Declare Your Major

When to Declare

  • Students can formally declare the major after completing all of the following:
    • The entire calculus sequence (Math 231, 232, and 233) with a minimum 2.5 grade point average
    • Either Math 234 or 240
    • Either ActSci 391 with a B- or better, or MthStat 361 with a B- or better, or Society of Actuaries Exam FM with a 4 or better, or Society of Actuaries Exam P with a 4 or better
  • You are welcome to make an advising appointment before becoming eligible to declare, so we may assist you in planning. See below for advising contact info. You can also indicate you would like to be marked as an intended major in Actuarial Science, An “intended major” is not an official declaration and you must still officially declare when you become eligible.

Process to Declare the Major

  • The first step to declare a major in Actuarial Science is to fill out and submit the Declaration of Major Form.
  • After submitting your request to declare a major, you must request an appointment with the undergraduate coordinator for Actuarial Science, Jessica Gartner.
  • At that appointment, the coordinator will be able to answer your preliminary questions about the major.
  • You, in turn, will be asked about your background, your current interests, and your long-range plans, so that we can help you create a fulfilling program appropriate to your interests and goals.
Declaration of Major form

Advising for Majors

Once you have declared your major, you will have access to two different advisors:

  • Your L&S college advisor, who will help you with your overall degree requirements;
  • Your major advisor in Actuarial Science will answer any questions that come up regarding technical aspects of the major (e.g., which courses satisfy which requirements), will help you plan a coherent array of courses within the major, and will generally act as a mentor to you.

You should plan to meet with your advisors once a semester, before registering for classes, to talk over your progress in the major and your plans for future classes.

A good sequence for majors to follow in planning each semester’s course array would be:

  • First see what courses you need to fulfill specific requirements and which of those are being offered in the upcoming semester.
  • Then, go to the online schedule and check what courses will be offered. The course descriptions should help you to refine your choices.
  • Next, talk over those choices with your major advisor to get his/her feedback and/or attend the Mathematical Sciences department “Open Advising” event, which happens right before registration for classes begins for each semester.

Remember to do all this early enough so as not to be closed out of any courses you may want or need.