Forensic Accounting Degree Programs, Accounting Degrees

Forensic Accounting Degree Programs

Forensic accountants are the crime-fighters of the accounting world. Forensic accountants investigate white-collar criminals involved in money laundering, embezzlement, securities frauds, and other unsavory financial transactions. They also conduct investigations during more routine legal processes, such as divorce and bankruptcy filings.

Types of Forensic Accounting Degrees Available:
Forensic accountants must have an accounting degree. Accounting degrees are offered at many online and traditional campus schools. Because this field is rapidly growing, some schools have started to offer a forensic accounting degree, a bachelor degree in Forensic Accounting. (However, the general accounting degree will work just as well).

Featured Schools with Forensic Accounting Degrees:

Colorado Technical University – Request Information
Rasmussen College – Request Information

If you’re an accountant who’s looking to get into forensic accounting and you already have an accounting degree, there are a number of schools that offer a Master’s in Forensic Accounting.

Featured Schools with Masters Degrees in Forensic Accounting:

Capella University (MBA, PhD Accounting) – Request Information
Colorado Technical University (MBA) – Request Information
Jones International University – Request Information

Once you have your diploma, you’ll also need to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). There are two forensic accounting certifications, Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and CrFA (Certified Forensic Accountant) that may also help you jump-start your career.

What a Forensic Accounting Degree Teaches You:
In addition to basic accounting principals, such as audits, financial analysis, and tax preparation, studying forensic accounting will teach you fraud investigation techniques, criminology, ethics, fraud examination and information security.

You’ll learn the theories behind economic crimes, how fraud investigations work, and how to deter fraudulent activity. You’ll also get exposure to fraud prevention and detection practices, forensic investigations, and the legal concepts of criminal fraud and corporate criminal liability.

Questions to ask about Forensic Accounting Degree Programs