Actuarial Science, Risk Management, and Insurance

The Ph.D. prepares students for a research and teaching career in actuarial science, risk management and insurance.

Specific course requirements and the time required to complete them will depend on the undergraduate and graduate background of the candidate. A Ph.D. student must also pass a preliminary examination in risk management and insurance.

The unique part of a Ph.D. program is the requirement that the candidate complete a dissertation which typically is completed several years after the required course work is completed.

General Business Prerequisites

Students are required to hold a previous BBA or Master's Degree in business OR take two business courses from outside the Actuarial Science, Risk Management and Insurance and Finance departments.

Foundation Coursework

Actuarial Science, Risk Management and Insurance

  • GEN BUS 805: Introduction to Decision Theory
  • GEN BUS 806: Advanced Statistical Methods
  • RMI 700: Principles of Risk Management
  • RMI 920: Seminar in Actuarial Science, Risk Management & Insurance I
  • RMI 930: Seminar in Actuarial Science, Risk Management & Insurance II

And at least one of the following:

  • RMI 610: Property Risk Management
  • RMI 615: Liability Risk Management
  • RMI 620: Employee Benefits Management
  • RMI 630: Life and Health Insurance
  • RMI 815: Risk Financing Techniques

Economics

  • Econ 711: Economic Theory-Microeconomics
  • Econ 302: Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory
  • Econ 709: Economic Statistics and Econometrics I
  • Econ 710: Economic Statistics and Econometrics II

Statistics

  • Stat 309: Introduction-Statistical Methods
  • Stat 310: Introduction to Math Statistics

Finance

  • Two courses at the 800 level or higher.

Justin Sydnor Justin Sydnor
Actuarial Science, Risk Management and Insurance
Ph.D. Faculty Coordinator

Biography: Justin Sydnor is an assistant professor in the Department of Actuarial Science, Risk Management, and Insurance at the Wisconsin School of Business. He joined the Wisconsin School of Business from Case Western Reserve University, where he was an assistant professor of economics with the Weatherhead School of Management. His research interests are in psychology and economics, applied microeconomics, (behavioral) industrial organization, insurance markets, and risk and decision making. Sydnor earned his B.A. in economics and German from UW-Madison and his Ph.D. in economics from the University of California, Berkeley.

Beyond the Classroom:

  • Serves as Ad Hoc Reviewer for the Journal of Legal Studies and the Journal of Marketing Research.
  • Has presented at meetings held by the American Economic Association, Behavioral Economics and National Bureau of Economic Research