Majors and Courses at UC Irvine
Actuarial Majors
Actuaries at heart are analysts, using quantitative methods and programs to answer complex questions. While actuaries deal with mathematical concepts minute to minute, their educational backgrounds can differ. Compatible majors have courses in some combination of math, business, and computer programming.
Great examples here at UCI include:
Economics – Data Science – Statistics – Mathematics – Computer Science – Business Administration – Many more. This list is not exhaustive!
Multiple majors are always great, but in the opinion of the writer of this article, effort spent on multiple majors may be better applied to studying for actuarial exams.
Actuarial Exam Support Courses
For more information on courses below, visit the UCI catalogue.
Here are some UCI classes that will introduce topics for actuarial exams. They are a great way to get started, but classes alone are not enough to prepare for an exam. To be prepared for an exam, consider studying with Coaching Actuaries. Ask us about our exam study material discount options!
Exam P (General Probability)
- Stats 120A-B-C ( Introduction to Probability and Statistics )– This course tree contains: Basic probability theory, random variables, density functions, and basic principles of probability and statistical inference.
- Math 130A-B-C (Introduction to Probability and Stochastic Processes)– This course tree contains: Basic probability theory, random variables, density functions, common distributions, Chebyshev inequality, Law of Large Numbers
- Mathematics and Quantitative Economics majors include the requirement of taking one of the above trees. Again, these courses are not necessary to pass Exam P, but they are great for reinforcing concepts.
Exam FM (Financial Mathematics)
- Math 133C (Statistical Methods with Applications to Finance III)-Measurement of interest, annuities, perpetuities, amortization, sinking funds, bonds, Macaulay Duration and convexity
- Math 134A (Fixed Income)-interest theory, time value of money, annuities/cash flows with payments that are not contingent, loans, sinking funds, bonds, general cash flow and portfolios, immunization, duration and convexity, swaps.