Actuarial Science

Our Actuarial Science major offers

• A flexible program which prepares students for the four exams of the Society of Actuaries and Casualty Actuarial Society
• Experienced faculty with both academic and professional credentials
• An external professional Advisory Board of local actuaries
• Assistance finding internships and preparing for actuarial careers
• Validation by Educational Experience (VEE) credit for all three courses
• Opportunities to study abroad at some of the top universities around the world

Arcadia has a long history of programs in actuarial science: originally we offered a concentration in actuarial science as part of our mathematics major and since 2013 we have a major. Our program has many graduates in local and regional insurance companies, consulting firms, and government agencies. Our major is administered by Irina Pogrebivsky, a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries. Other faculty include Dr. Ned Wolff, a statistician with many years of experience preparing students for actuarial careers, Dr. Weihong Ni, a PhD in Actuarial Science, Dr. Carlos Ortiz, whose publications include several in mathematical finance, and Professor Emeritus Dr. Louis Friedler, an Associate of the Society of Actuaries.    

Actuaries are the highly paid business professionals who use probability and mathematical finance to quantitatively assess risk. To advance within the field of actuarial science, individuals must pass a series of exams administered by the Society of Actuaries or the Casualty Actuarial Society. These exams reflect the importance of both mathematics and business to this career; our major combines these two areas of actuarial science. Our major offers courses covering the material for four of these exams:

1. Exam P: Probability
2. Exam FM: Financial Mathematics
3. Exam STAM: Short Term Actuarial Mathematics
4. Exam SRM: Statistics for Risk Modeling

Our major also offers Validation by Education Experience (VEE) actuarial credit in Mathematical Statistics, Finance, and Economics in cooperation with Arcadia’s School of Global Business. 

This program reflects the changes in the SOA corriculum effective July 2018.

One of the strengths of our program is the individual attention we give students. We work with students to prepare them for the exams, to assist in writing resumes and applying for positions and graduate programs, and to offer advice on interviewing.

Our Advisory Board

Our Advisory Board includes:

• Stuart Alden, FSA, Senior VP and Actuary, Aon Risk Solutions
• Ralph Donato, Principal Consulting Actuary, Long Term Care Group
• Andrew Martin, FSA, VP Product Management, Penn Mutual Insurance Co.

Both Ralph Donato and Andrew Martin are graduates of Arcadia University.

We are pleased that the Actuaries Club of Philadelphia supports our program with financial help to partially reimburse students for the expense of taking actuarial exams.