What to do with a Bachelor's in Math

Mathematics, although incredibly versatile, isn't always so useful on its own. Likewise, a B.Sc in Mathematics isn't all that usual unless it is applied to something else. There are a few things I'd liked to have known while getting that degree. I've tried to summarize those things here.

Having a math degree has proved to be handy for all sorts of advanced education. The focus of the major, at least at UNBC and UBC-O, was towards getting a master's degree. So in favour of putting as much knowledge as possible into that degree, effort towards packaging that knowledge up into a set of marketable skills in the workforce was sacrificed.

If you're taking or considering a degree in math, this important to realize early. However, by adding a few relatively quick extra qualifications to your degree, you can make yourself more employable.

If you're intending to go into finance with a math degree, you should consider the accountant designations CGA www.thinkcga.ca , CMA www.cmabc.ca , and CA www.becomea.ca . The CGA, for example, (Certified General Accountant) designation has a list of courses that you could probably take as electives in your math degree so that when you graduate with a bachelor's you can start at the advanced level of your accountant training.

There's also the Canadian Securities Institute, which is more suited for financial advisors. The courses they offer are by correspondence so the you don't need to sacrifice other electives to take them. Because these courses are so recognizable, especially the Canadian Securities Course, having some of them can greatly improve your job prospects upon graduating.

For a combination of finance and statistics, there are the actuarial exams. These competitive exams are recognized in both Canada and the United States. There are seven Associate exams which are hard and two Fellowship exams which are harder still. Demand for people with actuarial skills is so hot right now that even having one or two exams done is big plus for employment. The topics of the exams are mathematics, statistics, and economics so one or two exams shouldn't be too far out of what you're already learning. Keep in mind that these are competitive exams, so grades are on a curve and there is a maximum proportion who pass. For more information go to www.casact.org and search “exam”.

If you're more interested in teaching, then you might be able to do concurrent studies and get a Bachelor's Degree in Education as well as Science/Arts at the same time. If it's too late to start concurrent studies, then a lot of Universities and Colleges offer B.Eds as part time programs over 2-3, or accelerated programs in 1-2 years. Offers vary by campus, but it's definitely worth a look if you like teaching or tutoring.

Bachelor's degrees in math are geared towards master's degrees, but since so many other programs include math classes in their early years there really isn't much chance to convey that to students that are going into upper level math classes. The big thing about advanced degrees is that they have a competitive entry. Even if you had no trouble getting into a university, that doesn't mean getting into an advanced program will be remotely easy.

If you want to branch out from math after your degree with an advanced degree, but don't have the undergraduate background in another field, there's also the option of interdisciplinary studies. Taking interdisciplinary studies allows you to take what are essentially upper-level undergraduate courses with extra work from outside your original field and apply them to credits towards your master's degree.

Keep in mind that any advanced degree is both your education and your job. You'll be working under a supervisor whom will direct your research and very little of your time will be spent in a classroom. Being a graduate student also qualifies you for a lot of on-campus jobs such as grading and teaching labs which often pay well above entry-level positions.

The best advice I can give you is to talk to your career counselor on campus, as well as professors that teach your favourite subjects. They will be able to give you a lot more relevant details on what lies beyond a math major than this or any article.