WHAT CAN I DO WITH A MAJOR IN...

MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS

www.sc.edu/career

math·e·mat·ics

The study of the measurement, relationships, and properties of quantities and sets, using numbers and symbols. Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and calculus are branches of mathematics. *

* "mathematics." The American Heritage® Science Dictionary. Houghton Mifflin Company. 05 Aug. 2009. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/mathematics>.

sta·tis·tics

The branch of mathematics that deals with the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of numerical data. Statistics is especially useful in drawing general conclusions about a set of data from a sample of the data.

*"statistics." The American Heritage® Science Dictionary. Houghton Mifflin Company. 05 Aug. 2009. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/statistics>.

Mathematics & Statistics Majors Study

Forms, arrangements, and associated relationships of numbersHow to use rigorously defined literal, numerical, and operational symbolsInterpretation and analysis of numerical data

...and more

Specializations

• Bachelor's Degree/Entry Level– actuary – computer

programmer – engineer – accountant – statistician – financial analyst

• Further Education Required– operations

researcher – applied

mathematician – statistical analyst– mathematical

researcher – mathematical

professor – economists

Most undergraduate programs offer a general course of study as well as many specializations that can be pursued with additional study. These include (but are not limited to):

Mathematics & Statistics At The University Of South

CarolinaUndergraduate DegreesBachelor of Science (BS)Majors: MathematicsGeneral mathematics, Applied mathematics, Actuarial mathematics and statistics, Mathematics education, Intensive major (any aforementioned emphasis plus an additional 4 courses in MATH numbered about 500)

The university also offers a Minors in Mathematics, Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics

Mathematics & Statistics At The University Of South

Carolina

Graduate Degrees

Master of Arts (MA)Master of Industrial Statistics (MIS)

Master of Sciences (MS)

Master of Mathematics (PM)

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Statistics At The University Of South Carolina

Undergraduate Options

Bachelor of Science (BS)

Major: General Statistics

Statistics with an emphasis in actuarial mathematics and statistics

• The university also offers a Minors in Mathematics, Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics

Statistics At The University Of South Carolina

Graduate Degrees

Certificate of Graduate Study in Applied Statistics (CAS)

Master of Industrial Statistics (MIS) Master of Science in Statistics (MS) Doctor of Philosophy in Statistics (Ph.D.)

Mathematics & Statistics Majors Develop Skills In

• Problem solving • Ability to analyze &

interpret data • Logical thinking • Systemizing skills • Organizational skills • Critical thinking • Testing skills

• Team skills • Advanced quantitative

skills • Numerical computation• Computer literacy • Efficient

Statistics Majors Develop Skills In

• Problem Solving • Logical thinking • Systemizing skills • Critical thinking • Advanced quantitative

skills • Computer literacy • Verbal and written

communication skills

• Ability to analyze and interpret data

• Evaluating theoretical models

• Organizational skills • Teamwork skills • Numerical computation • Ability to design

experiments • Advising skills

Employment

• Mathematicians and statisticians are in great demand and work in various

settings. Salaries and working conditions are excellent. Statisticians

evaluate the safety and efficacy of new drugs for pharmaceutical

companies. Insurance companies use statisticians to estimate the risks of

life, health care, and casualty events. Conducting the Federal census and

estimating the inflation rate are two of many tasks done by government

statisticians. Industrial statisticians design experiments to improve

manufacturing processes and to maintain quality. Market research

companies use statisticians to improve the efficiency of their mass

mailing campaigns. Statisticians develop credit scoring algorithms for

financial service companies. Educational testing companies use

statisticians to measure the validity of standardized test questions. And

these are only some of the places mathematicians and statisticians work.

Employment Settings

• Business & Commerce: Includes management and direction of for-profit organizations including the development of business plans, marketing strategies, product development, and human resource management.

Sample Occupational Titles Associated With Business &

Commerce• Accountant• Bank Manager• Commodity Manger• Consumer Loan Credit

Officer• Economist• Quality Assurance Analyst• Risk/Insurance Analyst• Cost Estimator• Financial Consultant• Urban Planner• Marketing Information

Analyst

• Actuary• Auditor• Bookkeeper• Development Manager• Financial Analyst• Institutional Buyer• Investment Banker• Marker Research Analyst• Business Analyst

Employment Settings

• Science Fields

Combines mathematics and statistics with an emphasis on the sciences

Sample Occupational Titles Associated With Science Fields

• Astronomer• Cryptographer/

Cryptologist• Physicist• Value Engineer• Lab Technician

• Environmental Scientist• Pollution Meteorologist• Scientist• Applied Science

Technologist

Employment Settings

• Consulting:

Includes mathematical and statistical research; surveying, social/cultural assessments, designing bilingual and bicultural curricula; assessing services, and more.

Sample Occupational Titles Associated With Consulting

• Accountant• Bank Manager• Commodity manger• Consumer Loan credit

Officer• Demographer• Economist• Estate Planner• Inventory Control

Specialist• Research Analyst

• Statistical Consultant or Programmer

• Actuary• Data Analyst• Institutional Buyer• Investment Banker• Auditor• Financial Consultant• Marketing Information

Analyst• Urban Planner

Employment Settings

• Education: Includes classroom instruction, curricula development, research, writing, administration, program management, and lecturing.

Teaching and research positions at colleges and universities require an advanced degree. Most other teaching positions require appropriate certification.

Sample Occupational Titles Associated With Education

• Administrator• Admissions Evaluator• Author/Writer• Career Counselor• College or University

Professor• Financial Aid Director• Guidance Counselor• Health Educator • Lecturer

• Primary School Teacher• Program Manager• Residence Hall Director• Secondary School

Teacher• Student Affairs

Professional • Text Writer

Employment Settings

• Analysts

Skilled at analyzing data; experts who study financial data (on credit or securities or sales or financial patterns etc.) and recommend appropriate business actions. This also includes a licensed practitioner of psychoanalysis.

Sample Occupational Titles Associated With Analyzing

• Quality Assurance Analyst

• Risk or Insurance Analyst

• Estate Planner• Game Designer• Algorithm Designer• Applications

Programmer• Research Analyst

• Data Analyst• Mortgage Researcher• Statistician• Weight Analyst• Business Analyst• Inventory Analyst• Marketing Information

Analyst• Operations Research

Analyst

Other Occupational Settings For Mathematics And Statistics Majors

• Aerospace Companies• Market Research Firms• Banks• Mortgage Companies• Colleges & Universities• Pharmaceuticals • Computer Firms• Research & Development

Firms• Economic/Social Science

Pollsters• Engineering Firms

• School Systems• Insurance Companies• Stock Brokerage

Houses• Investment Firms• Test Development

Corporations• Manufacturing Firms• Utilities• Savings & Loan

Associations

 

Strategies For Developing Skills To Get The Job You

Want• Pursue an excellent

academic record• Obtain part-time,

summer, or internship work experience

• Volunteer with service and counseling organizations

• Become fluent in a foreign language

• Obtain an advanced degree and/or certification in order to perform substantive counseling work

• Obtain a minor in an additional area of interest (i.E. Language, business, education)

• Develop strong writing and speaking skills

Strategies For Developing Skills To Get The Job You Want

• Develop strong quantitative and statistical skills

• Become comfortable working with people from different backgrounds and cultures

• Acquire sales experience

• Become active in peer mediation groups if available

• Secure leadership positions in campus or community groups

• Obtain teaching certification

• Shadow the work of a professional

Resources For More Information

USC’s Department of Mathematics

www.math.sc.edu/

USC’s Department of Statistics www.stat.sc.edu/index.html

Career Center libraryhttp://www.sc.edu/career/Library/library.html

Mathematics and Statistics Related Websites

http://www.sc.edu/career/la/mathstats.html

College of Arts and Sciences Career Development Programwww.sc.edu/career/cascdp/index.html

Books & Web Resources

Books101 Careers in Mathematics by Andrew Sterrett

Great Jobs for Math Majors by Stephen Lambert and Ruth J. DeCotis

Web Resources

Mathematical Association of America - http://www.maa.org/

Institute of Mathematical Statistics

http://www.imstat.org/

Career Center Contact Information

University of South Carolina Career Center6th Floor, H. William Close Building (BA Building)Columbia, SC 29208Phone: (803) 777-7280On-call counseling without an appointment: M - F, 1:00 am - 4:00 pm (Summer and holiday hours may differ, please check the website at www.sc/edu/career)