Strayer University Master of Science in Accounting With a Concentration in Forensic Accounting: Our 2027 Review

Three concentration courses focus on forensic accounting, emerging audit technology and fraud prevention and detection, and you'll take the whole master's 100% online in 11-week courses. You can transfer up to four eligible classes. And Strayer lists several tuition discounts, including 50% off when you enroll in two master's courses (eligibility rules apply).

Strayer University is a private university headquartered in Virginia, with online programs and campus locations. Its Master of Science in Accounting with a Concentration in Forensic Accounting is made up of 12 master's courses, each 11 weeks long.

Strayer says the concentration can give you the background to perform audits, evaluate risk and sleuth out fraud, so you can help businesses avoid compromised trust and disappearing assets. The program covers the risk environments embezzlers exploit and the control procedures you can put in place to help prevent fraud.

Credits are quarter hours. You'll take 40.5 hours of core master's accounting courses plus 13.5 hours in the concentration, and each graduate accounting course is worth 4.5 credits.

Strayer lists 12 courses at $1,715 per course. Other listed costs are a $65 technology fee each term, a $150 one-time degree conferral fee and a $100 resource kit per course.

The school also lists ways for you to save. You can get 50% off tuition when you enroll in two master's courses, and Strayer alumni can save $4,000 with the Alumni Master's Scholarship. If you're admitted and work in certain civic roles or volunteer for a nonprofit, you may be eligible for 25% off tuition for the duration of your program.

Transferring up to four eligible classes saves time and money, according to Strayer. You can ask admissions which offers apply to you and whether they can be combined.

• You're a working accountant who wants a 100% online format. You complete the degree from where you live, on your time.
• You're a graduate student with earlier coursework, because up to four eligible classes can transfer from a prior college or university.
• You like regular guidance. You'll have advisors, one-on-one academic coaches and career planning services.
• You're an international student. Strayer says it has hosted more than 4,000 international students from over 143 countries and offers the degree fully online.
• You're a Strayer alumnus, and you can save $4,000 with the Alumni Master's Scholarship.
• You work in a civic role or volunteer for a nonprofit, so you may be eligible for 25% off tuition.

The concentration has three courses. Forensic Accounting gives you a framework for the field. It covers the foundation areas that matter to a forensic accountant, the basic tool-oriented areas and the practice areas. In Fraud Prevention and Detection, you'll evaluate the fraud risk environment, the key roles in prevention and strategies for preventing and detecting fraud.

Emerging Auditing Technologies covers the assurances an independent auditor gives on financial statements. You'll compare traditional audit procedures with the emerging audit process and risk models. Each course is 4.5 credits.

Strayer lists the skills you'll build: analyzing key areas of forensic accounting, including the risk environment, performing fraud audits, preventing and detecting fraud, and applying forensic accounting concepts. The school also says the concentration helps you build skills to expose fraud and provide insights for legal proceedings.

The degree ends with Graduate Accounting Capstone. There you'll apply financial and managerial accounting, forensic accounting and auditing concepts to real-world business cases.

Courses the School Names

• Forensic Accounting
• Emerging Auditing Technologies
• Fraud Prevention and Detection

Standout Features

• 50% off tuition when enrolling in two master's courses (eligibility rules apply)
• Concentration courses on forensic accounting, emerging auditing technologies, and fraud prevention and detection
• One-on-one academic coaches, career planning services and financial guidance

Everything happens online. Strayer describes a flexible, 100% online program that you can complete from where you live, on your time. You'll use an online portal to access lectures and coursework, complete assignments and exams, and communicate with professors and classmates.

The degree is 12 master's courses of 11 weeks each, which works out to 54 quarter credit hours. You'll get support from admissions and enrollment advisors, one-on-one academic coaches, financial guidance and career planning services.

If you like in-person help, Strayer invites you to visit a campus near you for guidance and support while you study online. Faculty bring years of real-world industry experience to the classroom, and they'll answer your questions through the virtual courseroom.

Strayer's catalog states that the Master of Science in Accounting is accredited by ACBSP, and the university is a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

The school says a Strayer degree can help prepare you for career opportunities in forensic accounting, with career planning every step of the way. The concentration is aimed at helping businesses protect trust and assets by exposing fraud and supporting legal proceedings. You'll learn from graduate-level accounting faculty with industry experience.

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

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

• Which of my earlier courses would count toward the four eligible transfer classes?
• Can the 50% discount, the alumni scholarship and the civic worker discount be combined?
• How many hours a week should I plan for an 11-week course while working full time?
• How often can I begin a new term, and can I pause between courses?
• How do the one-on-one academic coaches work with master's students?
• Which campus locations can I visit for in-person support?
• How does the capstone work, and what business cases do students analyze?
• Does the school help you check state education requirements for the Certified Public Accountant exam?

A private for-profit university headquartered in Virginia, with online programs and campus locations.

• Best Forensic Accounting Programs Rank 26 of 27, master's
• Best Master's Programs Rank 26 of 27, master's
• Best Online Programs Rank 20 of 20, master's
• MAcc With Forensic Concentration Rank 11 of 12, master's

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