Career opportunities in mathematics

Abstract

Scope of Study: This report has been prepared to help the student, teacher, parent, or anyone who is interested in career guidance in mathematics in order that they might have at hand: (1) a brief summary of the importance of mathematics to .everyone; (2) some of the major occupations employing young people with good mathematical backgrounds; and (3) a summary of what one may expect to find in courses which deal with so-called ''modern mathematics", which is just beginning to have a great impact on the high school.

Findings and Conclusions: Mathematics and the way of thinking out a problem it teaches are essential for anyone in any kind of work and knowing what mathematics can do is a great help in business or any other career.

Mathematics is no longer considered to be merely a tool for such fields as engineering and physics, but has come into its own as a field of endeavor. Mathematics majors may now find employment as statisticians, members of operations research teams in industry or government, actuaries, and high school and college teachers where the work requires primarily a sound background in mathematics as a prerequisite for success and future advancement.

The mathematics curriculum in the high school is undergoing a change in order to meet the needs of the high school student. There is some new subject matter but, more important perhaps, is the point of view from which both the old and new subject matter will be approached. This is the reason for its being called "modern mathematics."