Colleges with Forensic Accounting Programs

Although Al Capone is infamous for committing deplorable acts of fraud, vagrancy, bribery, theft, and homicide, he was finally brought to justice by the scrupulous application of a growing subfield of forensics: forensic accounting. In fact, according to the National Association of Forensic Accountants (NAFA), Capone’s conviction for evading taxes is anecdotally the earliest known use of forensic accounting, a discipline which doesn’t deal with blood spatters and DNA analyses, but rather patient examinations of financial crimes such as money laundering, insurance fraud, and embezzlement.

So what can aspiring professionals expect to learn in a forensic accounting program? The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)—one of the primary certifying agencies for this field—reports that forensic accountants offer a variety of investigative services, including analyzing financial data; tracking illicit funds and hidden assets; valuing businesses; preparing reports; communicating findings to cross-disciplinary teams; assessing damage or negligence; and testifying in court as expert witnesses. This career provides a stimulating blend of criminology, ethics, and data analyses.

Read on to discover what to expect from a forensic accounting degree or certificate program—both on-campus and online—as well as information about professional certification and accreditation.

Forensic Accounting Degree & Certificate Program Options

There is a wealth of forensic accounting programs for this class of aspiring professionals, ranging from associate of science in forensic accounting (AS-FA) to master of forensic accounting (MFAcc) degrees. For many employers such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), it’s advisable for candidates to have at least a bachelor’s degree.

Featured Forensic Accounting Programs

The University at Albany, State University of New York (SUNY) provides a master of science (MS) in forensic accounting accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). This one-year program is ideal for undergraduate majors in accounting seeking specialized, employment-ready skills and produces graduates who are “highly recruited” by 16 renowned governmental and private organizations internationally. With courses such as financial statement analysis, advanced management accounting, and digital forensics, this SUNY school prepares students to become certified fraud examiners (CFE).

Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri has a master’s degree in forensic accounting with specialized preparation in criminal & civil investigation, forensic analytics, cyber forensics, legal procedure, and internal auditing. Boasting experienced accountants and attorneys among the faculty to impart real-world applications of theory, many Webster graduates have secured employment in accounting firms, private companies, and government agencies. Furthermore, students can earn continuing professional education (CPE) credits as part of the program to be applied to various certifications.

The University of Colorado, Denver offers a master of science (MS) in accounting with an auditing and forensic accounting specialization. This program not only imparts the fundamentals of the discipline such as internal auditing, fraud examination, and financial reporting, but also makes students proficient in the US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) as well as international standards.

Common Courses & Requirements for Forensic Accounting Programs

Here are common application requirements & prerequisites, courses, and sample programs for each level of forensic accounting program:

Associate’s Degree in Forensic Accounting

• Application Requirements & Prerequisites: official transcripts from all secondary (and/or postsecondary) coursework with a competitive GPA, personal statement, Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores for non-native speakers of English, application fee
• Common courses: intermediate accounting, fraud examination, legal elements for fraud, interviewing techniques for fraud investigations
• Sample program: Franklin University

Bachelor’s Degree in Forensic Accounting

• Application Requirements & Prerequisites: official transcripts from all secondary and/or postsecondary institutions with a competitive GPA (e.g., >3.0), completion of specific coursework (e.g., high school level mathematics or statistics), personal statement, Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Test (ACT) scores, TOEFL scores for non-native speakers of English, application fee
• Common courses: principles of accounting, business law, law and fraud, auditing, business communication, marketing, cost management, federal income tax, corporation & partnership taxation, quantitative methods & analysis, general education requirements (e.g., English composition, mathematics, sciences, arts & humanities)
• Sample program: Stevens-Henager College

Master’s Degree in Forensic Accounting

• Application Requirements & Prerequisites: official transcripts from bachelor’s program (e.g., accounting, business, economics, or a related discipline) with a competitive GPA (e.g., >3.0), completion of specific coursework (e.g., accounting, economics, finance, auditing, etc), personal statement, interview (in-person or web-based), letter(s) of recommendation, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores, TOEFL scores for non-native speakers of English, application fee
• Common courses: financial reporting, forensic & fraud examination skills, fraud data analysis, fraud criminology, investigation of financial fraud, advanced analytical techniques, internal auditing, business valuation, forensic accounting capstone or thesis project
• Sample program: Southern New Hampshire University

Graduate Certificate in Forensic Accounting

• Application Requirements & Prerequisites: official transcripts from post-secondary program (e.g., accounting, economics, business, or a related discipline), personal statement, resume (i.e., CV), interview, TOEFL scores for non-native speakers of English, application fee
• Common courses: forensic accounting principles, auditing theory, accounting systems, dissecting financial statements, investigative accounting & litigation support, fraud examination
• Sample program: University of North Carolina, Charlotte

Forensic Accounting Colleges with Hybrid & Online Options

In addition to ForensicsColleges.com’s list of online forensic accounting programs, following are four online and hybrid learning options for prospective students that may not be able to commit to an on-campus program:

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) provides an online bachelor of science (BS) program in forensic accounting and fraud examination. With a focus in the analysis of theft, fraud, and financial malfeasance cases, SNHU imparts a wealth of employment-ready skills to its graduates. Courses include cost accounting, federal taxation, and auditing & forensic accounting. Most notably, this school also offers a 30 percent discount for active-duty service members and their spouses. SNHU also hosts a master’s program in this field.

Franklin University, based in Columbus, Ohio, offers an online bachelor’s program for aspiring forensic accounting. Franklin not only has top-notch, hands-on coursework in fraud examination, accounting research & analysis, and corporate governance & internal control assessment, but also prepares its graduates to seek national certification including certified fraud examiner (CFE), certified public accountant (CPA), or certified internal auditor (CIA). As part of the curriculum, students engage in a simulated investigation of a growing company’s questionable financial statements, streamlining the corporate accounting system using the Microsoft® Visio program, the industry-standard software, as well as learning concepts set forth in educational standards by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE).

Northeastern University in Boston has an online graduate certificate in forensic accounting. Developed in response to the slew of conspicuous white collar scandals which have rocked the business world, Northeastern’s curriculum teaches awareness of corporate compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley 2002 legislation and other financial reform ordinances from 2010. Through four courses—forensic accounting principles, dissecting financial statements, investigative accounting & fraud examination, and litigation support—Northeastern’s 16-credit certificate imparts the fundamentals of the field, teaching students how to identify and collect evidence of financial crimes.

West Virginia University (WVU) in Morgantown offers an online master’s program in forensic and fraud investigation (FFE) comprising 10 total courses, six of which are focused on forensic accounting: FFE examination skills, fraud investigation, fraud data analysis, fraud criminology & legal issues, advanced analytical techniques, and advanced fraud investigation. Four of these courses parallel those taught as part of WVU’s nationally ranked MBA program. Furthermore, the FFE coursework involves performing real world case studies—analyzing evidence, preparing reports, and presenting evidence orally—as well as offering moot court testimonies. Two short weekend residencies are required as part of this program. WVU also offers a graduate certificate in this area.

Forensic Accounting Professional Certification

As part of some educational programs, students are offered preparation for various licenses and certifications. As it stands, existing certifications specific to forensic accounting are not as developed or widely recognized as those in general accounting. In fact, Wm. Dennis Huber of Capella University published an article in the Journal of Accounting, Ethics & Public Policy (2011) calling into question the quality, consistency, and vetting processes of these entities, preferring to view them as profit-seeking corporations rather than recognized, valid, certifying entities. As forensic accounting is a relatively new subfield of the discipline, this may change in coming years.

That said, there are three recognized professional certifications provided for forensic accountants.

Forensic Accounting Certifications

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) provides the widely known certified public accountant (CPA) license. Most states require at least a bachelor’s degree to qualify and two years of experience, as well as passing a comprehensive exam. Additionally, this group offers the certified financial forensics (CFF-AICPA) designation, which was created in 2008. The CFF-AICPA certification is designed for qualified and licensed CPAs who have extensive experience in electronic data analysis, fraud prevention & detection, financial statement misrepresentation, and other important areas.

The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) offers the certified fraud examiner (CFE) credential following the completion of an exam which covers four areas: fraud prevention & deterrence, financial transactions & fraud schemes, investigation, and law. CFEs must complete 20 hours of continuing education (CE) annually to maintain the certification and pay a membership fee.

The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) has a certified internal auditor certification (CIA) which was established in 1973. Candidates must hold at least a three- or four-year postsecondary degree to qualify plus two years of experience, or seven years of verifiable experience in the field. Additionally, aspiring CIAs must obtain character reference forms from a supervising, licensed accounting authority. Upon approval, applicants must take the CIA exam within four years.

Forensic Accounting Degree Accreditation

Prospective forensic accountants are encouraged to verify the accreditation status of their schools and programs.

Programmatic Accreditation

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)—an internationally recognized accreditation body for assessing undergraduate and graduate level business and accounting programs—evaluates criteria such as the relevance of the curriculum, the quality of faculty instruction, and opportunities offered to students. Offered to only 5 percent of the world’s 13,000 business schools, this accreditation is a testament to the quality of the program.

Institutional Accreditation

In addition to the AACSB, there are six institutional accreditation organizations recognized by the US Department of Education which evaluate entire universities. Organized by region, these agencies include:

• Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
• Commission on Colleges for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)