Insurance Specialization

From man-made disasters to natural threats, our personal and professional lives can change in an instant. It’s a risky world, but where would we be without visionary men and women who were willing to take a chance?

Hope for the best but plan for the worst. If you have a head for business and a passion for planning safe, secure, and bright futures, add a specialization in insurance to your Byrum School of Business studies.

Why choose an insurance specialization at Marian?

Think insurance is boring? Stifle your yawn. According to Insurance Journal, sales will approach nearly one trillion dollars in 2018. That’s big business. And today’s insurance industry goes far beyond the basic coverage needed for personal automobiles, health, and property, like:

• Agricultural
• Aviation
• Business interruption
• Collateral protection
• Cyber
• Earthquake
• Flood
• Kidnap and ransom
• Legal expenses
• Liability
• Malpractice
• Mortgage
• Pollution
• Shipping
• Terrorism
• Travel
• War risk
• Weather
• Worker’s compensation

Marian University’s insurance specialization is focused on helping you build business knowledge and understand the “big picture” of a business and insurance environment that is changing due to:

• Political, legislative, and regulatory trends
• Technological advances and changing customer expectations
• Rising interest rates and catastrophic losses

As a Byrum School of Business student, you’ll explore and study top trends in the insurance industry, like continuing mergers and acquisitions, the growth of cyber insurance, the rise of new micro-industries like marijuana cultivation, and escalating rates of reinsurance.

You’ll learn about important, relevant business continuity, financial services, risk management, and insurance-based tools and trends as well as best practices for sales and profitability. You’ll also develop strong communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and other essential skills.

What will you study?

In addition to completing common core of business courses, you’ll take general education, required, and elective courses that are specific to your chosen major.

Marian University’s 12-credit specialization in insurance is a great complement for management, finance, and marketing majors. You’ll complete courses like:

• MKT 240: Principles of Marketing
• FIN 111: Personal Finance
• FIN 357: Risk and Insurance
• FIN 360: Investments
• MKT 342: Selling and Sales Management
• MKT 444: Negotiation

You’ll work closely with your academic advisor to complete required courses and choose elective courses that are a good fit with your personal and professional goals.

All Marian business majors complete at least one internship. With a specialization in insurance, you may also choose complete a second internship before graduation.

What are your career paths?

While estimates vary, about 25 percent of insurance positions are in sales and marketing. The majority are in professional, managerial, and technical roles related to actuary science, claims, loss control, risk management, safety management, and underwriting.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for insurance sales agents is expected to grow by at least 10 percent, which is more quickly than average compared to other professions, through 2026. Their median pay in 2017 was nearly $50,000.

Related occupations and their median pay in 2017 include:

• Actuaries: $101,560
• Budget analyst: $75,240
• Claims adjuster, appraiser, examiner, and investigator: $64,690
• Insurance underwriters: $69,760
• Personal financial advisor: $90,640