Study of Risk Management and Insurance (RMI) helps students understand the many aspects of an industry that is vital to our economy. RMI concentrates on value creation, asset protection, and corporate and financial risk management. It also addresses financial and economic characteristics of exposure to loss and explores techniques for hedging risks and minimizing associated costs.
The Emmett J. Vaughan Institute of Risk Management and Insurance provides dedicated scholarships, internships, and a student resource center for RMI students. There are numerous opportunities to network with industry leaders and hear special speakers through both the Institute and its affiliated student organization, Gamma Iota Sigma.
The Tippie College of Business is known for the strength of its academic departments and the community built by its students, faculty, and staff. U.S. News & World Report ranks Iowa's undergraduate business program in the top 25 public universities nationwide. Individually, the college’s six departments have earned high marks in national rankings and studies of academic programs.
Students in the college's seven majors will focus on a core academic discipline but are able to supplement their degree with interdisciplinary certificates, minors, or a second major in another college. Academic pursuits are complemented by an array of leadership opportunities, internships, research, service-learning, and Study Abroad programs.
The college's Direct Admission program for qualifying first-year students provides a variety of activities that enhance student development, such as a seminar for first-year Business students and housing in the BizHawks living learning community, which is located in the UI residence halls. Direct Admission students also may apply for the Tippie First-Year Scholarship, valued at $1,500 to $3,000.
Admission to all of Iowa's undergraduate Business majors is selective. Students may be admitted to the Tippie College of Business either through Direct Admission or Standard Admission.
Direct Admission is for first-year students with a 3.60 high school grade-point average (GPA) and an ACT composite score of 26 or higher. Applicants who meet the high school course requirements and either the GPA or test score requirement will be carefully considered for Direct Admission. Standard Admission is for current UI Pre-business students that meet the established admission criteria, typically after their first year.
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Employment demands are high and the industry is dynamic and changing rapidly. The financial services/insurance sector is the second largest economic sector in Iowa, including 29 headquartered companies and 228 branches.
Risk management and insurance is a diverse field with many career opportunities. Graduates with strong RMI backgrounds work in a variety of jobs, including underwriter, claims adjuster, financial analyst, capital and asset manager, insurance and accounting auditor, actuary, business risk management consultant, bank compliance officer, personal banker, and stock exchange trader.
Iowa graduates have a 96 percent job/grad school placement rate within six months of graduation. Our Pomerantz Career Center offers multiple resources to help students find internships and jobs.
Iowa students choose from more than 500 student organizations and multiple undergraduate research opportunities.
Students use UI academic resources such as the University of Iowa Honors Program, internships and career preparation offered by the Pomerantz Career Center, and Study Abroad. They also participate in College of Business Student Organizations, leadership conferences, and case studies that provide leadership opportunities.
Study Abroad
In today's global economy, students must prepare to work with people around the world. Study Abroad provides opportunities to develop multicultural skills and increase proficiency in a world language. UI Study Abroad coordinates a wide selection of programs open to all undergraduates. In addition, the Tippie College of Business offers the following programs for its students:
- Summer internships in London, Paris, Madrid, and Hong Kong: You'll gain professional experience and academic course credit in these non-paid programs, which last eight or 10 weeks. Internships are available in private-sector business, law, non-governmental organizations, professional associations, schools, hospitals, political parties, policy think tanks, lobby groups, and many other areas. You may be able to earn academic credit for your work.
- Study Abroad in Italy: You'll spend a semester or summer studying in Paderno del Grappa, Italy, in programs offered by the Consortium of Universities for International Studies (CUIS). You'll earn credit for your coursework, which will emphasize current international events. You'll also be encouraged to study Italian and participate in executive lectures, plant tours, and other activities. The program's students and faculty primarily come from the 30-plus American public universities that belong to CUIS.
- Business program in London: A Tippie College of Business faculty member teaches this course during the UI winter session (late December to January). You'll live in a student apartment in central London, visit businesses, learn from business leaders, and take in cultural and historic sites. Class offerings vary from year to year.
- Business and Culture in China: Beijing and Shanghai become your classroom during this two-week exploration of business and culture. Through interactive company visits, cultural excursions, and small group discussions, you will discover how businesses operate in China and explore how the cultural environment intersects with the global marketplace.
The University of Iowa provides a variety of scholarships to eligible undergraduate students through the Iowa Scholarship Portal. Scholarships are available to first-year, transfer, and currently enrolled students.
For additional details on scholarships for your program of study, check directly with the department or college. Over 300 scholarships are available to business students, some designed specifically for first-year students.
The Office of Admissions and the Office of Student Financial Aid are great resources for students seeking scholarships.
In addition to required coursework for the major, all students must complete the college's General Education Requirements. Introductory Business courses in accounting, business computing essentials, economics, calculus, and statistics must be completed before beginning the following core Business courses:
- Business Communication and Protocol
- Foundations of Business Analytics
- Introductory Financial Management
- Introduction to Law
- Introduction to Management
- Information Systems
- Operations Management
- Introduction to Marketing Strategy
The certificate program is designed to give students an in-depth understanding of risk management tools as well as hands-on experience using them. It provides students with the knowledge to understand the business model of insurance. Experiential learning is a cornerstone of the program.
Students work as consultants solving real world risk management challenges for companies in eastern Iowa. These projects are supervised by industry professionals, while conceptual classes are taught by research-active professors with global reputations. The Vaughan Institute was named a Global Center of Insurance Excellence, one of only 20 in the world.
Review Risk Management and Insurance in the UI General Catalog for to learn about required coursework.
Tippie RISE
All Tippie College of Business undergraduate students must successfully complete at least one Tippie RISE experience (research, an internship, Study Abroad, or experiential learning). Students will bridge the classroom with the real world and gain a competitive edge in the job market and in admission to graduate school.