Actuarial Studies at The University of Texas at Austin
The actuarial studies program at The University of Texas at Austin has a long and distinguished history of producing well-prepared students, many of whom have become leaders of the actuarial profession. In the Society of Actuaries classification of North American actuarial programs, ours qualifies as one of only about 70 advanced undergraduate programs and as one of about 30 graduate education or graduate education and research programs - thus providing a thorough preparation for entering an actuarial career. While there is far more information about the actuarial program available on this website than in print, you can download a pdf file for printing. News and information on the actuarial program is published each spring semester in the Risky Business newsletter.
Majors
While there are special actuarial options within the undergraduate and graduate mathematics degrees, actuarial studies is also available as an informal concentration rather than an independent major and is therefore open to students in any major.
Besides calculus, linear algebra, probability and statistics, four actuarial courses plus two actuarial foundations courses anchor the actuarial program; students completing these courses and passing at least one exam can compete for actuarial jobs.
Because the program requires so much mathematics, many students choose to pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree in mathematics. Alternatively, students can take these courses as electives and major in any other area. Many business students have a major in the business school, but still pursue a concentration in actuarial studies.
Actuarial employers have hired students from the actuarial program that majored in such diverse fields as computer science, psychology, electrical engineering, German, botany, music, physics and art history.
Students should seek advice from the undergraduate or graduate advisor of any field in which they are considering majoring as well as from Dr. Maxwell or Dr. Vaaler. Regardless of major, students must meet the requirements of that major in addition to the recommendations for the actuarial concentration.
Students
Our program boasts 200 total students, graduating about 45 annually. The vast majority of our students are either seeking a B.S. in Mathematics (actuarial option) or are in the Red McCombs School of Business with a concentration in actuarial studies.
A few students already hold an undergraduate degree in some area and are not seeking a second degree; rather they enroll at UT Austin and enter the program in order to take the classes they need to prepare for some actuarial exams (P/1, FM/2 and perhaps some VEE coursework) and compete well for entry-level actuarial jobs.
Our program typically admits four to eight actuarial option MA students annually. Our graduate students study all the material for the five preliminary examinations as well as graduate level mathematics or finance courses.
Actuarial Program Advisors and Teaching Faculty
Mark Maxwell, PhD, ASAClinical Professor of Mathematics
Paul V. Montgomery Fellow
Actuarial Studies Program Director
Editor of the Education and Research section of Expanding Horizons, the newsletter of the Society of Actuaries, spring edition
Principal author of Probability and Statistics with Applications: A Problem Solving Text (approved for Exam P/I)
maxwell@math.utexas.edu
RLM 11.168
512-471-7169
Leslie Vaaler, PhD
Senior Lecturer
Buck Consultants Associate Director of Actuarial Studies
Principal author of Mathematical Interest Theory (approved for Exam FM/2)
As the Buck Consultants Associate Director, Dr. Vaaler advises actuarial students and administers our scholarship program
lvaaler@math.utexas.edu
RLM 12.142
512-471-6948
Milica Cudina, PhD
Lecturer
Teaches a variety of actuarial courses each semester
mcudina@math.utexas.edu
RLM 13.142
512-232-6186
Shinko Harper, PhD
Lecturer
Teaches ACF 329
shinko@math.utexas.edu
RLM 13.160
512-232-6194
Gustavo Cepparo, MS
Lecturer
Teaches M 349R each spring
gcepparo@math.utexas.edu
RLM 13.148
512-232-6189
See Dr. Maxwell or Dr. Vaaler for general advice about the actuarial program or profession.
Academic Advisors in the Mathematics, Physics & Astronomy Advising Center
Susan Brown Academic Advising Coordinator
susan.brown@cns.utexas.edu
Ronda Hall
Acadmic Advisor
rondahall@mail.utexas.edu
The Advising Center is located in RLM 4.101 (512-471-0900). They provide advice on course selection, degree requirements, adding/dropping courses, ALEKS placement exams, orientation and university policy and procedures.
Career Services in the College of Natural Sciences
Laura Mondino, MASenior Career Advisor
mondino@mail.utexas.edu
Suzette Ruedas
Recruiting Coordinator
recruit@cns.utexas.edu
Career Services is located in PAI 5.03 (512-471-6700). They help with resume writing, interviewing and job searching. They also provide the opportunity to apply and interview on campus for internships and full-time positions, as well as coordinate two CNS career fairs per year and several workshops on career-related topics. Appointments are available all year.
Actuarial Science Club at the University of Texas at Austin
Lindsay McDowell, President, president.utasc@gmail.comLauren Baker, Vice-President, vicepresident.utasc@gmail.com
Andrew Engel, Financial Director, financialdirector.utasc@gmail.com
Emily Kunkel, Administrative Director, admindirector.utasc@gmail.com
Serita Smith, Events Coordinator, eventscoordinator.utasc@gmail.com
The UTASC (mailbox in RLM 8.100) provides support with P/1 and FM/2 exam preparation seminars and mock exams & organizes professional guest speakers and social events for students interested in actuarial science.