PhD in Risk Management and Insurance
The PhD in Risk Management and Insurance at the Terry College of Business prepares the next generation of scholars to address some of society’s most complex challenges, from financial risk and insurance markets to employee benefits, regulation, and emerging technologies. Through close faculty mentorship, rigorous doctoral training, and a collaborative research environment, students develop the skills to become leading researchers and educators in the field.
Why Terry College?
Few doctoral programs offer the combination of academic reputation, faculty accessibility, and research opportunities available at Terry.
- Study in one of the nation’s premier Risk Management and Insurance programs.
- Collaborate with faculty whose research regularly appears in leading journals, including the Journal of Risk and Insurance.
- Work closely with award-winning scholars recognized for influential contributions to the field.
- Develop a strong research portfolio through faculty mentorship and collaborative projects.
- Join a program with a long history of placing graduates in faculty positions at respected research and teaching institutions.
Students are encouraged to engage in research early in the program and work alongside faculty to produce scholarship that advances the discipline.
Program Contact
- Thomas and Kristin Golub Professor in Risk Management and Insurance and Professor, C. Herman Terry Risk Management and Insurance Program
- Director of Graduate Studies, PhD Program
Preferred deadline: January 4
Applications after January 4 will also be considered until spots are filled
By the Numbers
A Research-Focused Doctoral Experience
The program combines specialized Risk Management and Insurance coursework with advanced training in economics, econometrics, finance, statistics, and doctoral research methods. This rigorous foundation prepares graduates for successful academic careers and impactful research agendas.
Beyond the classroom, students participate in seminars, research workshops, conference presentations, and collaborative projects that help build the skills necessary for success at leading research institutions.
a Premier Business Research Community
As a doctoral student at the Terry College of Business, you’ll join a vibrant community of scholars across business disciplines. Terry’s doctoral programs emphasize intellectual curiosity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the development of future academic leaders. Students benefit from research seminars, networking opportunities, and access to faculty who are committed to student success.
Exceptional Career Outcomes
Graduates of the program have gone on to faculty and leadership positions at institutions such as Penn State University, Florida State University, Auburn University, Southern Methodist University, University of South Florida, and many others. The program’s placement record reflects its strong reputation among peer institutions and employers worldwide.
Financial Support
The PhD program is designed to allow students to focus on research and professional development. Doctoral students receive competitive funding support, including tuition assistance and a stipend package, subject to program policies and continued eligibility.
Study in Athens, Georgia
Home to the flagship campus of the University of Georgia, Athens is consistently recognized as one of the nation’s top college towns. The city offers an exceptional quality of life, a thriving music and arts scene, diverse dining options, and a welcoming community. Located just outside Atlanta, Athens provides access to the resources and opportunities of a major metropolitan area while maintaining the affordability and character that make graduate study enjoyable.
Join a Top-Ranked Program
If you are passionate about advancing knowledge in risk management and insurance, the PhD program at the Terry College of Business offers the mentorship, research opportunities, and academic preparation needed to launch a successful academic career. Here, you’ll work alongside leading scholars, contribute original research, and help shape the future of the field.
Research Areas of Interest
Doctoral students partner with faculty to pursue research across a wide range of topics, including:
- Insurance economics and regulation
- Corporate and enterprise risk management
- Employee benefits and pensions
- Catastrophe and climate risk
- Behavioral insurance
- Actuarial science
- Financial risk and insurance markets
- Emerging applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning in insurance
Program Curriculum
The PhD curriculum combines advanced training in risk management and insurance with rigorous coursework in economics, econometrics, finance, and research methods. Students progress from foundational theory and quantitative methods to independent research and dissertation development.
Prerequisites
Math Courses
- Calculus: Differential and integral
- Linear Algebra: A course elementary linear algebra is strongly recommended before taking doctoral level (8000 and 9000) courses.
Typical Course Sequence
Year 1: Building a Research Foundation
Students build core knowledge in risk management and insurance while developing the analytical and quantitative skills necessary for doctoral-level research.
Year 2: Advanced Methods and Research Development
During the second year, students deepen their methodological expertise while refining research interests and preparing for dissertation work.
Years 2 & 3
Students work closely with faculty mentors to conduct original research, present at academic conferences, publish scholarly work, and complete their dissertations.
Placements
Graduates of the risk management and insurance program currently teach in leading risk management and insurance programs across the country including:
- Saul Adelman (1980 Graduate; Associate Professor of Finance at Miami University)
- David Cather (1985 Graduate; Clinical Professor of Risk Management at Penn State University)
- Robert Puelz (1990 Graduate; Dexter Trustee Professor of Risk Management at Southern Methodist University)
- Brenda Wells (1992 Graduate; Associate Professor and Director, Risk Management and Insurance Program at East Carolina University)
- Lee Colquitt (1995 Graduate; Professor and Chair, Department of Finance at Auburn University)
- William Ferguson (1995 Graduate; G. Frank Purvis, Jr./BORSF Eminent Scholar Endowed Chair in Insurance and Risk Management at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette)
- Randy Dumm (1998 Graduate; Director of the Baldwin Group School of Risk Management and Insurance at the University of South Florida)
- Tim Query (1999 Graduate; Professor Emeritus of Finance at New Mexico State University)
- Kathleen McCullough (2000 Graduate; State Farm Insurance Professor of Risk Management and Insurance and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Research at Florida State University)
- Lars Powell (2002 Graduate; Director of the Alabama Center for Insurance Information and Research at the University of Alabama)
- Ryan Lee (2001 Graduate; Initial Placement—Assistant Professor of Risk Management and Insurance at University of Calgary)
- Cassandra Cole (2002 Graduate; Robert L. Atkins Professor in Risk Management and Insurance and Department Chair at Florida State University)
- Andre Liebenberg (2004 Graduate; Robertson Chair of Insurance and Professor of Finance at the University of Mississippi)
- Enya He (2006 Graduate; Initial Placement – Assistant Professor of Finance at University of North Texas )
- Joseph Ruhland (2006 Graduate; Chair and Professor of Risk Management and Insurance at Georgia Southern University)
- Steve Miller (2010 Graduate; Associate Professor of Risk Management and Insurance at University of South Florida)
- Leon Chen (2011 Graduate; Professor of Finance at Minnesota State University-Mankato)
- Jianren Xu (2014 Graduate; Associate Professor of Finance at University of North Texas)
- In Jung Song (2016 Graduate; Assistant Professor of Finance at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies)
- Evan Eastman (2017 Graduate; Associate Professor of Risk Management and Insurance at Florida State University)
- Joshua Frederick (2019 Graduate; Associate Professor of Finance at Georgia Southern University)
- Jiyeon Yun (2019 Graduate; Assistant Professor of Finance at Chung-Ang University)
- Polin Wang (2020 Graduate; Assistant Professor of Risk Management and Insurance at University of South Florida)
- J.C. Marais (2022 Graduate; Senior Lecturer of Actuarial Science at University of Cape Town)
- Dan Yang (2022 Graduate; Assistant Professor of Risk Management and Insurance at Troy University)
- Monica Heidesch (2022 Graduate; Assistant Professor of Management at Brenau University)
- Taylor Graciano (2025 Graduate; Assistant Professor of Finance at New Mexico State University