Academics

Overview

The Risk Management & Insurance program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills for a career in the insurance industry and enterprise risk management field. In the RMI Program, students will explore the various functional areas, such as underwriting, claims, and loss control that are related to RMI. Students will become skilled in identifying, accessing, and managing the types of risks facing financial institutions, corporations, and individuals and in recommending appropriate insurance coverages.

Courses & Requirements

Summary of Requirements

The program will consist of: General Education requirements; business pre-major requirements; business core requirements; RMI major requirements; major electives; and free electives as shown below:

2023-2024
Core Curriculum 43
Pre-Major Courses 10
Major and Related Courses 72
Major Elective Courses 6
Total 131

Requirements for a Major in Risk Management and Insurance:

Students must be accepted into the Risk Management and Insurance major before taking 300-level or above courses in the Department of Business. For continuation in the major, a student must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 in major and non-major courses. A risk management and insurance major must complete at least one internship in the field and are strongly encouraged to achieve at least one Microsoft Office Specialist certification prior to graduation.

 

Required pre-major courses 10 (13)* credits

MAT 102: *Three hours count toward the general education math requirement

This course surveys the fundamentals of business administration, including management, organizational behavior, marketing, economics, statistics, management information systems, accounting, finance, entrepreneurship, international business, and ethics & social responsibility. It is intended both for students who seek a one-time exposure to business as well as those planning to major in a Department of Business program.

Credits: 3
Requisites:

ENG 102 and ASL 125

Distribution: Bachelors, Undergraduate

This course and lab equip students to function in the information society. It introduces students to the current Windows environment and Microsoft Office Suites as they are ubiquitous in today's workplace and personal computing environment. Through hands-on training, students will learn basic skills in Word (word processing), Excel (spreadsheet), Access (database), and PowerPoint (presentation). In addition, file management, Browser, and E-mail basic skills will be practiced.

Credits: 3
Requisites:

ASL 125 and ENG 102

Distribution: Bachelors, Undergraduate

Basic concepts of probability and statistics, and applications to the sciences, social sciences, and management. Probability, conditional probability, Bayes Formula, Bernoulli trials, expected value, frequency distributions, and measures of central tendency. Credit will not be allowed for MAT 102 if student has previously passed MAT 130; 102 will not be counted toward a major in the department.

Credits: 3
Requisites:

GSR 104 or MAT 055 or the equivalent, or permission of the Mathematics Program Director.

Distribution: Undergraduate

This course emphasizes the meaning and application of the concepts of functions. It covers polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions and their graphs, trigonometric identities. Passing both MAT 125 and 126 is equivalent to passing MAT 130.

Credits: 4
Requisites:

A grade of C or above in MAT 055 or the equivalent, a satisfactory score on appropriate placement exam, or permission of the Mathematics Program Director.

Distribution: Bachelors, Undergraduate

Required core courses 54 credits

As the second part of introduction to Financial Accounting, this course provides a detailed coverage of long-term liabilities, long-lived assets, stockholder's equity, investments, cash flows, and financial statement analysis. Special topics such as payroll accounting, accounting for partnership, and other related topics are also covered.

Credits: 3
Requisites:

ACC 201 and BUS 181

Distribution: Bachelors, Undergraduate

Management (or Managerial) Accounting comprises financial and nonfinancial information intended to meet internal users' needs. It involves the development and interpretation of accounting information intended to assist management in the operation of the business. Topics include financial statement analysis and the use of accounting information for planning and control, performance evaluation, and decision-making. The course will cover cost behavior, job order costing, process costing, cost volume-profit relationship, relevant costing/benefits, budgeting, activity-based costing, cash flow and financial statement analysis. Computer lab is required.

Credits: 3
Requisites:

ACC 201 and BUS 181

Distribution: Bachelors, Undergraduate

This course explores the major functions of management: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. Within these four functions are subjects such as self-management, organizational structure and culture, leadership, motivating employees, teamwork, human resource management, self-management, change management, and planning and decision-making tools and techniques. This course takes an inside out approach, where the student learns first about themselves and then develops their ability to manage progressively larger and more diverse groups of people and projects.

Credits: 3
Requisites:

B or better in BUS 101

Distribution: Bachelors, Undergraduate

This course examines the basic principles of marketing and provides the opportunity to develop the critical analysis and management skills needed by successful marketers. Within the framework of the ''product, price, promotion, distribution, and customer'' elements of marketing, course topics include market segmentation, targeting, positioning, consumer behavior, integrated marketing communication, marketing ethics and social responsibility, and the global dimensions of marketing (including e-marketing).

Credits: 3
Requisites:

B or better in BUS 101

Distribution: Bachelors, Undergraduate

This course focuses on statistical concepts and their application to businesses. It provides opportunities to develop fundamental skills in quantitative research, presentation, and critical analysis applicable to the business environment. Topics include quantitative and graphical descriptive techniques, data collection and sampling, probability distributions, estimation techniques, inferential and regression analysis.

Credits: 3
Requisites:

C+ or better in MAT 102; Business department majors only; or permission of the instructor

Distribution: Bachelors, Undergraduate

This course is cross-listed and is otherwise known as PHI 341. This course introduces students to the normative theories of moral philosophy and how they apply to the business world. It covers a spectrum of topics in the subjects of conflict of interest, corporate ethics and climate, discrimination, ethical climate, ethical decision-making, ethical issues, and ethical standards. Students will use case studies and current events to critically analyze common ethical issues in the business environment and recommend appropriate courses of actions.

Credits: 3
Requisites:

Business department majors only, or permission of the department.

Distribution: Bachelors, Undergraduate

This course examines the basic principles of financial management and provides opportunities to develop basic quantitative, research, and critical analytical skills that are useful to a financial manager. Topics include financial managerial functions and responsibilities, risk/return trade-off, ethics and social responsibility, taxation issues, financial institutions and economic environment, interest rate analysis, financial statement analysis, time value of money, and valuation techniques.

Credits: 3
Requisites:

ACC 202, BUS 211, BUS 331, and Business department majors only; or permission of the instructor

Distribution: Bachelors, Undergraduate

This course focuses on the global dimensions of business. It covers a broad spectrum of subjects in foreign direct investment and trade, international cooperate strategies, international governance and regulation, international patents and protections, and multinational culture. The political, cultural, institutional, economic, legal, and technological environmental forces that accompany global business activities are discussed in an integrated manner.

Credits: 3
Requisites:

BUS 261 or GSR 220; BUS 351, BUS 371; Business department majors only, or permission of the department.

Distribution: Undergraduate

This course introduces students to the American business legal environment and covers basic concepts in contracts, the uniform commercial code, corporations and partnerships, agency, intellectual property, employment, antitrust, consumer protection, security regulation, environmental and international law, and business ethics and social responsibility.

Credits: 3
Requisites:

Business department majors only, or permission of the department

Distribution: Bachelors, Undergraduate

An introduction to data and information processing concepts and systems viewed from a contemporary management perspective. The course provides the conceptual foundations in understanding technologies, such as computer hardware and software, the Internet, networking, security, enterprise computing, e-commerce, database management, and how information systems support business functions. The hands-on labs enable students to develop in-demand skills in business analytics and data management.

Credits: 3
Requisites:

B or better in BUS 181; Business department majors only or permission of the department.

Distribution: Bachelors, Undergraduate
Business analytics encompasses the skills, technologies, and practices for continuous iterative exploration and investigation of past business performance to gain insight and drive business planning. This course prepares students to interpret data to inform business decisions, recognize trends, detect outliers, summarize data sets, and analyze relationships between variables, etc. Beginning with basic descriptive statistics and progressing to regression analysis, students will implement analytical techniques using software tools, such as Excel, and apply fundamental quantitative methods to real business problems. Selected major-specific projects will be used to enable students to apply functional knowledge and skills associated with their respective major.
Credits: 3
Requisites:

BUS 351, 381, Business department majors only; or permission of the instructor

Distribution: Major, Undergraduate

This course examines the production phase of business activities. It covers a broad spectrum of subjects in continuous improvement, cost control, data analysis tools, and quality management. Students will learn to analyze and apply methods of design and operation of production systems.

Credits: 3
Requisites:

BUS 211 and 331; Business department majors only or permission of the department

Distribution: Bachelors, Undergraduate

This course, the first of the two-course Senior Capstone sequence, serves to review and reinforce all business functional knowledge in the areas of marketing, finance, accounting, operations/production management, human resources management, organizational behavior, ethics, legal business environment, macro- and micro-economics, global dimensions of business, information management systems, quantitative research techniques and statistics, business leadership, integration, and strategic management. The class will use a hybrid instructional platform which utilizes both online self-paced eLearning and onsite lectures and discussions.

Credits: 3
Requisites:

BUS 331, 341, 351, 361, 371, 381, and 391; Business department majors only, or permission of the department.

Distribution: Bachelors, Undergraduate

This is the second course of the senior capstone series. It is designed for graduating seniors majoring in Accounting, Business Administration, and Risk Management to synthesize, apply, and integrate all business functional knowledge and their major-specific expertise to solve complex problems in a real and virtual business environment. A variety of instructional techniques such as case studies, simulations, team projects, guest speakers, and field trips may be used to deliver an enhanced capstone experience. Through simulations,students will emulate top corporate executives to develop and implement strategy plans and business policies in a competitive, global business environment.

Credits: 3
Requisites:

BUS 491; Business department majors only, or permission of the department.

Distribution: Bachelors, Undergraduate

This course introduces students to the study of economics and provides an overview of common macroeconomic concepts. The course encourages students to understand, use, and analyze common macroeconomic concepts such as inflation, employment, consumption, national income, money, and interest rates, as well as the fundamental economic concepts of supply and demand, marginal analysis, and opportunity costs.

Credits: 3
Requisites:

B or better in BUS 101; C or better in MAT 125

Distribution: Bachelors, Undergraduate

This course provides an overview of common microeconomic concepts. The course encourages students to critically analyze common microeconomic concepts such as supply and demand, prices, markets and market structure, competition, utility, production costs, marginal analysis, and opportunity costs. The underlying theoretical basis for these concepts and how they are interrelated with each other and with the overall economy is also introduced in this course.

Credits: 3
Requisites:

ECO 201

Distribution: Bachelors, Undergraduate

Study and intensive practice of professional writing skills and genres, such as resumes, letters of application, emails, memos, short proposals and reports.

Credits: 3
Requisites:

GSR 150 or permission of the instructor.

Distribution: Bachelors, Undergraduate

Required Risk Management and Insurance courses 18 credits

This course starts with a broad overview of ways to manage risk, and the approach taken by insurance companies to contain these risks. The nature of the insurance contract, the various types of insurance, and their routine components are examined. The use of insurance as a solution for business problems is also explored. Because most employee group benefits are insurance related, those components of a benefit plan are a focal point of the course. Topics such as insurer solvency and profitability, insurance regulation, insurance contracts, and loss exposures mainly in the area of property and liability insurance will be covered.

Credits: 3
Distribution: Bachelors, Minor, Undergraduate

This course will look at current issues in the Property/Casualty insurance industry. Basic principles, functions and uses of property & casualty insurance; types of policy contracts; calculation of premiums reserves; organization management; supervision of companies.

Credits: 3
Requisites:

RMI 201, Business Department majors only, or permission from the Business department.

Distribution: Bachelors, Minor, Undergraduate

The course covers off-shore financing, role of reinsurance, history of alternative risk financing, forecasting risk loss, capital market functions, forming captive insurance companies, and use of derivatives in risk management.

Credits: 3
Requisites:

RMI 201, Business Department majors only, or permission from the Business department.

Distribution: Bachelors, Undergraduate

This course covers property and casualty underwriting through the principles of underwriting; strategic underwriting techniques; the insurance production environment; and insurance agency management tools and processes. Students will learn to assess whether to accept insurance risks (or groups of risks) and at what price.

Credits: 3
Requisites:

RMI 301, RMI 310; Business Department majors only, or permission from the Business department

Distribution: Bachelors, Undergraduate

This course is designed to give greater coverage to those risk management and insurance topics that are not covered in great detail in other courses. Such as risk assessment and mapping, emerging risks, insurance markets, risk transfer and risk financing, insurance economics, catastrophe risks, Social Security, Public health Insurance, and international risk issues.

Credits: 3
Requisites:

RMI 301, RMI 310, RMI 315; Business Department majors only, or permission from the Business department.

Distribution: Bachelors, Undergraduate

Enterprise Risk Management comprehensively addresses all risks faced by an organization - pure risk, speculative financial risks, strategic risks, operational risks and other risks. This course is designed to apply the theories and techniques in the process of planning, organizing, leading and controlling the activities of an organization to minimize risks. It also provides an overview of risk management and insurance markets and products that can be used to help manage the organization's risk. In addition, several valuation and risk management tools and models designed to measure and manage risk will be introduced and discussed.

Credits: 3
Requisites:

BUS 351, RMI 301, 310, and 315; or permission of instructor

Distribution: Bachelors, Undergraduate

Major Electives courses 6 credits

Choose two courses:

Study of concepts, techniques and principles of cost and management accounting. The use of accounting data for managerial decision making, planning, and control.. Topics include budgeting, cost concepts, cost behavior, cost-volume-profits relationships, inventory control, standard costs, absorption costing versus direct costing, variance analysis, cost allocations, setting price and international issues.

Credits: 3
Requisites:

ACC 202; Business department majors only or permission of the department.

Distribution: Bachelors, Undergraduate

Study of federal income taxation of individuals and their impact on personal and business financial decision making. Topics include: concepts of gross income, deductions, tax credits; business and personal investment deductions; sale and other dispositions of property; changes in tax law and economic impact of the law. Although the course emphasizes income taxation, issues such as gift, estate, partnership and corporate taxation are discussed.

Credits: 3
Requisites:

ACC 202; Business department majors only or permission of the department.

Distribution: Bachelors, Undergraduate

A course that examines the principles of financial investing and provides opportunities to develop basic quantitative, research, presentation, and critical analytical skills that are useful to an investor. Topics include analysis of the investment environment, tools and mechanics of investing (debt instruments, government and municipal securities, common stock, real estate), portfolio construction and management, dealing with securities markets, tax issues in investing, research strategies, financial statement analysis, and risk/return trade-off analysis. This course incorporates student management of an actual investment fund that is a component of Gallaudet University's endowment.

Credits: 3
Requisites:

ASL 125 and ENG 102

Distribution: Undergraduate

Primary course focus is on evaluating life insurance policies. The nature and importance of life insurance within the individual and business perspective and techniques for evaluating life insurance contracts will be covered. Whole Life, Term Life and Key Person Life Insurance will be analyzed. Cost/benefit analysis of various types of life insurance, both individual and business will be addressed.

Credits: 3
Requisites:

RMI 201, Business Department majors only, or permission from the Business department

Distribution: Undergraduate

Special topics in the discipline, designed primarily for seniors. Students may enroll in 495 Special Topics multiple times, as long as the topics differ

Credits: 1-5
Distribution: Undergraduate
Accreditation

The BS in Risk Management and Insurance (RMI) is accredited by the Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), a leading specialized accreditation body for business education around the world.

Job Outlook

Faculty

James Bruner

Instructor

Erica Webber

Adjunct Faculty I

Get the Details

Fill out our inquiry form for an Admissions Counselor to contact you.

Inquiry Form

Apply Today

Create an account to start Your Applications.

Create an Account

Contact the Admissions Office?

Undergraduate Admissions

Contact Us

B.S in Risk Management and Insurance

** By Appointment Only **

Select what best describes your relationship to Gallaudet University so we can efficiently route your email.
By submitting this form, I opt in to receive select information and deaf resources from Gallaudet University via email.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.