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Online Bachelor's Degree BS in Accounting Forensic Accounting & Fraud Examination

Investigate Financial Fraud with a Forensic Accounting Degree Online

Focus your accounting education on the investigation of financial records to detect fraud, theft and malfeasance with the Bachelor of Science in Accounting with a concentration in Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination degree. In this bachelor's program you'll learn:

  • Accounting principles that can be applied in complex financial transactions
  • Analytical skills that are directly applicable to the workplace
  • Presentation skills to share accounting information and analysis with your team

You will complete your coursework prepared to begin a rewarding career in the accounting field.

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See Yourself Succeed in Forensic Accounting

SNHU’s online forensic accounting degree will provide you with the in-depth accounting skills you need to succeed, plus the critical-thinking skills and essential business knowledge on which to build a successful career. 

As a private, nonprofit university, SNHU has one mission – to help you see yourself succeed. The benefits of earning your bachelor’s online at SNHU include:

  • Affordability. Take advantage of some of the most affordable tuition rates in the nation
  • Convenience. Attend class when it’s convenient for you – online education means 24/7 access
  • Efficiency and flexibility. Complete your undergraduate degree at your own pace, over six 8-week terms per year
  • Expert instruction. Learn from instructors with relevant, real-world experience
  • Networking. Tap into our nationwide network of alumni for internship and career opportunities
  • Simple application process. Just fill out an online undergraduate application, and we’ll retrieve U.S. transcripts from your previous institutions and automatically complete an official credit evaluation. Plus, there’s no application fee.
  • Student support. Count on the ongoing support of dedicated academic and career advisors specialized in your area of study
  • Transfer-friendly enrollment. Transfer up to 90 credits toward an undergraduate degree

Career Outlook

The forensic accounting degree online prepares graduates to evaluate, review and describe involved financial and business matters. Forensic accountants and fraud examiners are employed in a variety of settings, including:

  • Accounting firms
  • Insurance companies
  • Law offices
  • Governmental agencies

Earning a bachelor's degree is essential for entry into these occupations.

Accounting is a high-growth occupation. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of accountants and auditors is expected to grow by 10% through 2026. Employment for financial examiners is also expected to increase 10% in the same time period.*

An accounting degree, along with additional master's-level coursework, can help prepare you for professional certification exams, like the CPA. Students cannot earn CPA certification through SNHU, therefore if you wish to follow the traditional CPA track, you should verify that you'll meet the necessary requirements to sit for the exam.

The content of our programs aligns with the Content and Skill Specification Outlines (CSOs/SSOs) set by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Learners who are interested in licensure may also pursue an MS in Accounting degree to help them meet educational requirements. Completion of the BS in Accounting degree alone does not adequately prepare learners to be eligible to sit for the CPA exam or to become licensed certified public accountants.

Licensing requirements to sit for the CPA exam vary from state to state. Students are encouraged to review their state specific requirements. State-by-state educational requirements can be found on the website of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), while state-by-state CPA licensing requirements can be found through the Accounting Licensing Library, powered by the NASBA.

Curriculum

Electing the forensic accounting degree concentration will give you a comprehensive foundation in accounting and analysis. You'll supplement your bachelor's in accounting college course work with classes focusing on forensic and fraud detection practices.

Courses To Prepare You For Your Career

SNHU's bachelor's in forensic accounting and fraud examination program includes:

  • General education
  • Business core
  • Degree-specific courses

General Education Program

Our programs are designed to equip you with the skills and insights you need to move forward. In recent years, employers have stressed the need for graduates with higher order skills - the skills that go beyond technical knowledge - such as:

  • Writing
  • Communication
  • Analysis
  • Problem solving

All undergraduate students are required to take general education classes. Through foundation, exploration and integration courses, students learn to think critically, creatively and collaboratively, giving you the edge employers are looking for.

Business Core Program

Programs in the School of Business require learners to complete the business core program, which includes a variety of business-specific courses. This program focuses on 10 core competencies to prepare you for success wherever you go.

View Full Curriculum in the Catalog
BS in Accounting - Forensic Accounting & Fraud Examination

Courses May Include
ACC 207 Cost Accounting

This course examines the accounting concepts and practices used in the recording, classifying and reporting of cost data. An analysis is made of the behavior of costs and its use to management in the planning and control process. Budgeting, standard cost, job order and process are examined, along with special problems in cost accounting.
ACC 307 Intermediate Accounting I

Review introductory concepts including the accounting cycle, journal and adjusting entries. Learn to address more intricate accounting scenarios such as recording more complex financial statement elements. Apply theoretical frameworks and various accounting standards and regulations to the proper preparation of financial statements.
ACC 308 Intermediate Accounting II

Apply accounting rules and methodologies for increasingly complex transactions and elements to create more extensive financial statements. Assess a company's financial performance using appropriate ratio analysis to support informed decision making.
ACC 330 Federal Taxation I

A detailed presentation is made of the theory and practice applicable to the preparation of federal income tax returns for individuals.
ACC 345 Financial Statement Analysis/ Business Valuation

Accountants and other business professionals are often called upon to evaluate the financial health and market value of their company and of other companies under consideration for acquisition. This course presents theory, tools and techniques that are later applied to the actual analysis of a publicly traded company, as well as an introduction to fundamental valuation techniques. It will extend prior analysis to include the computation of free cash flows, the interpretation of notes to financial statements and the integration of information provided in various SEC filings to evaluate a corporation's future prospects. This is a team intensive course.
ACC 405 Advanced Accounting

Advanced Accounting includes a comprehensive examination and analysis of the accounting principles and procedures that are applicable to special areas of business. The topics covered are partnerships, consignments, installment sales, branches, business combinations, consolidations, bankruptcy, foreign exchange, and estates and trusts. Particular emphasis is placed on problem solving.
ACC 411 Auditing Principles

This course presents an in-depth examination of audit programs and procedures. It emphasizes the review of internal controls as required during an audit engagement, as well as the considerations pertaining to both clients and auditors.
BUS 307 Business Law II

The study begun in Business Law I continues as the topics of commercial paper, real and personal property, creditors' rights and bankruptcy, agency, business organizations, estate planning and government regulation of business are explored.

ACC 421 Auditing and Forensic Accounting

This course focuses on the investigation, detection, documentation, and prevention of accounting frauds, stock frauds, and employee theft and embezzlement. White-collar crime involving fraud has mushroomed. Much of the responsibility for detecting fraud has been assumed by the accounting profession. Accountants need to learn how to investigate and recognize fraud within an organization and how to implement the latest techniques for controlling it.
ACC 423 Detection/Prevention Fraudulent Financial Statements

This second course in forensic accounting and fraud examination examines the various types of fraud and its impact on the financial information presented. This course identifies common fraud schemes and scams. Participants in this course will learn how to review, detect and investigate possible financial statement fraud. Various techniques will be used to explore substantive analytical procedures and to assess the risks of financial statement fraud.
ACC 425 Interview Techniques/Legal Aspects Fraud

This third course in forensic accounting and fraud examination will introduce participants to interview principles and techniques. Participants will be exposed to some of the legal aspects pertaining to the identification and prosecution of fraud.
ACC 427 Investigating with Computers

This course focuses on the importance of technology as it relates to modern crime. During the journey of this course, students are presented with topics covering an overview of computer crimes, locations of digital evidence, fundamentals of working with data, an overview of legal aspects of computer crime, and how to present findings at the conclusion of a computer based investigation. Topics include identity theft, the insider threat, locating digital evidence, working with data, legal aspects, and finally presenting investigative findings. Students review case examples of cyber-crime, research relevant current events, and identify best practices when conducting a cyber-investigation.

Total Credits: 120

Program Outcomes

Tuition & Fees

Tuition rates for SNHU's online degree programs are among the lowest in the nation. We offer financial aid packages to those who qualify, plus a 30% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.

Online Undergraduate Programs Per Course* Per Credit Hour*
Degree/Certificates $960 $320
Degree/Certificates
(U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty) 		$675 $225

*Tuition Rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.

Additional Costs
No Application Fee, $150 Graduation Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)

University Accreditation

Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges as well as several other accrediting bodies. More...

This program is accredited by both NEASC and ACBSP. Consumer information is available on the College Navigator.

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the Internet, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/accountants-and-auditors.htm and https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/financial-examiners.htm (viewed online November 3, 2017). Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.