Where Can Math Take You
Very few people have the job title of mathematician, so sometimes it's hard to realize how many different career paths you can follow with a degree in mathematics. Here are just a few with some tips on how to acheive those goals with a degree from BJU.
Mathematical careers are ranked highly each year based on a variety of factors including things like job satisfaction and compensations. Here's what's been happening for a sampling of rankings.
A professor once said that the problem with attracting young people to the study of mathematics is that we don't have a product to show you. Math just finds a way to make everything better. See how many different ways math has helped to solve problems.
See what the American Math Association has to share about careers using mathematics. Their short answer to "What can I do with a math degree?" ... and the slightly longer answer of just about "anything".
The Mathematical Association of America also presents a variety of career paths starting with a degree in math.
See the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook for careers in "math".
Career Paths for People with Degrees in Math
Be a Quant
Quantitative Analyst/Quantitative Finance/Financial Planning
Learn more about these careers:
Financial Analyst/Financial Planner/Financial Advisor (see also USNews, Investopedia, Careers in Finance) - professional certification opportunities (CFP and CFA)
Quantitative Finance - how to be come a quant, best fields of study, professional certification opportunities, postgraduate studies available
Plan your career path at BJU:
Major in mathematics or actuarial science, be sure to include Ma 308, Ma 404, Ma 405, and Ma 415 in your curriculum
Based on your career goals, consider the following electives:
for a Quantitative Analyst: CpS 209, CpS 210, CpS 225, CpS 301, and CpS 406
for careers in Quantitative Finance: CpS 225, CpS 301, Ac 203, Ac 204, Ac 305, Ac 306, Ac 402, Fin 201, Fin 405, SSE 210
for a Financial Planner/Advisor: Ac 203, Ac 204, Ac 305, Ac 306, Ac 402, Fin 201, Fin 405, SSE 210
Actuary
Learn more about these careers:
General Actuary Jobs - information about what actuaries do, job description
SOA (Society of Actuaries) credentials actuaries to work in the following fields: corporate finance/enterprise risk management, quantitative finance/investment, individual life/annuities, retirement benefits, group/health insurance, and general insurance. CAS (Casualty Actuarial Society) credentials actuaries to work in property and casualty insurance, reinsurance, finance, risk management, and enterprise risk management.
Plan your career path at BJU:
Major in actuarial science
Based on your career goals, consider the following electives: CpS 225, CpS 301, CpS 401, Ma 420, Ma 390, Ma 391, Ma 303, PW 222, Com 303, Fin 201, Fin 405
Biomathematician
Learn more about these careers:
Career Paths - Chron, postgraduate studies
Plan your career path at BJU:
Major in mathematics, be sure to include Ma 404, Ma 405, and Ma 415 in your curriculum
Based on your career goals, consider the following electives: Bio 100, Bio 101, Chm 103, Bio 104, Bio 305, Bio 405, Bio 300,
Data Analyst
Learn more about these careers:
Job Description - designing a career in analytics/postgraduate studies, postgraduate studies available
Plan your career path at BJU:
Major in mathematics or actuarial science, be sure to include Ma 404, Ma 405, and Ma 415 in your curriculum
Based on your career goals, consider the following electives: BA 109, CpS 209, CpS 210, CpS 225, CpS 301, CpS 406, Com 222, Com 324, Com 423, Com 207, SSE 210
Business Analyst
Learn more about these careers:
Job Description - becoming a business analyst/postgraduate studies available
Plan your career path at BJU:
Major in mathematics or actuarial science, be sure to include Ma 404, Ma 405, and Ma 415 in your curriculum
Based on your career goals, consider the following electives: BA 109, CpS 225, CpS 301, CpS 406, Com 222, Com 324, Com 423, Com 207, SSE 210
Market Research Analyst
Learn more about these careers:
Job Description - postgraduate studies available
Plan your career path at BJU:
Major in mathematics or actuarial science, be sure to include Ma 404, Ma 405, and Ma 415 in your curriculum
Based on your career goals, consider the following electives: BA 109, Mkt 205, Mkt 414, Mkt 411, CpS 225, CpS 301, Com 222, Com 324, Com 423, Com 207, SSE 210
General Analytical Careers
Learn more about these careers:
Analytical Career Paths - Operations Research, Logistician, Management Analyst/Business Intelligence
Plan your career path at BJU:
Major in mathematics or actuarial science, be sure to include Ma 404, Ma 405, and Ma 415 in your curriculum
Based on your career goals, consider the following electives: BA 109, CpS 225, CpS 301, Com 222, Com 324, Com 423, Com 207, SSE 210 (for Operations Research also consider Ma 390, 391, BA 330)
Mathematician/Statistician
Learn more about these careers:
Plan your career path at BJU:
Major in mathematics or actuarial science, for statistics be sure to include Ma 404, Ma 405, and Ma 415 and CpS 301 in your curriculum
Professor
Learn more about these careers:
Plan your career path at BJU:
Major in mathematics, taking as many mathematics electives as possible, prepare for graduate school if you are considering teaching at the collegiate level
Highly Ranked Mathematical Careers
US News & World Report 2019 Job Rankings, US News & World Report 2019 Best Business Jobs:
#2 (#1 in best business) statistician (12,600 Projected Jobs, $84,060 Median Salary, and 0.9% Unemployment)
#17 (#2 in best business) mathematician (900 Projected Jobs, $103,010 Median Salary, and 0.9% Unemployment Rate)
#33 (#6 in best business) actuary (5,300 Projected Jobs, $101,560 Median Salary, and 1.4%Unemployment Rate)
#34 (#7 in best business) operations research analyst (31,300 Projected Jobs, $81,390 Median Salary, and 1.7% Unemployment Rate)
Career Cast 2018 Job Rankings:
#2 mathematician ($81,950 Median Salary and 33% Projected Growth)
#5 statistician ($84,060 Median Salary and 33% Projected Growth)
#7 data scientist ($111,840 Median Salary and 19% Projected Growth)
#9 operations research analyst ($79,200 Median Salary and 27% Projected Growth)
#10 actuary ($100,610 Median Salary and 22% Projected Growth)
Career Cast 2017 Job Rankings:
#1 statistician ($80,110 Median Salary and 34% Projected Growth)
#3 operations research analyst ($79,200 Median Salary and 30% Projected Growth)
#5 data scientist ($111,267 Median Salary and 16% Projected Growth)
#7 mathematician ($111,298 Median Salary and 22% Projected Growth)
Career Cast 2016 Job Rankings:
#1 data scientist ($128,240 Median Salary and 16% Projected Growth)
#2 statistician ($80,295 Median Salary and 37% Projected Growth)
#6 mathematician ($104,285 Median Salary and 23% Projected Growth)
#10 actuary ($97,362 Median Salary and 22% Projected Growth)
Career Cast 2015 Job Rankings:
#1 actuary ($94,209 Median Salary and 25% Projected Growth)
#3 mathematician ($102,182 Median Salary and 23% Projected Growth)
#4 statistician ($79,191 Median Salary and 26% Projected Growth)
#6 data scientist ($124,149 Median Salary and 15% Projected Growth)
Career Cast 2014 Job Rankings: although the projected growth rates seem excessive the median salaries are fairly consistent with more recent years
#1 mathematician ($101,360 Median Salary and 181% Projected Growth)
#3 statistician ($75,560 Median Salary and 188% Projected Growth)
#4 actuary ($93,680 Median Salary and 192% Projected Growth)