What is Actuarial Science?

Actuarial science is quantification of risk – actuaries use tools from statistics, economics and finance to measure and quantify risk. Actuaries are in demand because they are experts in assessing and managing risk.  The actuarial curriculum at Illinois will prepare you for a rewarding career in the financial services industry or a related field.

The Actuarial Science Program at Illinois, housed in the Department of Mathematics, curriculum reflects the interdisciplinary nature of actuarial science, allowing students to receive not only essential actuarial training, but also to take a variety of courses in mathematics, statistics, economics, finance and computer science. Read our Actuarial Science Program brochure.

Tradition and Strengths

The Department of Mathematics at Illinois has a rich history of being home to many world-renowned founding fathers of modern probability theory. The probability theory has given rise to revolutionizing development in finance and actuarial science. Built on such a strong tradition, the Illinois Actuarial Science Program is uniquely positioned to offer rigorous training on probability modeling.

Our program also works closely with the Department of Statistics to offer training on statistics and data analytics. It is one of very few actuarial programs in the world that provides comprehensive training on both casualty actuarial science, which has been traditionally statistics focused, and life insurance mathematics, which concentrates on probabilistic applications.

We are a founding member of the Annual Midwest Actuarial Student Conference (MASC), which provides opportunities to actuarial students for networking with peers and employers. The program also has close ties with both the SOA and the Casualty Actuarial Society, many insurance companies and consulting firms. Many students find internships at the University of Illinois Research Park. Our faculty members have been awarded many research and educational grants from international actuarial organizations such the SOA and the Actuarial Foundation.

Click to read a brief history of the Actuarial Science Program at Illinois.