When it comes to these actuarial science students’ futures, they’re not taking any risks — they’re analyzing them.

Oglethorpe student Isabelle Saunders ’24 and recent graduates Chris Feeney ’24 and Elli Malancea ’24 recently discussed how Oglethorpe’s new actuarial science program equipped them with the skills to secure practical careers that utilize their math skills after graduation. Professor of Mathematics Dr. John C. Nardo, who spearheaded the launch of the new program, offered perspectives on career prospects in the field.

“In the actuarial science program, it’s not only sitting down, grinding out math and doing tests,” says Saunders, “We also have a lot of presentations — for me, that was a big help, because public speaking is not my strongest trait. But, with Dr. Nardo guiding me along, I feel like I have really grown to be able to go to a business and present my findings to its clients.”

Launched in Fall 2022, the actuarial science program — a track within the mathematics major — explores math beyond theory, applying it to assess risk and help companies make informed business decisions. Combined with a foundational education in problem-solving and global thinking through Oglethorpe’s signature Core curriculum, the actuarial science major has helped students level-up their reasoning skills and apply statistics to real-world scenarios.

While most actuarial science programs prepare students for up to two national actuarial exams — which, when passed, expand career options and salary range — Oglethorpe’s actuarial science program prepares students to take up to seven. And new grads will have plenty of career options to choose from: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a 20% increase in actuarial science jobs by 2028.

“Not only does the program have a cutting-edge curriculum that matches the needs of the national actuarial job market,” says Dr. Nardo, “but also gives students a chance to develop inter-personally. They get chances to work with written communication, oral communication, computing, ethics… a vast experience in different disciplines besides mathematics, which is the foundation.”