Major Highlight: Actuarial Mathematics

Jon Abraham, Coordinator of Actuarial Math at WPI

Actuaries are business professionals who analyze the financial consequences of risk. Actuaries use mathematics, statistics, and financial theory to study uncertain future events, especially those of concern to insurance and pension programs. They evaluate the likelihood of those events, design creative ways to reduce the likelihood, and decrease the impact of adverse events that actually do occur.

Actuaries are certified in North America by two main credentialing bodies. They must take a series of rigorous examinations and meet other qualification standards as well. It is typical for actuaries to take five to seven years after college to become fully credentialed.

WPI’s Actuarial Mathematics program helps prepare students to become actuaries. We offer a full array of courses to cover the preliminary examinations and help students get off to great starts in their actuarial careers. Our graduates work for life insurers, health insurers, auto and homeowner insurers, consulting firms, banks, and other organizations. Actuaries are an important part of the management team of the companies that employ them. Their work requires a combination of strong analytical skill, business knowledge, and understanding of human behavior, combined with a passion for problem solving. These skills are transferable to many other careers, and actuaries frequently branch out into non-traditional roles.

On Wednesday, September 14, the Actuarial Mathematics Department will host an Actuarial Networking Night for all current actuarial students and alumni to meet and mingle with employers. If your company is interested in attending, contact the Actuarial Program coordinator, Jon Abraham, at jabraham@wpi.edu.

Finally, if your company is interested in actuarial talent from WPI, please consider exploring the capabilities of our students and faculty. Ask the WPI Career Development Center staff how you can connect with and recruit talented individuals for your organization.