Actuarial Science Degree Florida State University

Florida State University is an elite public university which is located in Tallahassee, Florida. The university was founded in 1851 making it the oldest continuous site for university education in Florida. Kiplinger’s Personal Finance ranked Florida State University as the 9th “Best Value” public university in the United States. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report ranked Florida State University as 34th among the Top Public Universities of 2020.

Florida State University has an incredibly large student population, with more than 40,000 students attending the university. It is an amazingly affordable university with the tuition for a Florida resident being just $6,509 for the 2019 – 2020 academic year. On the other hand, tuition for a non-resident was over four times the resident tuition at $21,675 for the 2019 – 2020 academic year.

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS

The Department of Mathematics at Florida State University offers an undergraduate major in actuarial science. No additional minor is required as a minor in business is incorporated into the degree. The degree was the first actuarial science program in a state university in Florida.

Undergraduate Major in Actuarial Science

This degree program requires a minimum of 120 credit hours. The required courses include the following: introduction to actuarial mathematics, actuarial models, introduction to mathematical statistics, introduction to financial accounting, financial management of the firm, risk management and insurance, and investments. Additionally, students must complete two courses from statistics and specialized mathematics; one course from approved finance, insurance, and economics; and one course from other statistics and math. If a student wishes to receive a B.A. in Actuarial Science instead of a B.S., a foreign language must be taken through the intermediate level and nine additional credit hours must be taken in humanities and history.

MASTER PROGRAM

The Department of Mathematics at Florida State University offers a M.S. in Financial Mathematics with an Actuarial Science concentration. No doctoral program in actuarial science is offered by the department.

Master of Science in Financial Mathematics with an Actuarial Science Concentration

For this degree program, students complete the degree requirements for the M.S. in Financial Mathematics. Classes taken by students in the first year of the program are enhanced by special actuarial science seminars as well as courses for VEE credits. In addition, this degree program is excellent CERA preparation.

THE FACULTY

The Department of Mathematics at Florida State University has over 40 faculty members. Three of these faculty members were honored to become American Mathematical Society Fellows in November of 2012. Faculty members of the department help students prepare for employment in finance, industry, government, and academia.

ADMISSIONS

Florida State University accepts online applications. Along with the application, standardized test scores and transcripts must be submitted. No letters of recommendation are required and if submitted will not be factored into the decision-making process.

SUMMARY

Florida State University is quite an affordable university to attend provided you are a Florida resident. The university is beginning to move up in the rankings of the top public universities. It is an exceptionally large university with more than 40,000 students attending. The Department of Mathematics at Florida State University offers an undergraduate degree in actuarial science as well as a graduate degree with an actuarial science concentration. These degrees prepare students for the all-important professional examinations that students must pass to become actuaries.