Although rotisserie baseball and life insurance seem unrelated, they do have one important aspect in common -- actuaries.

Everyone needs actuaries, who use their skills in mathematical probabilities to evaluate the risks involved in daily life, including death rates, sickness, accidents, legislation changes and sports statistics.

It's not a lousy job, either.

Based on the criteria of income, environment, outlook, stress, physical demands and job security, actuary is the country's number one job, according to the Jobs Rated Almanac. It is well-paying, with high job security, a good outlook and manageable stress.

One of only 50 universities nationwide that have actuarial science programs, Penn State has one of the largest on the East Coast, said Arnold Shapiro, professor of actuarial science and insurance.

Shapiro, a fellow in the Society of Actuaries, said he has been teaching actuarial science classes here since 1973. He said he enjoys using the concepts of life contingencies and the theory of interest and probability to figure out risk in everyday life.

The Smeal College of Business Administration started an actuarial science major this fall. The mathematics major has offered an actuarial science option since 1973.

Students are involved in the major for various reasons.

"I enjoy mathematics," said Randy Weinstock (junior-actuarial science). Weinstock said he became interested in the career when a high school teacher told him to look into it. He said he liked it and found the University has a good program.

To become an actuary, Weinstock must take a series of exams he said are about as difficult as the bar exams. After five exams, he will be an associate in the Society of Actuaries, and after 10 exams he will be a fellow. It only takes one or two exams to get a good job, but salary tends to increase with each successive exam.

The Actuarial Science Club promotes the profession, helps people with similar interests meet, holds exam reviews and helps people find jobs and internships with a resume booklet produced every year, said Theresa Shouldis, the club's president.

"I love it," said Shouldis of her intended career. She enjoyed the work she did and the people she met as an intern this summer with Cigna Corporation, a large insurance company based in Bloomfield, Connecticut. Shouldis said she hopes to get a job there after she graduates in May.

"People need to like math," said Steve Oakley (senior-mathematics). He has passed one exam and will take another in November. Oakley said he wants to work for an insurance company after graduation.