Risk Management and Insurance

What Is the Risk Management and Insurance Major?

The risk management and insurance major at Saint Joseph's University provides an overview of the insurance industry and prepares you to earn CPCU designation. You'll gain a basic understanding of the best practices in financial risk management and the technical skills required to succeed in a variety of positions in the risk management and insurance field. You will explore the functional areas of insurance company management, including investment and financing policies, as well as pricing and underwriting activities.

In addition to acquiring knowledge of the insurance industry and the risk management function, you will refine your skills in the areas of leadership, critical thinking, decision making, risk forecasting and assessment, oral and written communication, problem-solving, attention to detail, interpersonal and cross-cultural relations, organizing and planning and computer literacy. The major's coursework is infused with analytics and offers the option to add a track in actuarial sciences.

Actuarial Studies Track

The actuarial studies track within the risk management and insurance major is designed to give you an understanding of how the actuarial function informs business decisions within the insurance industry and within risk management functions of other industries. Students completing this track will be prepared to take actuarial exams FM, P and IFM.

4+1 Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Program Options

Saint Joseph’s University offers an accelerated bachelor’s/master’s program that allows current undergraduate students to start earning their MBA or Organization Development and Leadership M.S. during their senior year. This model enables you to complete your undergraduate and graduate work in just five years, instead of the traditional six or seven. Combining your bachelor’s with a master’s degree can help you save time and money.

Risk management and insurance majors interested in this unique option must apply to the graduate program in their junior year and be provisionally accepted before they complete their bachelor’s degree.

How Will Saint Joseph's University Prepare Me for a Career in Risk Management and Insurance? 

Build a Network

As a risk management and insurance student, you will benefit from opportunities to connect with industry professionals through the Maguire Academy of Insurance and Risk Management. In addition, you can join Gamma Iota Sigma, the International Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science Collegiate Fraternity. All full or part-time Saint Joseph's University students who are interested in risk management and insurance are encouraged to join the university's Gamma Iota Sigma chapter.

Compete in Collegiate Challenges

You can participate in collegiate challenges such as the Spencer-RIMS Risk Management Challenge, where Saint Joseph's University students have consecutively earned national recognition in their performance.

Learn from Industry Thought Leaders

The faculty in the risk management and insurance program at Saint Joseph's University are thought-leaders in the industry. They develop symposia, provide professionals with continuing education and publish research.

Prepare for Industry Exams

To help build your knowledge of insurance and risk management and to advance your career opportunities, our risk management and insurance curriculum is aligned with industry standards and important designations, including CPCU, AIDA and ARM.