Our History
From its institutional establishment in 2018 to resolve the historical deficit of actuaries in North-Central Mexico, to consolidating as a pioneering bimodal program with cutting-edge research and graduates active across the national financial and insurance sectors.
The Emergence of Actuarial Science in Zacatecas
Historically, actuarial training in Mexico was heavily centralized in Mexico City and select industrial metropolises. Talented students in North-Central Mexico passionate about mathematical modeling and finance faced geographic barriers to pursuing a profession vital for the solvency of public and private institutions.
Addressing this regional need, the Academic Unit of Mathematics at Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas conducted a comprehensive socioeconomic relevance study in 2017. The analysis uncovered an unmet demand for quantitative risk modeling, insurance design, contingent pension valuation, and financial analytics across Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, San Luis Potosí, Durango, and the Bajío region.
Supported by UAZ's distinguished mathematical and scientific heritage, in November 2018 the H. University Council formally approved the curriculum for the Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science, structured across 10 semesters and aligned with the standards of the National College of Actuaries (CONAC) and the Society of Actuaries (SOA).
The subsequent rollout of the online program in 2022 marked a transformative milestone, allowing UAZ to deliver rigorous mathematical education to students nationwide, combining academic excellence with social equity and accessible public higher education.
Chronology of Growth & Consolidation (2018 – 2026)
Explore the key milestones that have forged the character, infrastructure, and academic standing of our degree program over the years.
Approval of the Degree Program by the H. University Council
Following a rigorous socioeconomic feasibility assessment demonstrating the deficit of risk modeling professionals in North-Central Mexico, the H. University Council of the UAZ formally approved the creation of the Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science within the Academic Unit of Mathematics.
- Socioeconomic relevance study endorsed by actuarial colleges and financial industries
- Curriculum design aligned with the guiding frameworks of the National College of Actuaries (CONAC)
- Allocation of facilities and founding faculty at Campus Universitario II
Inauguration & First On-Campus Cohort
The Academic Unit of Mathematics formally welcomed the pioneering cohort of on-campus students, establishing a quantitative degree program of academic excellence in Zacatecas.
- Launch of the core foundational curriculum in Calculus, Higher Algebra, and Analytic Geometry
- Integration of the first full-time research faculty body
- Establishment of the annual Actuary Week lecture series
Technological Modernization & Scientific Computing Infrastructure
High-performance computing laboratories were inaugurated in the Mathematics Building, standardizing analytical environments based on open-source software and scientific reproducibility tools.
- Deployment of Linux workstations with R packages (tidyverse, actuar) and Python environments
- Institutional access to scientific research databases (CONRICYT, ScienceDirect)
- Intersemester workshops on scientific typesetting with LaTeX and version control
Launch of the Online (Distance Learning) Program
Responding to growing nationwide demand from prospective students across Mexican states and working professionals, UAZ launched the Online Program of the Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science, sharing an identical curriculum and academic rigor.
- Pedagogical deployment across institutional Moodle Virtual Classrooms (ecursos.reduaz.mx)
- Design of asynchronous instructional guides and remote tutorial mentorship
- Active enrollment with students from over 15 Mexican states
Alumni Maturation & Degree Completion Regulatory Framework
The first cohort of on-campus degree candidates concluded coursework, with the Unit Council approving the five regulatory degree completion pathways and reinforcing agreements for social service and professional internships.
- Collegial approval of the Degree Completion Regulations aligned with the UAZ General Statute
- Labor placement of candidates in actuarial consulting firms, insurance companies, and banking
- Collaboration agreements for professional internships in financial and social security institutions
Curricular Maturity, SNII Research & Future Horizons
The Actuarial Science program stands as the leading quantitative science degree in the region, with 100% of full-time faculty holding postgraduate degrees and membership in the National System of Researchers (SNII).
- Concurrent bimodal admissions call for applicants across Mexico
- Active research lines in actuarial solvency, machine learning, and econometrics
- Modern, transparent institutional web portal serving students, researchers, and society
Build Your Career as an Actuary at UAZ
Explore our two study options (On-Campus at Campus Universitario II and Online nationwide) and start your admissions process during the next official call.