Loyola’s Sellinger School of Business launches three new majors

Loyola University Maryland’s Sellinger School of Business and Management is introducing
three new majors: a Bachelor of Science in Real Estate, a Bachelor of Business Administration
in Digital Marketing and Analytics, and a Bachelor of Science in Financial Risk Management
and Insurance. The majors will be available to undergraduate students entering in
the Fall of 2026.

“At the Sellinger School, we are committed to preparing students for the evolving
demands of today’s business world and, in the process, to addressing the unmet needs
of our business partners,” said Mary Ann Scully, MBA ’79, dean of the Sellinger School.
“With the addition of real estate, digital marketing, and financial risk management
and insurance, we’re expanding our offerings in high-demand fields where our students
can make an immediate impact. These programs harness our strong ties to industry,
our extensive alumni network, and our dedication to providing experiential learning
that positions graduates for long-term success. All were developed with the proactive
support of those external constituencies.”

Loyola’s Real Estate major will equip students with knowledge and skills necessary to analyze real estate markets,
navigate investment criteria, and access financial solutions. This program incorporates
project management skills to enable students to both evaluate and execute on real
estate opportunities. Students will learn about market-feasibility studies and cash-flow
modeling, regulatory and legal frameworks, and location analytics, site acquisition,
and sustainable design, among other real estate topics.

As part of the program, Loyola students will benefit from the Sellinger School’s industry
partnerships, providing them with real-world experience in local development projects
for the program’s capstone project as well as internships, externships, and mentoring
opportunities at local firms. Loyola’s commitment to community strengthening as an
anchor institution acknowledges the critical role that real estate plays in that strengthening.

“Commercial real estate plays a significant role in shaping our cities and communities,
facilitating growth and innovation for companies, and generating value within investment
portfolios,” said Karen Brennan, ’99, CEO of Leasing Advisory for JLL, a commercial
real estate and property investment company. “As a proud graduate of the Loyola Sellinger
School of Business and someone that has dedicated my career to commercial real estate,
I’m excited to see this major being added. Our industry is multifaceted and offers
numerous different career paths, and this major will provide another avenue to build
awareness and prepare the next generation of talent to join our industry.”

Loyola’s Digital Marketing and Analytics major will combine marketing, communications, technology, analytics, and content creation
into a cohesive program that prepares students for online marketing. Students will
learn about content tools — such as websites, email, social media, and influencers
— as well as how to rigorously analyze market data and develop solutions using technology
and artificial intelligence. It represents the intersection of quantitative analysis
and market understanding.

The program includes opportunities for students to engage with real-world companies
through speakers, site visits, and other events plus a capstone digital marketing
project supporting a small business, startup, or nonprofit organization under the
guidance of a digital marketing mentor.

“A formal education in Digital Marketing and Analytics would be a significant credential
for anyone entering the evolving marketing and communications industry,” said Michael
Tirone, ’08, senior vice president of business marketing at Weber Shandwick. “As a
marketing executive actively seeking potential talent to grow my practice, if I saw
this degree on a resume, I would put that candidate at top of my list, and I’d absolutely
be confident in hiring a graduate of this program.”

Loyola’s Financial Risk Management and Insurance major equips students to recognize and address the complex risks that businesses face today.
The program emphasizes the importance of integrating risk awareness into strategic
decision-making and prepares students to analyze and manage — rather than simply avoid
— risk to enhance organizational resilience. Graduates will be well-prepared to enter
the broad financial services sector as well as the specialized insurance industry
with the skills, certifications, and practical experience needed to make an immediate
impact. The curriculum includes hands-on learning opportunities such as industry case
competitions, field studies, and internships.

H. Edward Hanway, ’74, board chair of MarshMcClennan Corp. and former CEO and board
chair of Cigna Corp., said, “I have spent my entire career in the insurance industry,
and I have firsthand experience with the growing demand for well-trained graduates
to pursue careers in risk management and insurance. Loyola’s program is designed to
give students the technical skills they need, and as importantly, the ability to formulate
solutions and communicate them successfully. Loyola’s commitment to its liberal arts
core represents a unique feature of this program versus others.”

Loyola University Maryland’s Sellinger School of Business and Management in Baltimore delivers an internationally recognized Jesuit business education. Recognized
for its scholarship, ethical leadership, and tradition of excellence, the Sellinger
School delivers a wide range of sought-after fields of study including nine undergraduate
majors and 12 undergraduate minors as well as full-time, part-time, and fully online
MBA and Master of Accounting programs.