About the Program

The field of actuarial science has historically trained via apprenticeship, but now actuaries and the companies that employ them are increasingly looking toward the academic community to train and prepare entry-level professionals. In fact, universities are now playing a central role in advancing the theories and principles applied in the profession.

“What I like about the leadership is the focus on the business-savvy skills, the communication skills—to my knowledge—more than any other university with an Actuarial Science program. If you talk to business executives, this is what they are looking for. They say that they like Actuaries and they can use them in more executive positions if they have that business-savvy advantage. Columbia provides it.”

Sim Segal, President, SimErgy Consulting
Adjunct Professor,Columbia Business School
author of “Corporate Value of Enterprise Risk Managment”

Columbia’s M.S. in Actuarial Science is a rigorous program of study focused on the core knowledge required of all actuaries and tested in Society of Actuaries (SOA) Exams P, FM, MLC, MFE, C, and Casualty Actuary Society (CAS) Exams 1–4. Based in the New York metropolitan area, where roughly a quarter of all actuarial positions nationwide are located, Columbia is uniquely situated to create a dynamic community of faculty, professional practitioners, and students in the field.

Coursework covers a variety of disciplines: probability and statistics, business and economics, and actuarial models and methods. Individualized programs of study may be developed to accommodate those students who have completed some of the required coursework prior to entering the program as well as those students who wish to do additional coursework in risk management, data analysis, and mathematical finance.

The M.S. program gives students the opportunity to take classes with Columbia faculty who are at the forefront of research in mathematical finance, econometrics, and statistical methods. Because the field values both work and study, the program assists students not employed as entry-level actuaries in locating internship opportunities.

Program Objectives

The M.S. program in Actuarial Science at Columbia University prepares postgraduates with strong mathematical aptitude to pass the first four industry examinations required for entry into and advancement in the field. The program gives promising students the opportunity to study with some of the best minds in the country, and provides an academic experience that extends beyond the limits of basic test preparation by providing a community of like-minded, talented peers; rigorous and structured coursework; and options for full- and part-time study that can be customized based on each student’s academic background, aptitudes, and work demands.