St. Thomas University Graduate Certificate in Forensic Accounting: Our 2027 Review

St. Thomas University packs forensic accounting into four graduate courses you can take 100% online, with no in-person requirements. The coursework pairs fraud examination and forensic accounting with advanced auditing and internal audit, and you'll lean on case-based work with industry tools. Tuition is printed per course, so it's easy to plan what you'll pay.

St. Thomas University is a private Catholic university in Miami Gardens, Florida, and its Gus Machado College of Business offers this Graduate Business Certificate in Forensic Accounting. The school designed it for accounting graduates and Master of Business Administration (MBA) students who want to expand their knowledge of forensic accounting.

In just four graduate-level courses, 12 credit hours, you get a foundation across the field, with focused training in fraud detection, investigative techniques and computer-based financial analysis. The program prepares you for roles that involve fraud examination, litigation support and expert financial testimony in corporate and legal settings.

Faculty bring real-world forensics backgrounds, and it's all online, so you can study anytime and anywhere.

Tuition is printed as $1,245 per course, and the certificate is four courses. That gives you clear inputs for planning, and because the certificate is 12 credit hours, you pay course by course rather than for a long program.

As a graduate applicant, you'll hold a bachelor's or master's degree or the equivalent from an accredited college or university. Ask the admissions office about current fees, financial aid and any employer or military benefits that apply to online graduate certificates.

• You're an accounting graduate who wants a forensic specialty without leaving a full-time job. There are no in-person requirements.
• You're an MBA student who wants to add forensic accounting. The school names MBA students as one of the program's two target groups.
• You're an internal auditor. Internal Audit and Advanced Auditing are part of the four courses.
• You're aiming at litigation support or expert financial testimony. Those are two roles the program prepares you for.
• You learn well through case-based assignments and discussion forums. They're the heart of each course.

Four courses make up the certificate, and each takes a different angle on financial wrongdoing.

Fraud Examination (ACC 540) introduces fraud from the accountant's viewpoint. You'll learn about the types of fraud, methods of preventing fraud in organizations, approaches to detection, spotting fraud symptoms and investigating allegations.

Forensic Accounting (ACC 541) surveys the places forensic accountants work: valuation, economic damages, fraud, family law, bankruptcy, securities and insurance claims, negligence and contract disputes. You'll also cover professional standards and the forensic accountant's role on a legal team.

Advanced Auditing (ACC 502) focuses on auditing theory and practice, and on applying auditing standards and techniques to reach audit objectives. You'll study the ethics, responsibilities and specialized functions of Certified Public Accountants (CPAs).

Internal Audit (ACC 501) approaches auditing from a broad perspective that includes information technology, business processes and accounting systems. Your topics include internal auditing standards, risk assessment, governance, ethics and audit techniques.

Across the courses, you work through virtual lectures, discussion forums and case-based assignments. The school says courses emphasize hands-on learning with industry tools and digital forensics techniques, so you can investigate financial fraud, analyze data and build reports from wherever you are.

Courses the School Names

• Internal Audit
• Advanced Auditing
• Fraud Examination
• Forensic Accounting

Standout Features

• 100% online with no in-person requirements; study anytime, anywhere
• Designed for the accounting graduate or the MBA student who wants to expand knowledge in forensic accounting
• Four graduate-level courses (12 credit hours)

The certificate is 100% online with no in-person requirements, and the school's tagline is to study anytime, anywhere. You attend virtual lectures, take part in discussion forums and complete case-based assignments with faculty who have deep experience in fraud investigation and forensic analysis.

You get 24/7 access to materials in a collaborative learning environment. The program is four courses and 12 credit hours, which keeps your commitment focused. The Gus Machado College of Business adds individual attention and small classes, and it weaves ethics through the curriculum.

The college also emphasizes hands-on learning through internships.

The program prepares you for roles such as forensic accountant, fraud examiner, internal auditor and risk management specialist. The school says those positions matter in organizations including government agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), law firms, corporate security departments and accounting firms.

The program page cites a median salary for forensic accountants of $105,500 and 21% projected growth for financial examiners until 2033. It also points to the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) credentials as ways to build on the certificate and further your career.

The faculty contact for the program is Solange Amado Blunt, a CPA with a doctorate in business administration.

Where this degree can lead: Forensic Accounting Jobs, Certified Fraud Examiner Certification.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

• Which courses are offered each term, and in what order do students usually take them?
• What is the current total cost, including fees, beyond the printed $1,245 per course?
• Do the courses count toward a master's degree at St. Thomas if I continue?
• How do the fraud courses prepare me for the CFE exam?
• Which industry tools and digital forensics techniques do the courses use?
• How often do the online discussion forums and virtual lectures meet?
• Can I join the program with a bachelor's degree outside accounting?

A Catholic university in Miami Gardens, Florida.

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