Apply Now 4-Year Plans Future Undergraduates
Studying Actuarial Science at Nebraska
Meet the program’s director, Sue Vagts, and learn why she’s excited to help you become an actuarial science professional.
1 of 37 universities in the world designated as a Center of Actuarial Excellence by the Society of Actuaries
Prepare for two professional actuarial designations’ requirements set by the Society of Actuaries and Casualty Actuarial Society
Strong community-based program with high student engagement and free tutoring
Do Research Alongside Faculty
Serve as an Ameritas Student Researcher where you’ll explore research topics in actuarial science, insurance and risk management.
Compete and Gain Experience
Compete with a team of your peers in the annual Actuarial Science Case Competition.
Serve as a Paid Tutor
Help other students succeed in their actuarial science coursework as a tutor. Tutoring is free to students.
Help with a Worldwide Research Ranking
Work with faculty to maintain Nebraska’s global actuarial science research ranking.
Study at the Oldest University in the English-Speaking World
Spend four weeks studying economics and/or Shakespearean literature at the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. The most popular study abroad program at Nebraska, as it provides opportunities to discover history, enjoy theater, have high tea, play rounders and experience the horse races at Sandown Park.
Learn Business in Northern Italy
Spend a summer or semester at CIMBA International University in Paderno del Grappa, Italy. Choose from a number of business classes while learning more about Italian language and culture.
See All Business Abroad Opportunities
Two of the 25+ business related student organization focus on actuarial science. These clubs provide a great opportunity to grow as a leader, gain experience and make meaningful connections.
Actuarial Science Club
Provides students with better understanding of the actuarial profession and careers. Assists students in preparing for the professional actuarial examinations and fosters close relationships among students in the common pursuit of an actuarial career.
Gamma Iota Sigma
Promotes, encourages and sustains student interest in insurance, risk management and actuarial science as professions.
Internships
Careers
Graduate Schools
Professional Exams and Vee Topics Exam Award Program
You can take this major as a student in the College of Business (CoB) or the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS). Learn more how to choose what’s best for you. Explore the curriculum through each college’s 4-year plan for the actuarial science major. To earn your bachelor’s degree in actuarial science, you’ll take 120 credit hours of classes. That’s four to five classes a semester, on average.
Interest Theory (ACTS 440)
Learn about interest rates and the applications of time value of money in business, investments and personal finance. This is the first actuarial science course you’ll take, and it provides the financial background necessary for all future finance and actuarial science courses.
Principles of Individual and Corporate Risk Management (FINA 338)
Identify risk at the individual and corporate level and apply the process and tools for risk management. Examine different personal insurance policies and corporate risk management methods and their applications.
Life Contingencies I (ACTS 470)
Learn how to combine finance and statistics to value future cash flows that are contingent on the occurrence of specific events such as premature death, poor health, retirement or an auto accident.
Actuarial Applications of Applied Statistics (ACTS 430)
Work individually and in a group to apply forecasting methods to actuarial variables. Utilize the programming language R and other statistical tools to apply analytics in actuarial science.
Introduction to Property/Casualty Actuarial Science (ACTS 474)
Explore ratemaking and reserving of property and casualty insurance products. Apply concepts of risk theory, credibility, reinsurance and other special issues and applications.
Actuarial Applications in Practice (ACTS 475)
Connect theory from completed coursework to the real world by working on case studies with local employers from various practice areas while considering professionalism issues. Work hands-on with commercially available actuarial modeling software.
Most schools in the U.S. that are considered to have a complete undergraduate or master’s degree actuarial science program (e.g. Nebraska, Drake, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Illinois State, Georgia State) are very similar in academic content and the quality of the faculty and of the actuarial education. Differences include administrative location (business college, math department, statistics department, etc.), and emphases beyond the academic program. At Nebraska, our emphasis beyond academics is our connection to the actuarial profession through our programs. Students have the opportunity to engage with our advisory committee of actuaries, the student actuarial science club, summer internships, and problem labs that provide content review and practice to assist in preparing students for professional actuarial examinations.
The Actuarial Science Program is a part of the Department of Finance in the College of Business. However, all undergraduate courses are offered to majors or minors in both the College of Business (CoB) and the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS). One can pursue an actuarial career having majored or minored in actuarial science in either the CoB or CAS. Regardless of the college, the core background provided for an actuarial career is essentially the same. When choosing a college, you should think about what other interests you have, the general requirements of the college and the scholarships and financial aid available. Most students choose to study actuarial science through the College of Business. Through CoB, you’ll complete a calculus sequence (MATH 106-107-208, or 108H-109H or the equivalent) and a statistics and probability sequence (STAT 380-462-463 and CSCE 101 and 101L). In addition to Business Core Foundation courses business students take, 28 credit hours of coursework in actuarial science are required. You can also double count your finance courses toward a finance minor. Unlike the CoB requirements, students who pursue the major through CAS take 22 credit hours of required coursework in actuarial science and do not need to take Fundamentals of Computer Science and its lab (CSCE 101 and 101L). View the four-year plans or meet with an academic advisor to see which option is best for you. Actuarial Science (College of Business) 4-Year Plan Actuarial Science (College of Arts & Sciences) 4-Year Plan
We would love to talk to you one-on-one about your future opportunities in actuarial science. You can also explore the following websites for career information. Be an Actuary Casualty Actuarial Society Society of Actuaries
There are a number of scholarships available through the Actuarial Science Program and the College of Arts & Sciences and College of Business. Additionally, through the Mutual of Omaha Exam Award Program, you will be reimbursed for every professional exam you pass as a student. Learn more about these opportunities.
What does being a Society of Actuaries University-Earned Credit (UEC) program mean for students? Starting in Fall 2022, Nebraska's actuarial science majors can earn credit for select Society of Actuaries (SOA) exams by attaining required scores in their coursework. The opportunity stems from the university being selected as one of 13 universities in the world to participate in the new SOA University-Earned Credit (UEC) program. Specifically, the two professional exams you can earn credit for are Financial Mathematics and Statistics for Risk Modeling. Read the program announcement story
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