BGSU earns Advanced Curriculum status for actuarial science degree

Only five other Ohio universities hold the designation from the Society of Actuaries

By Branden Ferguson

The actuarial science program at Bowling Green State University recently received "Advanced Curriculum" designation from the Society of Actuaries, a distinction that further prepares graduates to meet the growing demand for risk management in insurance, finance, healthcare and the public sector.

Advanced Curriculum status means students are prepared for all professional exams leading to their actuarial credential – something that is made possible thanks to faculty integrating professional preparation into the academic experience, providing students with a more efficient, structured path to career readiness. For employers, it assures them that BGSU graduates possess the technical competencies needed to contribute immediately in actuarial roles.

“This milestone highlights our commitment to making BGSU a leader in actuarial science and risk management education,” said Douglas Bujakowski, Ph.D., O’Brien Distinguished Professor in actuarial mathematics and fellow in the Insurance and Risk Management Institute. “Our curriculum prepares students for all five ASA pathway exams, including probability, financial mathematics, fundamentals of actuarial mathematics, statistics for risk modeling and advanced long-term actuarial mathematics.

“We combine rigorous academics, practical experience and industry connections to ensure students are equipped to not only enter the profession but thrive within it. This level of comprehensive preparation is rare, with only five other Ohio universities holding this level of designation."

Actuarial science combines business insight with a technical foundation in mathematics, data analysis, finance and the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly. These skills are currently in high demand across a wide range of industries. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 22% growth in employment, highlighting the expanding role of actuaries who are uniquely positioned to leverage emerging tools such as big data, machine learning and artificial intelligence.

BGSU differentiates itself from other programs by blending a rigorous academic curriculum, ongoing industry engagement and experiential learning. Unique to BGSU, the Insurance and Risk Management Institute enables students to connect directly with professionals, participate in exclusive speaker events and panel discussions and engage actively in Gamma Iota Sigma, the national actuarial student organization.

Several initiatives are already underway to support the University’s goal of pursuing “Center of Actuarial Excellence (CAE)” status, which is the next level of distinction from the Society of Actuaries. These include:

• Developing a graduate certificate in actuarial science for career changers.
• Expanding experiential learning by deepening industry partnerships.
• Launching a high school outreach initiative to raise awareness of actuarial careers and educational pathways.
• Creation of an actuarial science resource hub to give students one central place for guidance, opportunities, deadlines and career preparation through the major.