Careers in Mathematics and Statistics

Teaching

Many of those who graduate from the University of Saskatchewan with a major in Mathematics or an Honours degree in Mathematics enter the teaching profession. Those who wish to teach at Junior or Technical Colleges (such as SIAST) should obtain at least a master's degree. Those wishing to teach at the University level require a Ph.D. degree. This is a very rewarding and satisfying career for those with the necessary ability and interest in teaching and research.

Applied Mathematics

Government agencies and business and industry are becoming increasingly aware of the advantages of hiring persons who have a strong background in mathematics, usually along with considerable knowledge in some other area such as computing science, economics, geography, chemistry, physics, etc.

In this age of computers and sophisticated machinery, many jobs require a high degree of knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering, and often mathematicians form an important part of the research and development wing of engineering consulting firms, oil companies, geophysical exploration operations, companies who specialize in advising big hospitals or other large scale operations on how to maximize their efficiency, companies at the cutting edge of high technology such as SED systems, Bell Telephone, etc.

Many research laboratories employ mathematicians as part of their staff and many government agencies at all levels (municipal, provincial and federal) do the same. The top jobs of course go to those best qualified, those holding a Ph.D. or at least a Master's degree.

Statistics

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers a program of courses in Statistics. This specialization involves the systematic study of random phenomena and provides a rational basis for making inferences and decisions in the face of uncertainty. The subject includes the study of probability, methods of data collection and data analysis, and principles of experimental design. Although built on a framework of mathematics, the theory of statistics also touches, in its foundations, the philosophy of science.

There is a growing demand for professional statisticians in many areas; most positions require at least a master's degree in statistics. Although it is possible to enter the profession from other fields, the best foundation is a solid undergraduate training in mathematics.

Professional statisticians can be involved in many activities. The best known are the collection, summary, and interpretation of data on national or regional issues (unemployment figures, market surveys, population growth, etc.). Many statisticians, however, are employed as full time consultants to research scientists in many disciplines (agriculture, health sciences, environmental studies) providing advice on experimental design, data analysis and mathematical modeling. Theoretical statisticians (mostly employed at universities, but some at other establishments) do research on new and improved methods of statistical inference. In addition, the application of statistical theory and methods to certain areas can become a discipline in itself. The people with statistical training can find themselves working in economics (econometrics), psychology (psychometrics), health sciences (biostatistics and epidemiology), plant or animal breeding (quantitative genetics), engineering (quality control, reliability), or public policy (risk-benefit analysis).

The booklet Career Information in the Mathematical Sciences published by the Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences provides a bibliography of resources describing the possiblilities in mathematics. This booklet may be obtained from

Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences
1529 Eighteenth Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
U.S.A.

MATHEMATICS & STATISTICS

Career Information in
B.A. OR B.SC. (MAJOR OR HONOURS)

Prospective Occupations and/or Areas of Advanced Study
for Persons with a Bachelor's Degree

Mathematics students have utilized their mathematical ability and education in the areas of:

Geophysics
Actuarial science (Life Insurance and Pension Fund Mathematics)
Electronic privacy, software support, computer systems performance
Transportation systems, air traffic data system
Communications scheduling
Labor resources and allocation
Accounting and auditing; inventory control
Social, genetic, economic agricultural and urban modeling
Police, medical and commercial information
Education (primary and secondary)
Investment, tax, market and insurance analysis
Experimental design and data interpretations
Cartography
Meteorology
Survey and Market Research
Among a host of others.

Advanced Study in the Following Fields is Open to Persons with a
B.A. or B.Sc. (Honours or Major) in Mathematics

Pure and Applied Mathematics
Computer Science
Operations Research
Probability and Statistics
Business Administration (M.B.A.), Quantitative Analysis, Accounting
Mathematical Economics
Engineering Applications - Industrial, Reliability Theory, Control Theory
Biomathematics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Mathematical Ecology
Mathematical Psychology, Educational Research Psychometrics
Actuarial Science (Mathematics of Insurance)
Law, Patent Law
Medical School

Occupational Opportunities for Persons with Postgraduate
Training in Mathematics or Statistics (M.A., M.Sc., Ph.D.)

In addition to the many occupational opportunities open to a person with a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics, a person with a postgraduate degree in Mathematics is able to enter the areas of:

Statistical Consulting: Biomedical, industrial, pharmaceutical, environmental, educational research, agriculture, government.
Statistical Practise: Commercial polling organizations, Statistics Canada, Market research, etc.
Research: Positions with government research institutes such as Atomic Energy, Defense Research Board, N.R.C., S.R.C., Ontario Research Foundation, and with universities and large companies, such as companies involved in the aerospace, aircraft, communications, computer, mining, oil, and transportation industries.
Teaching: Community colleges, technical institutes and universities.