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M.S. in Forensic Accounting

Career: Become an Expert Forensic CPA

Unlike other programs in which forensics is only taught in a few courses, at Utica you’ll focus on forensic skills throughout the entire program. We worked directly with NY State Education Department (NYSED) to ensure the program met CPA requirements while giving you deep knowledge of fraud and money-laundering investigation and prevention, litigation support, expert testimony, and more.

You’ll graduate with a deep knowledge of how to combine forensic accounting, auditing, and analysis with investigative techniques and technologies — helping you become a top candidate for future positions.

Protect Companies and Citizens from Financial Crimes and Fraud

The career path for a licensed CPA with a master’s in forensic accounting is extensive. Your skill set is in great demand as billions of dollars are stolen every year in personal and occupational fraud.

Your master’s in forensic accounting prepares you for a variety of careers in accounting and law firms, as well as corporate security and law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, and the government. Many businesses also have a strong focus on financial forensics — the U.S. and Canada report 46% of the world’s occupational fraud cases. Most of those cases are a result of corruption, asset misappropriation, and financial-statement fraud² — subjects that your master’s in forensic accounting expertly prepares you to work within.

► 3 Million
Adults have been the victim of personal financial fraud¹

► $3.2 Billion
Lost in personal financial fraud¹

► $3.6 Billion
Lost in occupational financial fraud²

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The online M.S. in Forensic Accounting degree prepares you for CPA licensure — a top credential in any accounting role, but one that’s looked for to prove your abilities as a subject matter expert to testify in criminal cases.

Completing FCM coursework throughout the program helps prepare you for two additional financial forensic certifications, the Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) and the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).

Examples of Career Opportunities

Forensic Accountant — 5-9 Years Of Experience

$85,000/year

As a forensic accountant, you’ll investigate and analyze financial evidence, assist in legal proceedings, and may serve as an expert witness in courtroom settings. You work to solve white-collar crimes such as money laundering, fraudulent insurance claims, embezzlement, and hidden assets.³

Internal Auditing Manager with Fraud Investigation Skills

$104,762/year

As an internal audit manager, you’ll rely on your investigation skills to perform routine, but complex audits relating to compliance, operations, and the finances of a company to ensure all financial activities are legal. You’ll be relied on to dig deeper if suspicious activity is reported, or found during a routine audit.⁴

Additional Forensic Accounting careers include:

Forensic Accounting Manager
Operational Risk Consultant
Anti-Money Laundering Specialist
Fraud Investigator
Financial Forensic Analyst
Senior Forensic Consultant
Internal Audit Director

Curriculum: Gain Expert Forensic Accounting Skills

Utica’s online master’s in forensic accounting program consists of 10 courses and 30 credits that can be completed in two years.

The curriculum was specially created to meet NYSED requirements for CPA licensure while providing a forensic focus throughout the entire program, unlike most master’s in forensic accounting programs that only teach those skills in a course or two.

You graduate as a forensic accounting expert, ready for CPA licensure⁵ and able to solve complex accounting cases within the legal and ethical guidelines involved in forensic scenarios.

Note: While many students who enter our master’s in forensic accounting program will have a bachelor’s in accounting, we welcome students who hold undergraduate degrees in other areas as well.

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Sources:

1. https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/ffus17_sum.pdf
2. https://acfepublic.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/2020-Report-to-the-Nations.pdf
3. https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Forensic_Accountant/Salary?loggedIn
4. https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Internal_Auditing_Manager/Salary/797c655c/Fraud-Investigation
5. M.S. in Forensic Accounting state licensing grid

Faculty Spotlights

Utica’s Master of Science in Forensic Accounting program is taught by experts with decades of worldwide experience in accounting, financial crimes, and cybersecurity. They bring industry insights to the classroom that can help you succeed in the field.

Glen Hansen, Ph.D.
Program Director

Glen Hansen, Ph.D., MBA, is program director for the online MS in Forensic Accounting program at Utica University. He has taught finance, accounting, and statistics at Brigham Young University, the University of Rochester, Penn State University, Baruch College, and Hunter College.

Dr. Hansen has worked in the financial industry designing accounting-based investment strategies for Ziff Brothers Investments, Battenkill Asset Management, and Morgan Stanley. He is currently a member of Utica University’s Retention and Completion Task Force and of the Business Department Business Leadership team.

Hansen has published finance and accounting articles in several international journals and a book chapter in the Handbook of Security Analyst Forecasting and Asset Allocation. His current research focuses on how managers use their discretion to influence accounting earnings and other financial statement accounts. Hansen has applied this research primarily in the banking industry.

Honors and Distinctions

Ph.D. in Business Administration and M.S. in Applied Economics, University of Rochester
MBA, Brigham Young University
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University

Selected Publications

Hansen, G. (2015). Predicting loan loss provisions by including loan type characteristics, The International Journal of Business and Finance Research, Volume 9(2), p. 53-67.
Hansen, G. (2015). Managerial discretion over loan loss reserves during the global financial crisis, The International Journal of Business and Finance Research, Volume 9(1), p. 51-61..

Donna M. Dolansky, MBA
Professor of Practice, Accounting

Donna M. Dolansky, MBA, is the chair of Utica’s Business Department Faculty Teaching committee and has been working in the accounting industry since 2000.

Dolansky spent seven years working at the public accounting firm Ernst & Young LLP in Boston, with a two-year rotation at their London office. She then moved to upstate New York and worked at NBT Bank in various accounting and finance roles, overseeing financial reporting and budgeting, mergers and acquisitions, and financial analysis and planning.

Away from campus, Dolansky spends most of her leisure time with her husband and two kids. She enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, cross-country skiing, and swimming. She is an avid reader and enjoys cooking and baking with her family.

Honors and Distinctions

MBA, Utica University (formerly Utica College)
B.S. in Accounting, Boston College
Licensed CPA in Massachusetts and New York
Member of the New York State Society of CPAs
Member of the American Institute of CPAs

Frequently Asked Questions

Advancing your life and career with an online degree comes with lots of questions, and we want to ensure your search for answers is effortless.

To learn more, speak with an enrollment counselor by calling 1-866-295-3106.

The online program is designed for professionals who work full-time and is offered part-time. This allows you to achieve a realistic balance between work, school, and personal commitments and gives you the opportunity to fully absorb what you learn. To see the curriculum, view courses.

You can start your application online now.

You do not need work experience to apply to the online MSFA at Utica. You may find all admission requirements in our admissions section.

There are 10 courses that makeup 30 credits in the online MSFA program at Utica University. You can review courses now.

Completing FCM coursework helps prepare you for two additional financial forensic certifications, the Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) and the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).

The Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists’ (ACAMS) unique academic partnership with Utica University that offers invaluable student benefits including:

a free student membership to the association for up to two years,
a waived application fee and 10% tuition discount, if they are already ACAMS members when applying,
and the ability to take the CAMS exam within 6 months of the student membership at a discounted rate.

Graduates will be prepared to sit for the CPA licensure exam* in NY as well as most other states.

*Students are responsible for verifying the licensure requirements in the state in which they plan to practice. You can view the state licensing grid to verify the licensure requirements in the state in which you plan to practice.

Curriculum: CPA Licensure

30 TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED

While most forensic accounting programs teach the key forensic skills in just a few courses, at Utica, forensic courses are included throughout the entire course of study. You’ll graduate with a deep forensic focus and be able to demonstrate expert knowledge and experience.

The program is carefully designed so you’re prepared to sit for the CPA exam. The 30 hours of coursework required meets the academic requirements for CPA licensure in most states.

Bachelor’s Not in Accounting?

If your undergraduate degree is in an area other than accounting, your curriculum will also include up to five fundamental courses (15 credit hours). These can be taken alongside core coursework so you can complete the degree in a timely manner.

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Apply: Admission Requirements

To apply for the online master’s in forensic accounting program at Utica, you’ll need the following:

Completed application
2.70 GPA on a 4.0 scale
One letter of recommendation (from a faculty member or professional colleague)
Transcripts from all previous colleges and universities attended
Personal statement
Résumé
B.S. in Accounting*

* A non-accounting bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution is acceptable as long as the following course prerequisites are met:

6 credit hours in accounting
At least 33 hours in business courses, including at least one course each in economics, statistics, and finance.

International Students

If English is not your first language, submit your test scores from either the TOEFL or IELTS.

Utica requires a TOEFL score of 550 written, 213 computer-based, or 79 internet-based. Utica requires a IELTS score of 6.0.

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Tuition and Financial Aid

This 30-credit program costs $775 per credit hour. Utica University is dedicated to making an advanced education accessible and affordable. Learn more about financial aid, including grants, student loans, and other options, on the Financial Aid tab of our Graduate Admissions page.

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