RMI

University of Southern Maine (USM)

Certificate in Risk Management

The certificate program in risk management and insurance (RMI) is a way for individuals already working in risk management, insurance, and financial services to develop a deeper understanding of the business in which they work without the larger and protracted experience of seeking a complete (or in some cases second) undergraduate degree.

Can courses translate into credit towards a professional designation?
The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research has agreed to allow students who successfully complete the RMI 350 course (Managing Risk with Property & Liability Insurance) to receive automatic credit for one of the five components of their Certified Risk Managers (“CRM”) designation. Because the National Alliance has a “CRM for CIC” program already in place, credit for the RMI 350 course will at the same time satisfy one of the five parts of the Certified Insurance Counselors (“CIC”) designation.

The National Alliance does not require students to be enrolled in the RMI degree program or the RMI certificate program to benefit from this relationship. Indeed, those already holding the CRM designation can satisfy the full year’s annual update requirement by successfully completing RMI 350.

Requirements
One of the three RMI courses (RMI 350) has been approved for automatic credit toward two separate professional designations offered by a national provider of risk management and insurance professional education.

Applications to the program are available online or from the School of Business office and carry a $50 application fee. Applicants to this program must mail completed hard copy application and application fee (payable to: USM School of Business) to RMI Certificate Program, University of Southern Maine, P.O. Box 9300, Portland, ME 04104-9300

Admission to this certificate program will be limited to those with either: 1) a minimum cumulative 2.33 GPA in at least 54 previous semester hours of college credit, or 2) a minimum of three years of risk management, insurance, or other financial services work experience. Applicants relying on the latter admission requirement will need to provide evidence of at least a high school diploma, or its equivalent.

The RMI certificate program is a 15-hour program consisting of three required core courses and two elective courses. There is no particular order in which either core or elective courses must be taken as long as individual course prerequisites are satisfied.

Required Core Courses (9 credit hours):
     RMI 320 Introduction to Risk Management and Insurance
     RMI 330 Health, Life, and Disability Insurance
     RMI 350 Managing Risk with Property and Liability Insurance

Elective Courses (6 credit hours) – choose any two courses:
     ACC 110 Financial Accounting Information for Decision Making
     BUS 200 Introduction to Business
     BUS 201 Personal Finance
     BUS 260 Marketing
     BUS 280 Legal Environment of Business
     BUS 340 Managing Organizational Behavior

Enrollment in specific courses is based on eligibility criteria and availability of space in the courses. Enrollment in some highly demanded courses may be restricted or prohibited in any given semester. Admission into the certificate program does not guarantee admission into any other USM program or enrollment in any specific course.

Students must complete the required 15 credit hours within four years after the application date and must earn a minimum 2.33 cumulative GPA to obtain the certificate. Students may be able to apply earned certificate course credit towards an undergraduate business degree at USM as long as they earn a minimum 2.33 GPA in the certificate program courses.

Related courses previously taken in associate or baccalaureate degree programs at regionally accredited colleges and universities in which a minimum grade of C+ was earned may be applied towards the non-RMI elective courses of the proposed certificate program. Transfer credit will not be permitted for the RMI core courses. Non-matriculated students enrolled in this certificate program are not eligible for financial aid.

 

Contact

Dr. Dana Kerr, Ph.D., CPCU, ARM

University of Southern Maine

P.O. Box 9300

Portland, ME  04104-9300

Phone:  207.780.4059

E-mail: dkerr@usm.maine.edu