Bachelor of Business Administration in Risk Management and Insurance
Putting safety first for tomorrow’s unknown.
About this Program
Your future is secure with this degree program. Our graduates become risk analysts, commercial and personal insurance agents, brokers, underwriters, and account managers. This program includes stellar faculty members, prominent guest speakers, and funding for student travel to conferences.
Why Ole Miss RMI?
The Ole Miss RMI program is one of only 34 Global Centers of Insurance Excellence that have been recognized across 11 countries. Our program is among the oldest and largest in the US and our alumni network is strong and wide. Your future is secure in this degree program where graduates accept jobs and internships across the country each year. The vast majority of graduates accept positions in the risk and insurance industry upon graduation.
Our award-winning faculty gives students the knowledge and tools they need to succeed in their careers. Advisory board members mentor students and help keep the program connected to the industry. Other highlights include RMI career fairs, an RMI resume book, an annual insurance symposium, an active RMI fraternity that hosts guest speakers and networking events, generous scholarships, an established summer internship program, opportunities to earn credit towards professional designations, and funded student travel to conferences.
Gamma Iota Sigma (GIS)
The Ole Miss RMI program encourages student participation in GIS intending to facilitate opportunities for students to learn more about the industry and to enhance their professional development. This is accomplished through meetings on campus, online, and attendance at the annual Gamma Iota Sigma International conference. GIS provides a lifetime networking opportunity for its members.
RMI Internships
In the RMI program, we value experiential learning, and our majors can earn up to 6 hours of credit by completing an RMI-related internship. The internship course is FIN 445 – which counts as a finance elective. The course is graded and most of the grade is earned by writing a detailed internship report that includes a SWOT analysis of your employer. You will also be graded on your personal development plan which requires you to ask for mid-internship feedback from your supervisors and co-workers and then formulate a plan for incorporating their feedback.
For more information on FIN 445 see the course syllabus and internship report instructions.
Once you have secured an internship, complete the Internship Confirmation Form. Dr. Liebenberg will review your form and once your internship has been approved he will request that you be enrolled in the requested number of hours.
On this Page…
Program Information
Program Type
Major
Area of Study
Business and Accountancy
Duration
4 Years
Degree
B.B.A. in Risk Management and Insurance
Program Location
Emphases
N/A
Required Credit Hours
120 Hours
Build your career in one of these professions
- Insurance Agent/Broker
- Underwriter
- Risk Manager/Analyst
- Claims Analyst
- Account Executive
- Client Support Specialist
Insurance Career Days and Resume Book
Establishing and maintaining contact with the insurance industry is a hallmark of the Ole Miss RMI program. The success of an academic program is often measured by the ability of its graduates to find employment in their chosen field. One of the highlights for us at the Ole Miss RMI program is to see industry partners and our students come together at our biannual career fairs - in October and February. Our career fair is limited to our majors and those taking our insurance classes. Over 35 companies participate in our fairs each year. Recruiters interested in receiving information on the fairs may contact Ms. Kathy Shoalmire at kshoalmire@bus.olemiss.edu or by calling (662) 801-6695.
Our bi-annual resume book is available electronically. Please email Ms. Shoalmire at kshoalmire@bus.olemiss.edu and enter "resume book" in the subject line.
Ole Miss RMI Students Benefit from Summer Internships
The majority of RMI students complete paid internships. In addition to gaining valuable experience, students earn up to 6 hours of credit for completing the summer internship. At the mid-point of their internships, students interview their supervisor and colleagues to learn what they should stop doing, keep doing, or start doing. At the end of their internships, students turn in a report that includes a detailed analysis of their employer's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Click here for Internships.
Scholarships
- The Kitty H. Brewer Scholarship
- The Perrin Caldwell, Sr. Insurance Scholarship
- The Lance J. Ewing Endowment for Business Excellence in Risk Management and Insurance
- The William L. and Meg Glass Scholarship
- The Ralph J. Healy Insurance Scholarship
- The Carl Edward "Ed" Howard Memorial Scholarship
- The George I. Melichar Insurance Scholarship
- The J. Walter Michel and Michael J. Chaney Risk Management and Insurance Scholarship of Excellence
- The Charles Puffer Newman Memorial Scholarship in Insurance
- The Clant and Louise Seay Scholarship
- The Anne Sullivant Sampson Insurance Scholarship
- The W. Clif Shirley / Bess Hines Scholarship
- The Morgan White Group Scholarship in Insurance and Resource Management
Insurance Symposium
As part of the Insurance Symposium, the Ole Miss RMI program recognizes one individual each year for long-term involvement and commitment to the program by awarding the "Outstanding Supporter Award." Past recipients of this award include:
- Charlene Smith - 2023
- Chadwick W. Russell - 2022
- John Langcuster - 2021
- Bob Williams - 2020
- Lance Ewing - 2019
- Joel Wood - 2018
- Dudley Wooley - 2017
- Clay Cavett - 2016
- Clinton Graham - 2015
- Preston H. Gough, Jr. - 2014
- Ike S. Trotter - 2013
- John P. Wells - 2012
- Ronald P. Tubertini - 2011
- Harper M. Young - 2010
- M.B. "Snooky" Williams - 2009
- Dan W. Webb - 2008
- Robert P. Arnold - 2007
- Millicent Workman - 2006
- C.D. "Red" Galey - 2005
- Thomas J. Joyner - 2004
- Thomas G. Quaka - 2003
- W.M. "Bill" Bryson - 2002
- Van E. Hedges - 2001
- J. Lamar Maxwell - 2000
The Symposium luncheon is a forum for the recognition of a student who has provided outstanding service to the program. Past honorees include:
- MacKenzie Byrd - 2023
- Lily Van Elderen - 2022
- Carson Meek - 2021
- Lauren Story - 2020
- Alexandra Stoughton - 2019
- Nicole Georgis - 2018
- Ashley Varner - 2017
- Kristen Miller - 2016
- Sydney Hedberg - 2015
- Sean England - 2014
- Ryan Herget - 2013
- Chase Miller - 2012
- Melanie England - 2011
- Will Moorer - 2010
- Jennifer Rose Adams - 2010
- Margaret Britt - 2009
- C. Blake Wiedman - 2008
- Benjamin M. Brewer - 2007
- Jack W. Smith - 2006
- Brandon S. Sherman - 2005
- Andrea L. Cox - 2004
- Enomwoyi "Noe" Woods - 2003
- Kristy Phuong Truong - 2002
- Ross E. Webster - 2001
- Kara J. Spanelli - 2000
Professional Designations
Students who successfully pass RMI courses at Ole Miss have the opportunity to earn credit toward several highly regarded industry designations. These designations and the steps necessary to earn credit toward the designations are discussed below. Students with additional questions regarding professional designations can contact Dr. Stephen Fier at sfier@bus.olemiss.edu.
The professional designation opportunities discussed above are subject to change.
The CPCU designation is awarded by The Institutes and is widely recognized and respected throughout the insurance industry. This designation is recommended by The Institutes for "Agents/brokers, agency principals, claim representatives, line of business managers and executives, insurance litigators, risk managers, and underwriters." In the spring of 2013, The Institutes launched a new initiative that allows students to earn CPCU credit by earning a grade of "B" or better in certain approved university classes. As part of this program, students at Ole Miss can receive credit for CPCU 557 (Understanding Commercial Risk) by earning a grade of "B" or better in FIN 441 as well as credit for CPCU 520 (Connecting the Business of Insurance Operations) by earning a grade of "B" or better in FIN 442. For more information on the CPCU designation, please click here.
Similar to the CIC, the CRM is offered by the National Alliance for Insurance Education. The CRM is primarily targeted toward "Individuals in risk management and the related fields of insurance, accounting, finance, law, loss control, claims, and human resources."
Students who pass FIN 542 with a grade of "C" or better will receive free credit for the "Analysis of Risk" portion of the CRM. The student can also take the "Principles of Risk Management" exam for the reduced student fee, which will allow the student to receive credit for that portion of the CRM upon successful completion of the exam. Once the student has completed two exams, the student receives the University Associate Certified Risk Manager (UACRM) designation, and those two courses can be applied toward the completion of the CRM designation.
For more on the CRM designation, visit: https://www.scic.com/crm/
Sustaining Sponsors
Sustaining Sponsors provide vital financial support that enables us to better attract, educate, and place tomorrow's industry leaders. The steady financial base of our Sustaining Sponsor program allows the program to offer the Fall and Spring Insurance Career Days event, the RMI Professional Society Annual Meeting, the re-establishment of Gamma Iota Sigma, the Ole Miss Insurance Symposium, and the Ole Miss Insurance Classic golf tournament. Funds help make it possible to maintain our competitive teaching faculty as well as facilitate the involvement of our student leaders in activities on the national level. We thank the following 2023-2024 Sustaining Sponsors for their generosity and commitment to the Risk Management and Insurance Program at the University of Mississippi.
For information on how to become a Sustaining Sponsor, please contact Dr. Andre Liebenberg at aliebenberg@bus.olemiss.edu.
- Alfa Insurance
- Ambetter from Magnolia Health
- AmWins Group, Inc.
- Bass Underwriters
- Berkley Southeast Insurance Group
- Brown & Brown
- Brown & Riding
- Burns & Wilcox
- Cadence Insurance
- CRC Group – Ridgeland, MS
- Eastern Alliance Insurance Group
- EMC Insurance Companies
- FBBINSURANCE, Inc.
- FCCI Insurance Group, Inc.
- Gallagher
- Gray & Company, Inc.
- Higginbotham
- HUB Mid-South
- Liberty Mutual/Safeco/State Auto
- McGriff
- Mississippi Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Co.
- Ross & Yerger
- RT Specialty – Walton Team
- Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co.
- State Farm Insurance Companies
- Travelers
- UnitedHealthcare
- Recognition as sponsors of the opening reception, continental breakfast, refreshment breaks, luncheon, and concurrent educational sessions at the Ole Miss Insurance Symposium.
- A full-page ad (5.5 x 8.5) in the Symposium program
- Covered registration fee for both RMI Career Day events
- Preferential table placement at both RMI Career Day events
- Advance electronic copy of the RMI Student Resume Book
- Signage at all RMI events
- A complimentary golf team for the Ole Miss Insurance Classic
- Listing on the Ole Miss RMI website
RMI Advisory Board
- Perry Cartlidge, Chair, Mississippi Farm Bureau Insurance
- Charlie Chandler, Chair-Elect, Vice-Chair, BXS Insurance
- Thomas G. Quaka (emeritus)*, Southern Insurance Consulting, Secretary-Treasurer
- Matthew Koury*, Immediate Past Chair, Ross & Yerger Insurance, Inc.
- Brent Allred, Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance, A Higginbotham Partner
- Elizabeth Bounds, Brown & Riding
- Madeleine Brown, Jackson, MS
- Tammra Cascio, Insurance Coalition of Mississippi
- Roger Elfert, FBBInsurance, Jackson, MS
- Thomas Y. Elfert (emeritus), Arthur J. Gallagher & Company
- Steve England, Houston, TX
- Lance Ewing*, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
- Stephen Fountain, Jackson, MS
- Clinton A. Graham,* Independent Insurance Agents of Mississippi
- Tiffany Hawkins (emeritus),*FCCI Insurance Group
- Sydney Hedberg, Marsh McLennan
- Van E. Hedges (emeritus),* Southern Insurance Consulting
- Jeff Hubbard, Brown & Riding
- Shaw Johnson, SouthGroup Insurance Services
- Matthew J. Lammel, Lammel & Associates, LLC
- John Langcuster*, State Farm Insurance Companies
- Jay Lynch, Safeco Insurance
- Jay Mooney, Vice-Chair, Liberty Mutual Insurance
- Chadwick W. Russell, Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance
- Charlene Smith (emeritus)*, Accident Fund
- Ike S. Trotter* Ike Trotter Agency, LLC
- Ronald P. Tubertini (emeritus)* SouthGroup Insurance Services
- Dan W. Webb (emeritus),* Webb, Sanders, & Williams, PLLC
- John P. Wells (emeritus),*Mississippi Insurance Department
- Bob Williams,* Mississippi Insurance Department
- Dudley D. Wooley*, Ross & Yerger Insurance, Inc.
* Indicates past chairperson of the Board.
Next Steps
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