How much should you charge to insure a new roller coaster? Normally, you’d look at past data about its injury rate or repair costs. If it’s new, though, you won’t have that information to reference.
“There’s not an easy answer,” says University of the Pacific math professor, Chris Goff. “You have to have good problem-solving techniques in order to make sure you’re accounting for all the possible outcomes of things that can happen.”
One way you can learn problem-solving: through a math degree. One Pacific math graduate ran into that very problem while working as an actuary, someone who uses math to measure financial risk and uncertainty.
She had to be a bit of a detective and ask a lot of questions. What kind of insurance does it need? Are there similar attractions with a history of costly injuries? How many people would be riding the roller coaster regularly?
It’s common for people to associate math degrees with teaching, but that’s just one option. People with math degrees also work in data science, logistics, finance, engineering, medicine, animation and many other careers that depend on mathematical concepts. But a math degree can also help you develop your logical and analytic thinking to quantify difficult real-world problems into math models.
Growing employment for mathematical careers
Bureau of Labor Statistics data reflects the importance of these roles. Averaging all mathematical science jobs, it projects a 7% growth in employment by 2033. Compare that to the overall job average of 4%. Within this data, there are some roles that are especially strong: BLS projects 15% job growth for office administrative services and nearly 18% growth for computer systems design.
This article will break down the types of degrees, the concepts you learn and what careers you can enter.
Applied math vs. pure math
You may have heard the terms “pure math” and “applied math,” which may come across as different fields. But the difference is less about the math itself and more about your goals.
Pure math, though it may draw inspiration from practical application, is aimed at exploring the hardest questions of mathematical concepts and theories. Speaking simply, these researchers push forward our understanding of mathematical possibilities.
While you might not be motivated by solving non-mathematical problems in pure math, the ideas you uncover can still have practical uses.
“One of the big factors in internet security is the assumption that it’s difficult to find prime factors of really big numbers,” Goff says. “If you had asked number theorists a hundred years ago, they probably would not have predicted the applicability of what they were studying.”
Applied math, on the other hand, seeks to solve specific, practical problems. A foundation in applied math can apply to many fields like engineering, insurance, health care and others. You may even create novel solutions using concepts uncovered by pure mathematicians.
Types of math degrees
Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts in mathematics
Earning either a BA or BS in mathematics can give you a firm foundation in mathematical principles and generally require classes that advance your understanding of the field’s concepts and quantitative reasoning.
These degrees have clear applications if you’re interested in teaching or continuing to graduate mathematical study, but they also give you knowledge and skills useful in nearly any career.
“They may not have specifically trained for that job they have, but they have this general kind of liberal arts training that involves quantitative reasoning and problem-solving skills—especially the quantitative part,” Goff says. “There’s a lot of data in the world today. People who are willing to work with data and figure out what that story is, that’s going to be more and more important in the future.”
Bachelor of Science in applied mathematics
A BS in applied mathematics starts with many of the same foundational courses in calculus and linear algebra, then diverges after that point. In this degree program, you’re encouraged to take classes including computer or data science, statistics and probability, research modeling or financial mathematics.
Universities approach applied mathematics programs in different ways. A good way to compare programs is to look at the major’s course catalog, where you can see how a university structures its program.
Some applied mathematics programs may have a more formal structure, requiring specific classes in non-mathematical sciences along with elective courses where you can specialize in certain topics. Others may have a less formal structure where you and an adviser can tailor your courses to fit your interests and career goals.
Other degrees
There are also math degrees that may not be available at every university. Statistics is a mathematical discipline that may be offered as its own degree at some schools, while others include statistics education as part of a math or applied math degree.
Another discipline is actuarial science, which trains you to apply math and statistics to assess risk for industries like finance, insurance or investment. Universities do not commonly offer this as its own degree, but some may offer it as a minor or a concentration for another math degree.
It’s also worth mentioning that you can generally take either math or applied math as a minor. This can help round out your education in another area and demonstrate a breadth of skills to an employer.
“It helps their resume stand out differently than the other students competing for certain jobs. It shows that you’ve thought more about problem solving on its own, that you’re more versed in different ways of solving problems,” Goff says.
Bachelor of Science vs. Arts
A university may offer you either a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics. What is the difference between the two?
While a BS in most fields indicates a more technical education, like more math/science courses and lab work, this differentiation isn’t quite as clean for mathematics degrees themselves.
The biggest difference is generally the number of math courses required. A BA in math often requires less major-specific course work, meaning you have more room to pursue another academic interest.
If you want to become a teacher, for example, a BA gives you room to pursue educational courses alongside mathematics. If you plan to go to law school, the BA option would allow more room in your schedule to include more law-oriented courses.
A BS in math requires more coursework in math. If your career goal is oriented around mathematics itself, like graduate study or economics, this is a great option to hone your knowledge.
If a university offers both options, you can compare the two in the course catalog. There, you’ll learn about the exact requirements to graduate with either a BS or a BA in mathematics.
Studying math at Pacific
Pacific can offer you a goals-oriented, hands-on education in mathematics. Because of Pacific’s relatively small student body, you can interact more with your fellow students and your professors.
Goff points out his most recent Calculus II class had just 25 students. Compare that to some larger universities, where you may be in classrooms with dozens to hundreds of other students.
Pacific also offers a comprehensive set of disciplines, meaning you can pair your study of mathematics with other fields. If you’re studying to be an engineer, you could double major or minor in applied mathematics.
“We’re a comprehensive small university,” Goff says. “If you wanted to study mathematics and economics, you could do that here. There are a lot of different offerings here I hope would appeal to a variety of students.”
Pacific can also help you become a teacher through the Single Subject Credential, which you can use to teach math at middle- or high-school level.
If you were really interested in the actuary’s dilemma at the opening of this article, Pacific does have a BS in applied mathematics with a concentration in actuarial sciences.
Careers with math degrees
Even though you may not immediately associate math with a particular job, a math degree can open doors across a variety of industries.
You can pursue careers in mathematical research or data science, for example. There are positions across private industry, government agencies and research institutions requiring advanced knowledge in any number of specialized mathematical topics.
Goff highlights data science, which relies heavily on statistics, as a rising industry. We live in a world full of data about our consumption habits, political tendencies, medical incidents and more. Having a foundation in statistics and computer science is a potent combination to interpret that data and find the story within it.
Mathematics is an essential part of an actuary’s toolkit. Many actuaries work in insurance or consulting, but industries like health care, banking and finance also need people to assess risk.
Another option you may not have considered: working in logistics. Shipping a single item from one place to another is relatively easy. Shipping hundreds or thousands of items to places around the country or around the world? That’s much harder.
Logistics specialists help companies get products to brick-and-mortar stores at a large scale, and they help large e-commerce stores ship efficiently. They may even serve a civilian role in the military, where they organize large movements of people, equipment and supplies.
“It may not be numerical and may be a little more creative, but our math majors have experience with problem solving,” Goff says. “They can see it and say, ‘Oh, that’s not going to be a good avenue. This is a better avenue toward a solution,’ so they can help steer complex situations.
Some students take their problem-solving skills into fields you don’t associate with math at all. Goff points out that Pacific math graduates have gone on to law or medical school.
“They feel like diagnosis is very similar to problem solving,” he says. “You’re looking at data. You’re looking at past experiences and asking, ‘Does this apply? Is this the same? Is this different?’”
Math degrees can be an excellent pathway into any job that needs people who have training in formal logic, critical thinking and quantitative analysis. Here are a few other careers:
- Accountant
- Meterologist
- Investment analyst
- Financial analyst
- Cryptographer
- Statistician
- Market researcher
“Oh, I forgot one more,” Goff adds. “You can become the Pope.”
Pope Leo XIV does indeed have a BS in mathematics. You probably shouldn’t hold your breath on that one, though.
Math degree crossword
See if you can remember some basic math terms with our math-focused crossword.