Careers & Internships
Companies nowadays are being driven by data. Because of this, mathematics majors have many opportunities to "get their foot in the door" with summer internships. Fairs are held every semester with more information.
Mathematics majors also have the opportunity to work one-on-one with a faculty member, either at Clarion or another university, through one of many summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (R.E.U.'s). More information can be found here and here.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has updated information about the job situation for mathematics majors. Even if you do not wish to pursue graduate work, there are many options for a mathematics major in industry, government and education.
Here are some common jobs mathematicians obtain upon graduation:
Teacher
If you like to give back to your community and serve kids, teaching mathematics at
the secondary school level can be very rewarding. Every year, many of the positions
advertised for secondary school teachers in mathematics go unfilled. Schools are desperate
for caring, qualified mathematics teachers.
Computers
Perhaps the most popular and among the most lucrative jobs for mathematics majors
is in the computer industry. Since computer programming is very mathematical, it makes
sense that many mathematics majors do very well in it. Mathematics majors are qualified
to address more fundamental issues in the design of the project and in creating new
algorithms for new problems. Furthermore, many issues in computers like computer graphics,
compression of pictures and sound for the web, and setting up networks (to name a
few examples) involve a great deal of mathematics, and as a result, many computer
companies specifically hire mathematics majors.
Engineering
Many of the same reasons that mathematics majors end up in the computer industry also
apply to fields of engineering. The field of engineering involves a great deal of
mathematics, and as a result, many engineering firms hire mathematics majors. Your
training in mathematics will prepare you to quickly learn the specific issues in a
new field, and your creative problem solving skills will be a strong asset to the
engineering firm.
Biotech
There has been a great deal of interest in mathematical biology because of many recent
breakthroughs in studying DNA and proteins. Many biotech companies hire mathematics
majors because of the high (and growing) mathematical content of the field.
Cryptography
From the U.S. National Security Agency to a smaller company doing commerce on the
web, the demand for mathematicians that can understand the number-theoretic issues
in cryptography is great.
Actuary
Among the highest-paid professions are actuaries, who compute the statistics behind
life insurance other tables of predictive data. More information is at BE AN ACTUARY. You can find listings of actuarial jobs at Actuary Jobs, a site hosted by D.W. Simpson Actuarial Search.
Statistician
More generally, the proliferation of statistics in everything ranging from business
to government has brought many organizations to seek mathematics majors. Find out
more at statistician careers.
Government
Most branches and agencies in the U.S. government use mathematicians, for the reasons
mentioned above. Particularly noteworthy are the Department of Defense, the National
Security Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, NASA, and the General Accounting
Office.
Finance
Most financial companies hire mathematicians to study financial models and make predictions
based on statistical evidence.
Management
Management consulting firms look for individuals who can quickly find the root of
a problem, and find creative and effective solutions, and critically choose from among
many options.
Others
More information can be obtained at American Mathematical Society. There are profiles of individual careers at the Mathematical Association of America.