2400/ APPM 2350    Calculus 3
  • MATH 3130/ APPM 3310    Linear Algebra
  • MATH 4510/ APPM 3570    Probability
  • MATH 4520/ APPM 4520    Statistics

Required Economics Courses

  • ECON 2010    Intro Micro
  • ECON 2020    Intro Macro
  • ECON 3070    Intermediate Micro
  • ECON 4818    Econometrics

Required Finance/Accounting Courses

  • BCOR 2000    Intro to Accounting
  • BCOR 2200    Intro Finance
  • FNCE 3010    Corporate Finance
  • FNCE 4030    Investments & Portfolio Mgmt.
  • FNCE 4040    Derivative Securities
  • FNCE 4820    Mathematical Finance
  • ACCT 3220    Corporate Reporting 1
  • One Programming Course