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
numbers
How to use rigorously defined literal, numerical, and
operational symbols
Interpretation and analysis of numerical data
...and more
Specializations
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):
• 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
Mathematics & Statistics At
The University Of South
Carolina
Undergraduate Degrees
Bachelor of Science (BS)
Majors: Mathematics
General 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
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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
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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
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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/Cryptolo
gist
• Physicist
• Value Engineer
• Lab Technician
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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
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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
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Administrator
Admissions Evaluator
Author/Writer
Career Counselor
College or University
Professor
Financial Aid Director
Guidance Counselor
Health Educator
Lecturer
•
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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
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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
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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 library
http://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 Program
www.sc.edu/career/cascdp/index.html
Books & Web Resources
Books
101 Careers in
Mathematics
by Andrew Sterrett
Web Resources
Mathematical Association
of America http://www.maa.org/
Great Jobs for Math
Majors by Stephen
Lambert and Ruth J.
DeCotis
Institute of Mathematical
Statistics
http://www.imstat.org/
Career Center Contact
Information
University of South Carolina Career Center
6th Floor, H. William Close Building (BA Building)
Columbia, SC 29208
Phone: (803) 777-7280
On-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)