Mathematically Based Careers. College education is a preparation
for a life long career. A question that many students interested in mathematics
ask is: "I would like to study mathematics, but what can I do with a math degree?"
When somebody says "I'm
going to be an electrical engineer!", or "I'm going to be a physicist!" we
have some idea of what they might do, but who has ever heard of a mathematician,
outside of the academic profession. It is not that mathematics doesn't get
used every day, but its use is often hidden from view. Complex economic and
planning decisions, scientific discoveries that improve our lives, and new
technologies and products are often possible only after mathematical or statistical
analysis, or computer visualization, simulation, design and implementation
based on mathematics. So, often people whose first love is mathematics masquerade
as systems analysts, data analysts, operations researchers, engineers, quality
control experts, actuaries, statisticians, and financial analysts in business,
government and industry. They combine their interest in mathematics with tough
real world problems that need talent and creativity to solve. Thus, lots of
mathematically based careers exist that math majors will find enjoyable and
rewarding. It is just a matter of self-education to find out what they are.
To help find this out this page point to three resources about
mathematically based careers.
- Here is an essay on math careers and how Rose-Hulman
prepares a student for them: Mathematics
Careers, Rose-Hulman, and You.
- Our career information page has
a list of employers and graduate schools that Rose graduates have work for
or attend. The page also has some links to career information pages
and summer internship opportunities.
- Our growing alumni profiles site has
specific varied career profiles of some of our our Rose-Hulman graduates as well as companies and
graduate schools of our graduates.
The one non-teaching career that everyone seems to know about is the actuarial
career. Since it has been some what popular among Rose grads we have an information
page on it: actuarial page.
Should I go to grad school? There are two paths that a student
may take after graduating. One is to immediately pursue a career in industry
or government immediately upon graduation. A second is to seek a graduate
or professional degree (not necessarily in mathematics) often pursuing
an academic career. Typically positions requiring just a bachelors degree are
entry level and often use a math majors analytical and problem solving skills
rather than specific mathematics learned. Positions in which require specific
mathematics or application of mathematics will usually require an advanced
degree. Over the long term career advancement will likely require post graduate
education, either in the form of an advanced degree or equivalent education
such as actuarial exams. The career information
page above has links to information
on graduate schools and whether one should go.
