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Master of Science in Actuarial Science
The Master of Science (MS) in Actuarial Science gives you the skills to become a successful actuary. You’ll gain a solid academic foundation through specialized courses in actuarial science, statistics, finance, and related fields. You will also benefit from practical exposure to business and economic principles. We offer the opportunity for you to understand the fiscal and ethical dilemmas often encountered in the process of business decision-making. Finally, our actuarial science degree program will prepare you for the Society of Actuaries (SOA) and Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) professional qualifying examinations, which are the points of entry for a successful actuarial career.
What does it mean to be an actuary?
What does an actuary do? Actuaries use quantitative skills to analyze data from the past and present, in order to predict the future and help others make prudent and intelligent financial decisions. Using mathematics, statistics, and financial theory, actuaries define the financial impact of uncertain events—from catastrophes to rates of mortality, disability, and fertility—allowing businesses to adjust their long-term management strategies accordingly. Actuaries work for life, health, and property/casualty insurance companies, as well as for consulting firms, government agencies, accounting firms, industrial corporations, banks, and financial services companies.
Students in the MS in Actuarial Science program elect one of two concentrations:
Dual Degree Option
In appreciation of the converging nature of management skills and technology, the Actuarial Science Department collaborates with Metropolitan College’s Departments of Administrative Sciences and Computer Science. Degree candidates in Computer Science, Administrative Studies, and Actuarial Science may use eight credits from one degree toward a second degree in one of these disciplines, thereby reducing their work by two courses. Students must be accepted by both departments, but they may request that application materials such as references and transcripts be forwarded from the first program to the second.
Directed Studies
Courses in directed studies are offered to students who plan to engage in special research topics under the supervision of a faculty advisor.
- MET AT 991 Directed Study I
- MET AT 992 Directed Study II
Actuarial Internships
Internship courses are also offered to students who seek practical applications of actuarial principles in insurance companies, financial institutions, pension consulting firms, and other related fields.
- MET AT 981 Internship in Actuarial Science I
- MET AT 982 Internship in Actuarial Science II
To take internship courses, student should have successfully completed MET AT 722 and MET AT 731, and must maintain an overall GPA of 3.3 or higher.
Relationship to Professional Examinations
Courses offered in the program are designed to prepare students for professional actuarial examinations. The middle digit of the three-digit course codes approximately refers to the examination course number administered by the Society of Actuaries (SOA) and the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS).
Department of Actuarial Science 
96 Cummington Street, Suite 160, Boston MA 02215
617-353-8758 actuary@bu.edu
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