FAFE
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be admitted to the Graduate Certificate in Forensic Accounting & Fraud Examination (FAFE) Program?
For admittance to the Graduate Certificate program, you may qualify under ONE of the following criteria:
- Have a bachelor's degree with an overall GPA of 2.9 or above, and a score of 500 or above on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).
- Hold a Certified Public Accountant certificate or law degree or have been admitted to an accredited law school.
- If appropriate, you should have your GMAT or GRE score sent to the Division of Accounting, 300 College of Business and Economics, West Virginia University, Morgantown WV 26506-6025.
Do I need to take a standardized test?
Yes, unless you hold a Certified Public Accountant certificate or law degree, or have been admitted to an accredited law school. Please see FAQ 1 above for additional information on admission criteria to the FAFE program.
Do I need to have prerequisite courses?
The following courses, or their equivalent in terms of course work or professional experience,
are prerequisites for ACCT 581, Fraud Investigation, and ACCT 582, Fraud Data Analysis:
- ACCT 201 - Principles of Accounting
- ACCT 311 - Intermediate Accounting
- ACCT 322 - Accounting Systems
- ACCT 451 - Auditing Theory
Additionally, ACCT 581 and ACCT 582 must be completed before taking ACCT 584, Advanced Fraud Investigation.
Do I need to take prerequisites at WVU?
No. You may take your prerequisites at any college or university accredited by a regional accrediting agency, such as the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Can I take prerequisites on-line?
Yes. You may take your prerequisites online from an accredited university or college of higher education.
Can prior professional experience be substituted for prerequisites?
Yes. An Admissions Committee of the Division of Accounting will assess prior professional experience to determine equivalency to the prerequisite courses.
How do I apply to the FAFE Program?
- You must be admitted to West Virginia University as a non-degree graduate student. You may obtain an application for admission online. The appropriate non-degree graduate code for the College of Business and Economics is 2199. You should also indicate on the University application that the area of concentration is the Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination Graduate Certificate program. Admissions and Records will send your information to the Division of Accounting.
- At the time of your request for admission to the University, you should also send a resume and a letter indicating your intent to enroll in the Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination Graduate Certificate program:
FAFE Graduate Certificate Program
College of Business & Economics
West Virginia University
PO Box 6025
Morgantown WV 26506-6025
- Have your GMAT or GRE score, if applicable, sent to the Division of Accounting.
- If you are already admitted to WVU in another Graduate Degree Program and meet the admission requirements for the FAFE program, the Division of Accounting must change your graduate status to a 2199 code for the summer term(s) in which you enroll in the FAFE courses.
How will I know I have been admitted to the Program?
The Division of Accounting will send a letter (or an e-mail message) notifying you whether
you have been accepted to the Graduate Certificate Program in Forensic Accounting and
Fraud Examination.
Will everyone be admitted who applies?
Because the courses consist of intense hands-on cases and specialized assignments, enrollment in the program will be limited to 30 students. An Admissions Committee of accounting faculty will review applications and will accept individuals demonstrating
the greatest potential for success.
Who do I contact about advising and obtaining additional information?
Professor Robert S. Maust
Program Coordinator
306 College of Business & Economics
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV 26506-6025
Phone 304-293-7842; fax 304-293-0635;
rsmaust@mail.wvu.edu.
OR
Professor Timothy A. Pearson
Division Director
300 College of Business & Economics
West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506-6025
Phone 304-293-7847
tpearson@wvu.edu
May I transfer credits to the FAFE Program?
Students may not transfer any graduate credits to the Forensic Accounting & Fraud Examination program.
Are there TOEFL requirements for individuals whose first language is not English?
Applicants whose first language is not English must provide proof of English language proficiency. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) will be used as the measure of English language proficiency. A score of 250 on the computer-based TOEFL or 600 on the paper-based TOEFL is the minimum required of all such applicants. Applicants who have received a high school diploma or a bachelor's or master’s degree in the United States need not submit a TOEFL score.
How long will it take me to complete the Graduate Certificate in Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination?
The Graduate Certificate may be completed in a nine- week period in the summer. The program consists of two four-week sessions separated by a one-week break. The first session begins around May 18. In Summer Session 1, ACCT 581, Fraud Investigation, and ACCT 582, Fraud Data Analysis will be offered. In Summer Session 2, Acct 583, Fraud: Criminology/Legal Issues, and ACCT 584, Advanced Fraud Investigation will be offered.
May I participate in the Program on a part-time basis?
Yes. With some qualification. Students participating on a part-time basis will require two summers to complete the Graduate Certificate in Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination. In the first summer, part-time students may take either ACCT 581 or ACCT 582. In second summer, students must take ACCT 581 or ACCT 582, whichever was not completed previously. In session 2 of the second summer, ACCT 583 AND ACCT 584 must be completed at the same time. These courses cannot be taken separately at this time.
An alternative approach would be to complete the first four-week session during the first summer of enrollment and the second four-week session during the second summer of enrollment.
Note: ACCT 581 and ACCT 582 must be taken before taking ACCT 583 and ACCT 584.
How much will the FAFE program cost?
Click here for tuition and fee information.
In addition to the tuition and fees charged all students at WVU, students will be subject to the regular College of B&E HERF fee and a laboratory fee for the four courses in the certificate program. The B&E fee is $32 per credit hour for WV residents and $44 for non-residents enrolled in Summer School. The certificate laboratory fee is $143 per credit hour, regardless of residency, for ACCT 581, 582, 583, and 584. The laboratory fee is nonwaivable. These fees are subject to change.
Tuition for graduate students during the summer is based on the first nine credit-hours of enrollment, meaning that a student enrolled for 12 credit hours pays tuition for nine hours. Fees, on the other hand are based on a per credit hour basis.
