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Insurance

Degree: BS

Campus: Columbus

College: Business

The insurance major prepares students for professional careers in the global financial services industry by fostering the development of analytical and problem-solving skills in life and health risk management, employee benefit programs, social insurance, and personal and commercial property and liability risk management.

Students admitted to the Columbus campus are also admitted directly to the Fisher major program and the insurance specialization.

Principles courses

Accounting Principles
Economics Principles
Statistics

Core courses

Business Skills and Environment
Business Law
Finance
International Business
Logistics
Management Sciences
Management and Human Resources
Marketing
Strategic Management

Required major courses

Employee Benefit Plans
Insurance and Risk
Insurance courses
Life and Health Insurance
Property and Liability Insurance

The Office of Global Business provides Fisher students with a variety of options where they can put classroom theories into action in compelling international locations and learn through experience. Employers value the diverse background that global experiences provide and list "strategic international understanding" and "cross-cultural experience" as two of the most desirable employee traits.

Though internships are not required for business students, 95 percent of students registered with the Office of Career Management have some kind of internship experience before they graduate. Many students receive an offer of full-time employment from their internship employer.
 

Honors students majoring in business, have the option of applying for and participating in one of four Honors programs (Accounting Honors, Finance Honors, Honors Cohort, Honors Immersion) or an Honors research project. Each option provides the opportunity to graduate with a diploma designation.

Entering freshman admitted to University Honors will be invited to apply to the Integrated Business and Engineering Honors Program and the Business Honors Learning Community.

The Business Scholars Program is a community of talented students that participate in programs and activities designed to offer insight into business practice and environment. Business Scholars learn to understand the vital role of collaboration through teambuilding, leadership training and workshops. Additionally, Business Scholars can develop partnerships with Fisher College of Business faculty and alumni.

The Undergraduate Leadership & Engagement Office connects Fisher students with opportunities to enhance leadership competencies, develop professional preparedness, and connect with their chosen industry and the Fisher community.

Additionally, Fisher is home to more than 35 student organizations that focus on academics, diversity, common business topics and more.

Insurance is recognized as an important field by many corporations, hospitals and government units. Many of these organizations employ graduates in positions requiring an understanding of issues related to insurance and risk management (e.g. employee benefit management). In addition, the insurance industry is a large employer of individuals with university-level education, and knowledge of principles of risk management and insurance provides important background for understanding the insurance operations and the functions of insurance in society.

A bachelor’s degree is required for entry into many careers within the insurance industry. Specific career opportunities within the insurance industry include underwriters, claims administrators, information systems experts, investment managers and sales agents. Outside the insurance industry, knowledge from the fields of risk management and insurance is needed by employee benefit managers, financial planners and risk managers. Increasingly, continued education after leaving the university environment is essential for promotion in these careers.

Professional designations such as ARM, CLU, CPCU, ChFc, LOMA and CFP often appear after the names of risk managers, employee benefit managers and executives in the insurance industry.

In 2018-19, the starting salary averaged $56,759 for graduates who majored in insurance.

At graduation, Fisher College of Business graduates: 

  • Will posses strong analytical and problem-solving skills to identify and critically assess problems facing contemporary businesses
  • Will demonstrate in-depth knowledge of human resources
  • Will possess a global perspective and can critically eval­uate the international context a contemporary business operates in
  • Can identify and assess ethical issues surrounding business decisions
  • Are able to work effectively in a team-based environment
  • Can demonstrate professional deportment and effective oral and written communication skills

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Courses in insurance also provide a solid foundation for continued study towards professional designations such as ARM, CPCU, LOMA and CFP. These designations often appear after the names of risk managers, employee benefits managers and executives in the insurance industry.

Interested in a business career?

Check out the Business Pathway to discover the many majors Ohio State offers that can lead to a career in business.