Forensic Accounting Minor

WHY MINOR IN FORENSIC ACCOUNTING?

“In today's world, fraud and forensic investigations have found a new place of mandatory presence in every court, business operation, and even personal life. Electronic device usage continues to soar, and electronic transactions are mandatory when filing income taxes, paying for online purchases, and remote banking. Enrollment in a Champlain College forensic degree program provides you with a multitude of career choices. Champlain College continues as the clear peer leader in the development of forensic curriculum.”

–Jeffrey A. Graham, CPA, CFF, CSEP

Fraud can account for a revenue loss of 5% or more in a single year for businesses—but, timely professional investigation can halt a fraudulent operation in its tracks. A career in Forensic Accounting combines the expert skills of managing and processing financial information with the thrill of investigation and problem-solving. As financial regulations grow increasingly more strict, and white collar crime continues to rise, the demand for forensic accountants and investigative auditors is predicted to rise significantly over the next few years in a variety of fields and industries.

Are you ready to follow the money?

The Forensic Accounting minor at Champlain College provides a solid foundation in the methods used by industry professionals in detecting and preventing fraud and deception in the business and finance worlds, which include legal and insurance fields; companies and corporations; not-for-profit organizations; and governmental agencies. To many companies, a skilled forensic accountant is indispensable.

This 18-credit minor is a natural complement to either the Accounting or Digital Forensics majors, but it is available as a minor to any student interested in pursuing this skill set of collecting and assessing digital evidence through the analysis of financial transactions. Upon completion of the Forensic Accounting minor, you’ll have the skills necessary to uncover hidden assets and investigate fraudulent financial reporting, theft, embezzlement, and money laundering.

Through the Forensic Accounting minor, you’ll learn to:

• Identify, analyze, and record financial transactions of an enterprise.
• Use multiple analytical skills and tools to prevent and detect fraud and deception in a variety of situations.
• Apply knowledge of criminal law to cybercrime and the collection and assessment of digital evidence related to financial data.

When you graduate from Champlain with a minor in Forensic Accounting, you’ll be well on your way toward being eligible to take the exam to receive a certification from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. As an accounting student who completes the 150 credit hours required to take the CPA exam, you will also be well-positioned to earn a Certified in Financial Forensics credential from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

COURSES IN THIS MINOR CURRENTLY INCLUDE:

• ACC 145: Financial Accounting
• ACC 230: Intermediate Accounting I
• ACC 231: Intermediate Accounting II
• ACC 280: Forensic Accounting
• FOR 100: Introduction to Cybercrime & Digital Forensics
• CRJ 225: The Law of Searching, Seizing, & Using Digital Evidence

WANT TO DELVE DEEPER INTO THE FORENSIC ACCOUNTING MINOR?

If you would like to know more about Forensic Accounting, which certification options would be open to you upon completion, and how it could boost your future career, email us with your questions and our Admissions team will put you in touch with the faculty or staff member who can best answer them.