This course is intended for students exploring the actuarial career and is designed to prepare students for the Actuarial Exam 1/P, administered by the SOA and CAS. This course will cover topics listed in the exam syllabus provided by the SOA, including general probability, univariate and multivariate probability distributions, and more.

We will be using Piazza as the course website. Everyone is encouraged to ask questions and answer questions on Piazza. Answering questions will result in extra participation points.

Attendance on the days of midterm and final exams are mandatory. Unexcused absences will adversely affect the students’ participation score.

Each week a homework assignment will be distributed on Piazza. Each homework consists of 5 – 6 questions and usually takes around 1-2 hours to complete. Homework is due at the beginning of class, and no late homework will be accepted. Homework will be graded based on completion and effort. The lowest homework grade will be dropped.

Five in-class quizzes on concepts and formulas will be randomly administered throughout the semester. No make-up quizzes will be accepted. Solutions to quizzes will be given following the quiz. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped.

There will be two exams of equal weight for this course.
Exam 1: 90 minutes, 15 questions
Exam 2: 90 minutes, 15 questions

Participation in class and Piazza discussions is strongly encouraged, and may influence students’ grades in the event that they are borderline. Students who pass Exam 1/P during the semester will automatically pass this course no longer be required to attend class. Also, a student may opt out of taking Exam 2 if they have already achieved the pass mark by the final week.

A student’s performance will be evaluated based on assignments, quizzes, a midterm and a final. A better final grade can be used to replace the midterm grade. You need at minimum 60 points and attendance to the final in order to pass the course.

The Stat department will provide 40 unique permission numbers for enrollment. These will be distributed to students first come, first served at the first class meeting.