Louisiana Tech University’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics has begun offering a new minor in actuarial science. Actuaries manage and reduce risk, and work for companies in a range of fields, analyzing the potential for undesirable events to occur and helping to plan for those events. These actuaries are currently in high demand, especially in the field of insurance. In addition to having jobs that are exciting and challenging, actuaries earn a median annual salary of approximately $100,000. The goal of Louisiana Tech’s actuarial science minor, which consists of 20 credit hours, is to prepare students to be able to pass at least the first two professional exams. Students are required to take courses in mathematics, statistics and other business-related courses such as engineering economics and financial mathematics. “The Actuarial Science minor at Louisiana Tech will be a great tool for helping with workforce development,” says said Stan McCaa, instructor of mathematics and statistics at Louisiana Tech. “Companies need the ability to evaluate the costs of new risks. The job market for actuaries is steadily growing, and this growth is expected to continue.” For more information about Louisiana Tech’s minor in actuarial science, please contact Dr. Dave Meng in Louisiana Tech’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics at dmeng@latech.edu. For more information about actuaries and what they do, visit the Society of Actuaries website at https://www.soa.org. Written by Brandy McKnight – mcknight@latech.edu