Breadcrumb
Credit hours: 120
Full-time, part-time, most classes have online options
Start terms: fall, spring, summer
Understanding and managing risk is essential in the modern business world. With a looming talent shortage, the demand for this expertise is high, and attending CU Denver gives you a 100% chance of being successfully placed. By graduation, you’ll understand the reality of risks that affect all individuals and organizations and how to manage that risk.
When you choose CU Denver, you turn your passion into the career you love. Any of the programs you join support that mission by incorporating applied coursework into your classes. Distinguishing features of our program include:
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Learn by doing – a required experiential learning component as a part of your degree
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Well-rounded education – build a foundation in liberal arts classes before honing in on your business education
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Access to business leaders – proximity and close ties to businesses make it easy for executives to visit our classrooms and career events
You’ll be surrounded by people finding their passion and making something of themselves. You could also take advantage of the location and flexible schedule to complete internships and class projects in some of the hundreds of businesses nearby. With over 300 business partnerships tied to the Business School, you’ll graduate ready and confident to enter the workforce at your desired job.
Denver Built. Global Ready.
Business can be a powerful force for good. But the promise of business hasn’t been extended to enough people. We want to change that. At CU Denver Business School, we make the most of being deeply embedded in the heart of Denver and the nation’s fastest-growing economy to open doors and lower barriers to success. Through our programs and partnerships, we create more inclusive business networks and cultures. We can equip any future, locally and globally.
Our program offers unique ways to get involved with the local community through partnerships with contributors and elite access to top companies. Opportunities you’ll have as a risk student include:
- Shadow days at top Denver companies
- Study abroad in London, the risk capital of the world
- Internship pairings that match your interests to an employer
- Networking opportunities through industry partners at RMI events, professional association meetings, and conferences
- Industry risk management executives are involved in your curriculum and program development
- We award about $50,000 in scholarships in the RMI program every year
The bachelor of science in business administration curriculum consists of 120 hours comprised of business classes and liberal arts classes to give you a well-rounded education.
CU Denver core (34 hours)
Hone your knowledge with coursework in English, math, behavioral and social science, humanities, international perspectives, and cultural diversity.
General non-business courses (12 hours)
These courses are taken outside of the Business School, but support a stronger awareness of disciplines relevant to business studies. Course topics include:
- Professional speaking
- Microeconomics
- Business writing
- Experiential learning
Business core (36 hours)
Making an impact looks like YOU! Apply your education directly to a problem facing business today. Choose from an internship, a project-based course, or study abroad for your experiential learning experience. Your business classes will take you through the hard and soft skills necessary to succeed in business. You will also gain an international business perspective through the required international course.
Your business classes will take you through the hard and soft skills necessary to succeed in business. You will also gain an international perspective of business through the required international course. Course topics include:
- Career and professional development
- Business statistics
- Business problem solving
- Managerial accounting
- Business law and ethics
- Operations management
- Marketing
- Business policy and strategy management
- Managing of individuals and teams
Major classes
Risk coursework provides the knowledge and skills to help you lead companies through financial and natural crises. Course topics include:
- Cyber risk management and cyber warfare
- Practical enterprise risk management
- Property and casualty insurance
- Corporate risk management
- Global risk management
- Claims management
- Management of business capital
Electives and/or foreign language proficiency
Foreign language courses may be satisfied if you’ve taken a certain number of classes in high school. These electives give you the freedom to dive deeper into topics or courses that interest you.
In just five years, you can earn your Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees. You’ll apply for the Master of Science (MS) program the end of your third undergraduate year, and take two graduate courses in your final undergraduate year. Your timeline may look different as a transfer student, so speak with an undergraduate advisor early on. If you are interested in the BSBA/MS 4+1 program, you must meet with your undergraduate academic advisor about planning ahead for your Master of Science degree.
Careers in Risk Management and Insurance
Risk Management and Insurance professionals are found in corporate, public sector, and non-profit organizations. Risk Management is a lucrative field with a looming talent shortage, and the demand for this expertise is high. The CU Denver Business School RMI program is proud to have placed 100% of its students.
RMI Job Titles
- Underwriter
- Loss Control
- Agent
- Broker
- Claims Adjuster
- Risk Manager
- Risk Consultant
- Actuary
- Investigator
Learn more about Risk Management careers.
Visit our Careers page for more detailed information on the resources available.
Core Courses (November 13, 2019)
Value 1: Foundational Business Knowledge
Outcome: Explain foundational concepts associated with core business disciplines, including accounting, economics, finance, business statistics, operations management, business law, organizational behavior, marketing, information technology, and global strategy.
Value 2: Critical Thinking
Outcome: Analyze business problems using appropriate analytical and critical thinking skills.
Value 3: Ethical Practice
Outcome: Make ethical decisions, translating ethical principles into business practice.
Value 4: Effective Communication
Outcome: Effectively communicate a business message.
Value 5: International Perspectives
Outcome: Explain the impact of international perspectives on business strategy and operations.
Value 6: Business Technology
Outcome: Use appropriate business-related technologies to address business problems.
To demonstrate understanding of Business Concepts undergraduate business students take the ETS® Exam which contains 120 multiple-choice questions designed to measure a student’s subject knowledge in Accounting, Economics, Management, Quantitative Business Analysis, Information Systems, Finance, Marketing, Legal and Social Environment, and International Issues. More information.
Other objectives are assessed in individual courses using relevant projects, presentations or exam questions.
Tuition
The cost of tuition for the BS in business administration degree is different for in-state and out-of-state students.
Residents of Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) states may qualify for reduced tuition rates. The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program requires students to maintain current residency of WICHE state until degree completion.
Learn more about the WUE program
Scholarships
If you’re worried about financing your education, the Business School offers scholarships for incoming students. Each scholarship looks at a number of different factors from academic performance to community involvement. You will automatically be considered for these scholarships when you submit your application.
$2,000 scholarship ($500/semester for 4 semesters) open to incoming freshmen who have 2.75 or higher GPA and are first-generation college students.
$2,000 scholarship ($500/semester for 4 semesters) open to incoming transfer students who have at least 24 transfer credits and a 3.3 college GPA.
Up to $10,000 scholarship (up to $1,250/semester for 8 semesters) open to incoming freshmen who have demonstrated superior high school performance and community service. Minimum 3.5 HS GPA.
$2,000 scholarship ($500/semester for 4 semesters) open to Veteran or Active Military students who have a 2.75 or higher GPA.
$2,000 scholarship ($500/semester for 4 semesters) open to high school graduates of Denver Public Schools with a minimum 2.75 GPA. Must indicate interest in Business when applying to CU Denver.
We also offer additional scholarship opportunities for current students every semester. Scholarship opportunities are based on program and course enrollment.
Risk Management and Insurance specific scholarships
The RMI program awards around $50,000 worth of scholarships every year to RMI students. The program offers many scholarships in part because RISK courses do not qualify for the College Opportunity Fund (COF).
We offer many Risk Management and Insurance scholarships ranging from $200 to $3,500 on our scholarship list. Students enrolled in a RISK course may apply.
Double Major
Many students utilize the flexibility of the degree to major in two separate disciplines. With careful planning, you may be able to add a double major without extending your graduation date. Major requirements could overlap depending on which majors you decide on.
Discover other BSBA majors that might interest you.
Certificates
You can add an undergradute for-credit certificate to enhance your degree or explore a new area of interest to you.
Application Checklist
Online application
$50 domestic, $75 international application fee
SAT and ACT optional
High school transcript or GED score
College or community college transcript – transfer applicants only
English language proficiency —international applicants only
Admission Requirements
If you are an incoming freshman to CU Denver, you can apply through either the Common Application or the Milo Application. Transfer students and international students will need to submit the Milo Application.
Incoming first-year students
CU Denver requires that students complete the Colorado Higher Education Admission Requirements (HEAR). You will not have to meet all Minimum Academic Preparation Standards (MAPS) for admission, but you will need to be completed through CU Denver coursework by graduation.
Transfer Students
We have strong connections with other four-year and community colleges. If you have completed more than 24 hours of transferable coursework, you will be evaluated for admission on the basis of your college GPA without regard to your high school performance. If you have fewer than 24 hours, you will be evaluated based on both your high school and college GPAs. For more information and to plan your transfer, see transfer admissions in the admissions office.
International Students
You will need to begin your application through the Office of International Affairs. They will help you manage your application process.
Spring
Domestic Applications
January 1
International Applications
Priority: September 15
Final: October 15
Summer
Domestic Applications
May 15
International Applications
Priority: January 15
Final: March 15
Fall
Domestic Applications
August 1
International Applications
Priority: March 15
Final: May 15
See yourself at CU Denver
Follow your passion
No matter your background, you’ll have access to a career and professional development course as a Business School student. Through this course, you’ll be introduced to all of the resources available to you as a student including:
- Career events
- Student organizations
- Resume and personal branding training
- Career planning
Find your people
Our students bring their passions outside of the classroom. We offer a number of clubs that give you an opportunity to build your resume and relationships with your peers at the same time.
- Beta Gamma Sigma
- Business Student Ambassador Committee
- Student Center for the Public Trust
- Beta Mu – Gamma Iota Sigma Chapter
See your future
“I’m always someone who plans in the long term and likes to be prepared. I know there is more to insurance than being prepared, but having the possibility and the tools to feel a little bit better about the future was something that interested me.”
– Anna Righi, ‘22, BSBA, Finance and Risk Management and Insurance
Major in what matters
A career team dedicated to you
In the heart of downtown Denver, you have easy access to hundreds of employers. Our career team has developed close relationships with quality employers and regularly brings them in for career fairs and panel events. It’s no surprise that employers have told us they prefer CU Denver students, because they know how motivated our students are to succeed.
Take the first step of many towards your future career. Our career team offers a number of services that help you:
- Gain confidence to interview and network with employers
- Find opportunities to land an internship or job of your dreams
- Create your personal brand—online and in-person
- Introduce you to business etiquette and corporate culture
RMI specific career support
In addition to the Business Career Connections, the RMI program has dedicated staff who will help you explor your future in the risk management industry, and will help you utilize the opportunities to engage with over 230 of our industry partners while you are getting your degree.
In the RMI program you can:
- get a risk management and insurance specific internship
- network with our industry partners
- attend shadow days with participating companies
- attend RMI specific events and career fairs
- find job opportunities
“We know from our experience with graduates of the RMI program that they will have a high-quality education and invaluable industry experience through networking events, special projects, internships, and are career-ready to connect with our company partners. “
—Beth Truax, Lockton Companies
“We are continually impressed with the caliber of students currently enrolled in, or have graduated from, the program. The knowledge, skill set, and practical experience the RMI students come away with clearly differentiates and places them head and shoulders above the graduates of other educational institutions in the Rocky Mountain Region."
—Mark Wall, WCF Insurance
Make an appointment
Use these links to make an appointment to learn about the program.