Catherine Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 My ds is very interested in math, and wants to study it in college. He doesn't have clear career plans though and I'd like him to start thinking about this. So besides getting a PhD and teaching math at the college level, what do math majors so for a living? He's NOT interested in engineering BTW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in VA Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Well this one homeschools and is raising 3 kids LOL. Actually my major was a math/computer science degree and until my 3rd child was born I was a software developer. Some math majors are accountants. That sounds like torture to me. Heather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen500 Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Here are a few ideas- http://www.maa.org/careers/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Well this one homeschools and is raising 3 kids LOL. Actually my major was a math/computer science degree and until my 3rd child was born I was a software developer. Some math majors are accountants. That sounds like torture to me. Heather This is me as well. However, computer science jobs are very hard to come by these days. Many of my former collegues are out of work or had to change careers because their jobs were exported to India. There are actuaries who may work for the insurance companies or the government. Applied mathematics is used in all sorts of computer modeling. My nephew is getting his PhD in Math and he interned at a cardiac center doing computer modeling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoriM Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 There was a great feature article on WSJ a few weeks ago on "top jobs" in America. The top several jobs were math-related: mathematician, actuary, statistician. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123119236117055127.html I spent most of my career in Information Systems, primarily because my math skills made the computer-side of the job easy for me, and my language skills gave me the ability to translate the mathier portions into business-sense for management. (Yes, I just boasted about my language skills and used the word "mathier" in a sentence. GRIN.) And then there is the ever-present need for math teachers. It is one field that no matter where we have moved, or how suddenly I've had to look for work, I've always found a job quickly and easily. (I always swore I'd never. ever. ever. teach. math. Or anything else, for that matter. GRIN.) My older daughter has enjoyed her cross-over between mathematics and art. I think she's finding a niche blending those two interests very nicely, in publication of mathematics texts and the necessary graphic design and comics and illustrations for those books. Not to mention her series of childrens' books she's working on... Honestly, I think a degree in mathematics is similar to a degree in any liberal arts field; you are qualified for practically any entry-level job, and primed for futher education. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheilaZ Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 My DH who has math and computer science degrees is a telecommunications engineer for the US Army. It combines both his math and computer skills. All that math that I forgot from college, he uses every day. It;s kind of scary.:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloridaLisa Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 There was a great feature article on WSJ a few weeks ago on "top jobs" in America. The top several jobs were math-related: mathematician, actuary, statistician.. Yep -- my nephew is earning his degree in actuarial science, which is apparently an excellent field. You just have to like 1) math and 2) lots of tests. :001_smile: Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet in Toronto Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 My husband has a PhD in Math and is a VP with a major Canadian telecommunications carrier. He started out as a mathematical modeller at a telecom equipment company and worked up through management in various companies, all in telecom. I have an MSc in Statistics (undergrad in Math). I started as a statistical modeller (econometrics) for a telecom company, then did consumer research, market research, rates and policy, marketing, and human factors research, as a people and project manager. I recently went back to school and did another master's in biostatistics, which is a growing field. Biostatisticians work with researchers in clinical trials and other types of health research. Our older son is about to begin university studies in Mathematics, and is currently looking at a joint major with economics or finance. Mathematicians are needed for the complex mathematical models used in the finance industry, as well as government. Hope this is helpful! Janet in Toronto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luv2quilt Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Well this one homeschools and is raising 3 kids LOL. Actually my major was a math/computer science degree and until my 3rd child was born I was a software developer. Some math majors are accountants. That sounds like torture to me. Heather Hey, watch it, I'm an accountant and we always get a bad rap:001_smile: Actually accounting is a wonderful career! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted May 19, 2009 Author Share Posted May 19, 2009 I will be sitting down with him and looking at all of these, as well as at the maa website. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokotg Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 Well, my dh is a math teacher with his math degree and my father-in-law is a math professor and number theorist with his collection of math degrees. So nothing beyond the obvious there. But DH studied operations research a lot in college and might well have concentrated on that had he gone to grad school. It's about...umm, well, the example I always remember is planning out ambulance routes so that they're as efficient as they can be. Stuff like that. He minored in computer science and spent the first few years out of college doing web programming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perry Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 There are great opportunities in Biostatistics, if he's interested in medicine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine State Sue Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 But DH studied operations research a lot in college and might well have concentrated on that had he gone to grad school. It's about...umm, well, the example I always remember is planning out ambulance routes so that they're as efficient as they can be. Stuff like that. I have a bachelor's in math and computer science and a master's in operation research. I am the efficiency queen!!! I have always worked as a programmer, now with operations research applications: how airlines/hotels/cruiselines can overbook to make more money, how airlines can create the perfect schedules to use the least amount of people to do the most amount of work, etc. I have 4 siblings with math degrees: #1 worked in real estate before she had kids #2 worked as a programmer, now as a bookkeeper #3 works in telecom after his OR degree, can't remember what before #4 does actuarial work I'm thinking of switching to statistical work in my next career. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.