Graduate Programs in Forensic Accounting

Interested in Forensic Accounting Programs? Want to earn a degree at the graduate level? Whether you’re currently working as a forensic accountant, or are interested in graduate level education to move your accounting career in a new direction, forensic accounting graduate programs might be a great fit for your needs. You may be able to expand your accounting expertise, and gain academic and professional experience through completing a forensic accounting degree program.

What is Forensic Accounting?

Forensic accounting is a unique specialization within the field of accounting. As a forensic accountant, you may combine your accounting expertise with legal knowledge, to investigate potential illegal activity, to support risk management, due diligence, auditing, and more. Forensic accountants may work in a variety of settings, from cooperating with and supporting lawyers and ongoing investigations, to working within individual banks, corporations, and accounting practices.

If you’re new to forensic accounting, or even accounting altogether, earning a graduate degree or certificate in forensic accounting might be a great way to gain knowledge and experience, in order to jumpstart that new career. Even if you’re already working as a forensic accountant, earning an advanced degree in the field might be a good way to expand your skill set to be as effective as you can be.

Types of Forensic Accounting Programs

When you begin looking for graduate programs in forensic accounting, you might have a lot of different options to consider. A variety of different programs and degree types may be available for consideration when deciding where to apply. Each of these program types may have unique qualities that make them suitable for your needs. Understanding the basics of what may be offered might help you to choose wisely between them.

Master’s Degree in Forensic Accounting

Are you ready to earn your master’s in forensic accounting? Whether you’re aiming to use your education to jumpstart a new career path, or to support you in your current role, you might be able to find great hybrid, on campus, and online forensic accounting master’s programs that may work for you. Several different types of accounting master’s programs might be up for consideration. How should you differentiate between them?

What are the different Master’s in Forensic Accounting programs?

Some of the major accounting program types, such as M.S.A., M.Acc., and M.P.A, may sometimes share more similarities than differences. In some cases, the differences between them may come down to naming convention at your university of choice. In other cases, the differences may be more significant. One element these programs might share is a focus on technical accounting skills over general business education.

MBA in Forensic Accounting may be a little different. This programs may focus more heavily on business with a forensic accounting concentration; these programs might, for example, be oriented toward those with careers or ambitions toward management.

Whether you’re studying to jumpstart a new career, to expand your professional horizons, or to qualify to sit for a professional certification like the CPA, it is important to follow up with your preferred programs and other professional and licensure requirements you may be interested in for additional details.

Graduate Certificate in Forensic Accounting

Whether you already have your master’s or aren’t ready to enroll in a forensic accounting master’s program, earning a forensic accounting certificate might be a great option increase or extend your study at the graduate level outside a degree program. Graduate certificates in forensic accounting might allow you to expand your expertise in an area of interest, learn something new, or even to earn those post-baccalaureate credits you need.

DID YOU KNOW? According to the BLS, the median annual salary for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks was $47,440 in May 2023.

Graduate Programs in Forensic Accounting: Formats

Whether you’re a working professional looking to balance your career and home life with your education, a full time student newly graduated from a baccalaureate program, or in another situation entirely, your individual needs might influence the graduate program you choose. Luckily, forensic accounting programs may be offered in several different formats, making it possible to find one that fits into your life.

Online Graduate Programs in Forensic Accounting

If you’re looking for a flexible option to earn your master’s or graduate certificate in forensic accounting, earning an online forensic accounting degree may be a good choice for you. Online forensic accounting graduate programs might emphasize flexibility, potentially making them a good choice for anyone who needs flexibility in order to fit their studies into their lives. Online programs might include many of the benefits of brick-and-mortar programs, with similar academic rigor. They may be offered in several online formats:

• Synchronous online programs might try and incorporate as many of the qualities of an on-campus program into the online space as possible. In these programs, you might be required to log into your online course modules at specific times each week to attend course activities like livestreamed lectures, and potentially to complete other course requirements.
• Asynchronous online programs might emphasize flexibility, allowing you to log into your course modules at times each week that work for you, completing course requirements and activities when and where your schedule allows.

In addition to the above, some online programs may blend synchronous and asynchronous options, listing different course types and formats alongside one another, so that students may choose the type of course they prefer on an individual basis. If you’re interested in great programs with the flexibility to fit into your life, a variety of online options might be out there for you to consider.

On Campus Graduate Programs in Forensic Accounting

On campus forensic accounting graduate programs might allow you to take advantage of the stability, facilities and services you might need to succeed as a student, while still balancing your professional and personal life. Whether you’re interested in an on campus forensic accounting graduate program in a location convenient to home or work, or want to study in an exciting new location, great on campus options might be out there.

As an on-campus program student, you might be able to interact and collaborate with your peers and professors in person, take advantage of networking opportunities, and even become part of the campus community. You might also have access to facilities and services like libraries, technology labs, career and academic counseling, tutoring, and more. These aspects may vary between schools, depending what facilities and services are offered and maintained by your program of choice.

Hybrid Graduate Programs in Forensic Accounting

If you’re torn between the convenience of online forensic accounting programs and the community environment and benefits of a campus program, you might want to consider looking into hybrid forensic accounting graduate programs. Hybrid programs aim to combine the convenience and flexibility of online graduate programs with the stability and resources of a physical campus.

This might be done in a few different ways. Some hybrid programs might be low residency. Low residency programs might offer online courses for the majority of the semester, while requiring students to complete other requirements on campus during short campus residencies once or several times each semester. In other cases, semester-long and accelerated online and on campus courses might be offered alongside one another, allowing students to choose which format works best for them for each course.  In both cases, as a student in a hybrid program, you may be able to take advantage of increased flexibility in your scheduling while maintaining access to the resources of a physical campus.

Choosing Your Graduate Programs in Forensic Accounting

Whether you’re currently working in forensic accounting, working in another type of accounting, or are still launching your new career, you might be interested in studying forensic accounting at the graduate level. Whether you’re interested in a forensic accounting master’s degree program, or earning a graduate certificate in forensic accounting, great programs might be out there to help you achieve your academic and professional goals.

If you’re ready to find great forensic accounting graduate programs, GradSchools.com is here to help. Whether you want to earn your master’s or certificate, whether you want to attend online, on campus, or in a hybrid program, great programs might be out there for you to consider and apply. If you need to narrow down your results any further, you may do so by selecting filters, such as your preferred program level and format, and even your preferred location if necessary. Once you’re satisfied, you can begin reading up on programs, and reach out to your potential favorite options for more information or to get the process started!

GradSchools.com offers 8 Graduate Schools with Forensic Accounting Graduate Programs