Insurance & Risk Management

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The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Finance, Insurance and Risk Management degree program at UL Lafayette was founded and exists through the vision and effort of dedicated industry professionals. These professionals recognize the need for a quality program of primary and continuing risk and insurance education that emphasizes ethics and professionalism, as well as practical knowledge. UL Lafayette is committed to providing a nationally respected program that will benefit both the people of Louisiana and the industry as a whole. This close partnership with industry offers risk and insurance management students a tremendous opportunity for learning and advancement into exciting and well-paying jobs.

Career Opportunities

The insurance and risk management field is a dynamic and highly competitive international industry where individual effort, knowledge, skill and creativity is recognized and rewarded. UL Lafayette risk and insurance management graduates have a wide variety of job opportunities available to them such as: risk analyst, risk manager, underwriter, claims representative, adjuster, producer, broker, agent, financial planner, premium auditor, loss control specialist, employee benefits manager, fraud investigator, safety manager or actuary.

Faculty

UL insurance/risk management faculty are academically and professionally qualified instructors dedicated to enhancing the educational experience of students by introducing real world applications as well as theoretical concepts. Research contributions by UL faculty members regularly appear in several of the industry’s leading academic and trade journals, and numerous presentations are made to a variety of academic and professional associations. The risk and insurance faculty are committed to maintaining close working relationships with a variety of prominent industry, professional and academic organizations, having held leadership roles in many such groups at the local, state, regional and national levels.

Curriculum

The UL Lafayette insurance and risk management program features an interdisciplinary course of study to help prepare students for professional careers in the insurance and financial service industry. Students take a core of general business courses and advanced courses in finance and insurance and risk management. The opportunity and flexibility to choose from a variety of electives gives students the ability to develop their knowledge in specialized disciplines and to tailor their own educational experience to meet their individual needs and interests. Risk and insurance management majors are encouraged to participate in departmentally approved paid internships. The internship experience provides students with real-world training, and an opportunity to apply major course concepts in a business environment. Internships often lead to full-time employment. Study opportunities across the nation, and around the world, are available to risk and insurance students in locations such as New York City, London and Bermuda.

Scholarships and Awards

Many endowed scholarships and awards are currently available for risk and insurance majors. Some of the sponsoring organizations include: the Louisiana Department of Insurance, the National Association of Insurance Women (NAIW) of Acadiana, the Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) of Acadiana, the Southwest Louisiana Claims Association, the Louisiana Surplus Line Association, the Shelter Insurance Companies, and various local agencies and professional groups. The UL Lafayette program enjoys a wide range of industry support from every major segment of the state and local risk and insurance industry. UL Lafayette students also regularly compete for, and have won, prestigious national and international scholarships sponsored by organizations such as the Spencer Educational Foundation [part of the national Risk & Insurance Management Society (RIMS) of professional corporate risk managers], the Million Dollar Round Table [the premier international organization of the top life/health producers], and the Bermuda Insurance Foundation. The annual James D. Parkerson Award recognizes the "outstanding student" in the major from the introductory principles class.

Student Organizations

The UL Lafayette student Risk Management & Insurance Society is an officially recognized student organization sponsored by the faculty. The Society hosts regular meetings and social events where industry leaders, alumni and other guest speakers share their knowledge and experiences with the membership.

An annual resume book of student members is published and distributed to potential employers by the Society, and it has hosted numerous local, regional and national firms at several annual RMIS Career Days. All finance, risk and insurance majors, minors and other interested students are encouraged to join the Society at their earliest opportunity.

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