MS Information Technology student in Sutliff Hall

Risk Management and Insurance

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Turn uncertainty into opportunity. Learn how to evaluate risk, navigate the insurance landscape, and make strategic decisions that protect people and organizations.

Degrees & Offerings
  • Concentration
Location
  • Bloomsburg
  • Lock Haven
  • Mansfield
  • Online
Department
College
Program Contact
Professor
Illustration of Mountain

The Risk Management and Insurance concentration at Commonwealth University prepares students for careers in the evolving risk and insurance industry. The program blends financial principles with specialized coursework in risk assessment, insurance law, and private insurance operations. Students gain practical knowledge in life, health, and commercial insurance while developing the analytical skills needed to manage risk for individuals and organizations.

Experiential learning transforms classroom concepts into real-world confidence for this rising Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg sales professional.

Program Overview

  • Applied Curriculum — Coursework driven by course-embedded projects, industry-leading software, simulations, and cases.
  • Zeigler Institute for Professional Development (ZIPD) — Sponsors executive panels, seminars, and a business conference to help students develop professional skills and network with alumni.
  • Powerful Combinations: Customize your education and create additional career options through a selection of minors and double majors such as: Management, Information Technology and Analytics, International Business, Marketing and Professional Sales.
  • Pre-Professional Experiences: You’ll have the opportunity to sharpen your skills in our specialized hubs for professional development like the Giuffre Center for Supply Chain Management, the Benner-Hudock Center for Financial Analysis, and the Professional Sales Center. You’ll develop a competitive advantage as you participate in the Zeigler Institute for Professional Development (ZIPD). And you’ll do all this before an internship, MBA, or landing a job.

Courses and Curriculum

The Risk Management and Insurance (RMI) concentration gives students a deeper understanding of how businesses identify, evaluate, and manage risk in today's changing marketplace. By combining finance fundamentals with specialized insurance and risk management coursework, students develop practical skills that open doors to careers in insurance, financial services, corporate risk management, and consulting. Our students will:

  • Gain specialized knowledge in risk management, insurance, and financial services. 
  • Learn to evaluate and manage risk for individuals, businesses, and organizations. 
  • Build expertise in insurance law, regulatory environments, and the private insurance market. 
  • Explore life, health, property, liability, and commercial insurance products. 
  • Develop analytical and decision-making skills through an integrated finance and insurance curriculum. 
  • Understand how organizations identify, assess, and mitigate financial and operational risks. 
  • Prepare for careers in insurance, corporate risk management, financial services, and consulting. 
  • Develop in-demand skills aligned with evolving industry trends, including data analytics and risk modeling. 
  • Benefit from a curriculum designed to complement and strengthen a Finance degree. 
  • Position yourself for leadership opportunities in a growing, high-demand industry. 
  • Address critical workforce needs across Pennsylvania and the broader global economy. 
  • Graduate career-ready for roles that help individuals and organizations navigate uncertainty with confidence.

Degree Requirements

  Degree Progress: Enrolled students can review program requirements and track progress toward degree completion using the university’s degree audit and advising tool, Degree Works.

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  1. Foundational Principles: Discuss the fundamental importance and economic value of risk management and insurance within the global economy.
  2. Legal and Regulatory Framework: Explain the role of government regulation and the specific functions of insurance law and legal contracts in the industry.
  3. Insurance Specialization: Define and explain the major types of insurance products, including life, health, personal property, and commercial liability insurance.
  4. Planning and Strategy: Define and evaluate the complexities of retirement plans and estate planning within a comprehensive risk management framework.
  5. Professional Readiness: Demonstrate an understanding of current industry trends, including the impact of predictive analytics and AI, and identify specific career pathways within the insurance sector.
Three female student pose for phot during ZIPD Business Conference in 2025.

Your MBA, Accelerated

Fast-track your future with Commonwealth University’s Accelerated MBA. Students from any major can begin MBA coursework as seniors and apply graduate-level credits toward their undergraduate degree. With multiple concentrations—including a build-your-own option—you can customize your path to fit your career goals.

Accelerated MBA Program

Careers

Graduates are prepared for a variety of careers in the insurance, financial services, and risk management sectors. The program focuses on risk assessment, insurance law, private insurance operations, life and health insurance, commercial insurance, and emerging trends such as predictive analytics and AI. Example career options may include:

Potential Job Opportunities

  • Insurance Underwriter
  • Risk Management Analyst
  • Claims Adjuster or Claims Examiner
  • Commercial Insurance Specialist
  • Loss Prevention Specialist
  • Life and Health Insurance Representative
  • Insurance Regulatory Analyst
  • Risk Consultant
  • Compliance Analyst
  • Compliance Officer
  • Insurance Data Analyst
  • Estate Planning Associate

Continue to Explore

ZIPD Mock Interview

Building Skills for Career Success

The Zeigler Institute for Professional Development (ZIPD) is a comprehensive educational experience designed to build the personal and professional skills essential for career success. Through topical knowledge, demonstrated professional competencies, and meaningful networking experiences, business students gain a competitive edge for the job market and for admission to graduate or professional programs.

Zeigler Institute for Professional Development

Program Contact

Applying to This Program

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