Bachelor of Science in
Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination
With financial crimes on the rise and the overall business environment becoming increasingly more complex, the need for skilled professionals trained to detect and prevent fraud continues to grow.
For inquisitive problem-solvers interested in the intersection of law enforcement and accounting, the Bachelor of Science in Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination (FAFE) at Embry-Riddle’s Prescott Campus may be a perfect fit. This degree program covers the four major sections of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners’ professional certification:
- Financial Transactions and Fraud Schemes
- Law
- Investigation
- Fraud Prevention and Deterrence
Embry-Riddle is one of the only schools in the nation to offer an undergraduate forensic accounting degree in a traditional, on-campus environment. As a result, students benefit from a hands-on approach to learning and enjoy access to state-of-the-art technology, lab space and software for data visualization and decision making.
Developed with long-term success in mind, the program also prepares graduates to test for their Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) designation. Students who become CFEs after graduation can earn up to 34% more than their counterparts – about $600,000 more throughout their careers.
Combining a broad accounting focus with a specialization in forensics, this flexible degree prepares students to pursue rewarding careers as forensic accountants, financial examiners, internal auditors, management analysts, financial analysts and more.
DETAILS
About Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination at the Prescott, AZ Campus
The B.S. in Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination is housed in the nation’s first College of Business, Security and Intelligence, and students are uniquely positioned to learn among industry experts and explore the latest advances in security and intelligence.
Students in the forensic accounting major train to pinpoint and defend against employee theft, securities fraud, identity theft and other types of financial fraud. Coursework covers accounting, criminal justice, finance and cybersecurity studies.
Upon completion of this degree, students will be eligible to:
- Become a Certified Fraud Examiner prepared to investigate economic and financial crime
- Work in a variety of finance and accounting roles in business, government and nonprofit sectors
- Test for the Registered Forensic Investigator, Government Forensic Accountant and Certified Management Accountant certifications
FAFE students are well connected to industry and build relationships with faculty who bring real-world experience from the private, public and government sectors. The curriculum is also designed to help students meet the federal requirements to be hired immediately by the FBI, CIA, DEA, IRS and many other government agencies.
The Bachelor of Science in Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination program is designed to prepare students for the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) exam and certification. This degree program reflects the importance of the ever-growing field of economic and financial crime investigation of business, government, and the not-for-profit sectors. The curriculum is focused on accounting and designed to provide graduates with the knowledge and skills essential to their successful entry into the accounting world or to specialize in the fraud examination area if they choose. Emphasis is placed on accounting, investigation skills, effective communications, quantitative skills, social responsibility, information technology, critical thinking skills, teamwork, business functional skills, digital forensics, cybersecurity, and commitment to lifelong learning.
Degree Requirements
The Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Prescott is a member of the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) and is accredited. The FAFE degree requires the successful completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours.
Program Requirements
General Education (38 Credits)
| BA 222 | Business Analytics Tools | 3 |
| BIO 120 & 120L | Foundations of Biology I and Foundations of Biology I Laboratory | 4 |
| COM 122 | English Composition | 3 |
| COM 219 | Speech | 3 |
| COM 222 | Business Communication | 3 |
| or COM 223 | Intelligence Writing | |
| Humanities Lower-Level Elective | 3 | |
| EC 210 | Microeconomics | 3 |
| or EC 211 | Macroeconomics | |
| MA 120 | Quantitative Methods I | 3 |
| or MA 140 | College Algebra | |
| MA 222 | Business Statistics | 3 |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 313 | Personality and Profiling ** | 3 |
| or PSY 337 | Criminality | |
| SIS 220 | Investigative Methodology and Forensic Science | 4 |
Forensic Accounting Core (72 Credits)
| ACC 210 | Financial Accounting * | 3 |
| ACC 307 | Governmental & Not-for-Profit Accounting * | 3 |
| ACC 312 | Managerial Accounting ** | 3 |
| ACC 329 | Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination * | 3 |
| ACC 339 | Intermediate Accounting ** | 3 |
| ACC 351 | Auditing Principles and Procedures * | 3 |
| ACC 390 | Financial Statement Analysis Business Valuation * | 3 |
| ACC 401 | Accounting Information Systems * | 3 |
| ACC 429 | Fraud Auditing and Examination | 3 |
| ACC 490 | Detecting & Preventing Financial Statement Fraud | 3 |
| or BA 437 | Strategic Management and Consulting | |
| BA 189 | Introduction to Business * | 3 |
| BA 201 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| BA 311 | Marketing | 3 |
| BA 319 | Managerial and Organizational Behavior * | 3 |
| BA 325 | Social Responsibility and Ethics in Management | 3 |
| BA 352 | Business Analytics for Decision Making | 3 |
| BA 370 | Machine Learning and Big Data ** | 3 |
| BA 390 | Business Law | 3 |
| CI 119 | Introduction to Cyber Security for Non-Majors | 3 |
| FIN 332 | Corporate Finance I * | 3 |
| PSY 306 | Psychology of Deception Detection * | 3 |
| or PSY 336 | Forensic Psychology | |
| SIS 200 | Introduction to the U.S. Legal System | 3 |
| SIS 342 | Interview Techniques & Tactics | 3 |
| or SIS 340 | Security Investigations and Interview | |
| SIS 352 | White Collar Crime | 3 |
| or SIS 411 | Procedural Laws and Evidence | |
Open Electives (10 Credits)
| Open Electives | 10 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
| * | Only Offered in Fall |
| ** | Only Offered in Spring |
All Army ROTC students are required to complete SS 321 - U.S. Military History 1900-Present (3 credits) in order to commission.
Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination - General
| Freshman Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| BA 189 | Introduction to Business | 3 |
| BIO 120 & 120L |
Foundations of Biology I | 4 |
| COM 122 | English Composition | 3 |
| MA 120 | Quantitative Methods I | 3 |
or MA 140
|
College Algebra | |
| UNIV 101 | College Success | (1) |
| Credits Subtotal | 13.0 | |
| Spring | ||
| BA 201 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| BA 222 | Business Analytics Tools | 3 |
| Humanities Lower-Level Elective | 3 | |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| SIS 200 | Introduction to the U.S. Legal System | 3 |
| Credits Subtotal | 15.0 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ACC 210 | Financial Accounting | 3 |
| BA 319 | Managerial and Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| CI 119 | Introduction to Cyber Security for Non-Majors | 3 |
| MA 222 | Business Statistics | 3 |
| PSY 306 | Psychology of Deception Detection | 3 |
or PSY 336
|
Forensic Psychology | |
| Credits Subtotal | 15.0 | |
| Spring | ||
| ACC 312 | Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| BA 352 | Business Analytics for Decision Making | 3 |
| COM 222 | Business Communication | 3 |
or COM 223
|
Intelligence Writing | |
| EC 210 | Microeconomics | 3 |
or EC 211
|
Macroeconomics | |
| SIS 220 | Investigative Methodology and Forensic Science | 4 |
| Credits Subtotal | 16.0 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ACC 307 | Governmental & Not-for-Profit Accounting | 3 |
| ACC 329 | Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination | 3 |
| FIN 332 | Corporate Finance I | 3 |
| Open Elective | 2 | |
| SIS 342 | Interview Techniques & Tactics | 3 |
or SIS 340
|
Security Investigations and Interview | |
| Credits Subtotal | 14.0 | |
| Spring | ||
| ACC 339 | Intermediate Accounting | 3 |
| BA 311 | Marketing | 3 |
| BA 370 | Machine Learning and Big Data | 3 |
| COM 219 | Speech | 3 |
| PSY 313 | Personality and Profiling | 3 |
or PSY 337
|
Criminality | |
| Credits Subtotal | 15.0 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ACC 351 | Auditing Principles and Procedures | 3 |
| ACC 390 | Financial Statement Analysis Business Valuation | 3 |
| ACC 401 | Accounting Information Systems | 3 |
| ACC 429 | Fraud Auditing and Examination | 3 |
| Open Elective | 4 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 16.0 | |
| Spring | ||
| ACC 490 | Detecting & Preventing Financial Statement Fraud | 3 |
or BA 437
|
Strategic Management and Consulting | |
| BA 325 | Social Responsibility and Ethics in Management | 3 |
| BA 390 | Business Law | 3 |
| Open Elective | 4 | |
| SIS 352 | White Collar Crime | 3 |
| Credits Subtotal | 16.0 | |
| Credits Total: | 120.0 | |
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Summary
120 Credits
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