Actuarial program receives advanced classification

Northwestern College’s actuarial science program has received approval from the Society of Actuaries to be moved from its introductory classification to the “advanced” level. The designation recognizes that Northwestern’s curriculum covers all topics on the first two actuarial exams, plus at least 12 semester hours of topics on the third and fourth.

Northwestern is now the smallest college with the advanced classification, and one of only two members of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities at that level. Only 84 colleges or universities are classified as advanced.

“Our program now has the ability to take students further down the process of becoming certified actuaries,” says Dr. Tim Huffman, associate professor of mathematics. “Employers will look at our designation and probably give more weight to our students.”

Northwestern’s actuarial science program, begun in 2002, will add an actuarial modeling course sequence in 2007–08. Plans call for the sequence to be taught by a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society.