Actuarial Science BS
Program Purpose
The Actuarial Science BS program seeks to provide graduates with the knowledge, skills, and tools necesssary to obtain employment as an actuary. Graduates will have credit for SOA (Society of Actuaries) exams FM, FAM, and ALTAM, be prepared to take exams P and SRM, obtain SOA Validation by Educational Experience (VEE) credit, and be able to analyze data. Graduates will have the foundation for career advancement.
The actuarial science profession focuses on measuring and managing the financial implications of future events. Actuaries provide valuable skills to help businesses manage risk and prepare for the future.
Curricular Structure
Learning Outcomes
Professional Preparation
Graduates will demonstrate the statistical, computational, and communication skills required of actuaries. They will also be prepared for lifelong learning and continued professional development in a rapidly evolving field.
Graduates will approach their professional lives with an intentional commitment to moral virtue, acting with integrity, humility, and a desire to serve others. They will uphold high ethical standards in data analysis, communication, and professional conduct, guided by gospel principles and a desire to make meaningful contributions to society.
Graduates will apply statistical methods to analyze real-world data using appropriate models and software. They will assess assumptions, quantify uncertainty, and communicate findings effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Graduates will communicate statistical methods and results clearly and effectively through written reports and oral presentations. They will engage productively and respectfully in teams and professional interactions.
Graduates will develop reproducible workflows and analyze data using modern statistical software. They will write clean, well-documented code and apply foundational programming skills across diverse data contexts.
Graduates will apply core concepts from probability, statistical inference, and calculus to understand and implement statistical methods. They will demonstrate competence in solving problems involving foundational theoretical tools.
Graduates will prepare for, take, and pass the exams required for employment in the actuarial science profession
Evidence of Learning
Assessment Tools
1. Students are evaluated using problem sets, term papers, and exams.
2. All courses and instructors in the department are evaluated each term by the students. These evaluations are discussed with the faculty by the department chair at the annual faculty interview.
3.Graduating seniors complete a Statistics Department exit survey which provides feedback regarding the relative value of specific courses, learning outcomes, and the Department program in general.
4. The BYU Senior and Alumni Surveys provide feedback on Department programs.
Student Responsibility
The Department of Statistics is committed to provide the facilities, the curricular structure, the faculty expertise, and the focus on student learning that are necessary for students to realize the learning outcomes outlined above. Students must realize, however, that the ultimate responsibility for learning is theirs. Students who successfully meet the stated program learning outcomes will have established patterns of regular course attendance and consistent, focused study. They will have taken advantage of advisement and career counseling opportunities offered by the department. Finally, they will have established for themselves a commitment to learning and inquiry as the primary motivation for their academic efforts
Learning and Teaching Assessment and Improvement
Learning Outcomes Committee Chair:
Nate Sandholtz (2023 - present)
P. Lynne Nielsen (2017 - 2022)
Shannon Tass (2013 - 2016)
Each Fall, the Learning Outcomes Committe will review the achievement of the program learning outcomes and present the result to the Statistics Department faculty. The faculty will discuss the results in a faculty meeting and propose changes and improvements to the program as needed.