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Prepare for a career in the dynamic field of insurance

Insurance Studies - B.S.

Gain a competitive edge with Kent State's B.S. in Insurance Studies. Prepare for a career in the dynamic field of insurance with hands-on training and expert guidance. From risk management to underwriting, this program prepares you for a range of roles. Enroll now and take the first step toward a rewarding career. Read more...

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Tim McFadden, Academic Advisor II
Phone: 330-337-4282
Email: Insurance@kent.edu or tmcfadd1@kent.edu

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Program Information

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science degree in Insurance Studies provides students with the academic background for career entry in the insurance industry. The insurance studies degree program offers a well-rounded core of business and social science courses, including management technology, professional writing and human communications.

Building on this core curriculum are courses that provide the opportunity for students to explore all lines of insurance, including personal lines, commercial lines, life and health insurance. Students also take on an internship during their third year to reinforce their insurance industry knowledge and gain real-world experience.

The knowledge gained in the insurance program permits students to join any organization within the insurance industry with a solid understanding of applicable products, regulations, operations and policy contracts. Students graduate with knowledge of several specific insurance industry facets, such as property and casualty insurance, life and health insurance, insurance company and agency operations, insurance regulation, insurance finance and risk management.

Admissions

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency unless they meet specific exceptions. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the Coursework tab.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the insurance industry.
  2. Possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills to identify and critically assess problems facing the insurance industry.
  3. Identify and assess legal and ethical issues surrounding insurance industry decisions.
  4. Work effectively in a team-based environment.
Coursework
On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
BMRT 11000INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS 3
BMRT 11009INTRODUCTION TO MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY 3
COMM 15000INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) 3
ENG 30063PROFESSIONAL WRITING 3
INS 29000INTRODUCTION TO INSURANCE AND RISK 3
INS 39000INSURANCE LAW, FINANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT 3
INS 39001INSURANCE OPERATIONS (WIC) 13
INS 49000LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE 3
INS 49001PERSONAL LINES INSURANCE 3
INS 49002COMMERCIAL INSURANCE 3
INS 49092INSURANCE PRACTICUM GENERAL (ELR) 3
or TAS 37900 TECHNICAL AND APPLIED STUDIES CORNERSTONE
PSYC 11762GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) 3
SOC 12050INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) 3
Major Electives, choose from the following: 239
COMM 20001
INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
COMM 35864
ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION 1
COMM 45807
HIGH IMPACT PROFESSIONAL SPEAKING
INS 49092
INSURANCE PRACTICUM GENERAL (ELR)
or TAS 37900
 TECHNICAL AND APPLIED STUDIES CORNERSTONE
LIS 30010
INFORMATION FLUENCY IN THE WORKPLACE AND BEYOND
OTEC 16620
WORD PROCESSING I
OTEC 16625
BUSINESS PRESENTATIONS
OTEC 16639
DATABASE APPLICATIONS
OTEC 26611
SPREADSHEET APPLICATIONS
OTEC 26622
DESKTOP PUBLISHING I
PSYC 30821
PSYCHOLOGY OF MOTIVATION
PSYC 31773
INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY
PSYC 41581
HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
SOC 42558
WEALTH, POVERTY AND POWER
SOC 42563
SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE
SOC 42879
AGING IN SOCIETY (DIVD)
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Composition6
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning3
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each)9
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory)6-7
Kent Core Additional3
Non-Business and Non-Applied Business Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours) 214
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

2

ACCT, ACTT, BA, BMRT, BUS, CIS, ECON, ENTR, FIN, HRM, IT, MKTG or MMTG courses cannot count as major electives or non-business/non-applied business electives.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
Roadmaps

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
BMRT 11000 INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS 3
COMM 15000 INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Two
INS 29000 INTRODUCTION TO INSURANCE AND RISK 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Major Elective 6
 Credit Hours15
Semester Three
BMRT 11009 INTRODUCTION TO MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY 3
SOC 12050 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
PSYC 11762 GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Major Electives 6
Non-Business/Non-Applied Business Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
INS 39000 INSURANCE LAW, FINANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT 3
Major Electives 9
Non-Business/Non-Applied Business Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
ENG 30063 PROFESSIONAL WRITING 3
INS 39001 INSURANCE OPERATIONS (WIC) 3
Major Electives 6
Non-Business/Non-Applied Business Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Seven
INS 49001 PERSONAL LINES INSURANCE 3
INS 49002 COMMERCIAL INSURANCE 3
INS 49092
or TAS 37900
 INSURANCE PRACTICUM GENERAL (ELR)
or TECHNICAL AND APPLIED STUDIES CORNERSTONE
3
Major Electives 3
Non-Business/Non Applied Business Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
INS 49000 LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE 3
Major Electives 9
Non-Business/Non-Applied Business Elective 2
 Credit Hours14
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • Fully online
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Salem Campus

Insurance Studies - Minor

In addition to getting a degree in Insurances Studies, students can also complement their current program of study with an Insurance Studies minor.

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries

Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

-6.4%

decline

332,900

number of jobs

$68,270

potential earnings

Insurance appraisers, auto damage

-4.0%

decline

15,900

number of jobs

$65,550

potential earnings

Insurance sales agents

5.5%

faster than the average

501,300

number of jobs

$52,180

potential earnings

Insurance underwriters

-6.2%

decline

114,700

number of jobs

$71,790

potential earnings

Market research analysts and marketing specialists

17.7%

much faster than the average

738,100

number of jobs

$65,810

potential earnings

Operations research analysts

24.8%

much faster than the average

105,100

number of jobs

$86,200

potential earnings

Actuaries

17.6%

much faster than the average

27,700

number of jobs

$111,030

potential earnings

Marketing managers

6.7%

faster than the average

286,300

number of jobs

$142,170

potential earnings

Notice:

* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
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