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FAFI: photo of a magnifying glass and money.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Can I be admitted to the Graduate Certificate in Forensic Accounting & Fraud Investigation (FAFI) Program?

    For admittance to the Graduate Certificate program, you may qualify under ONE of the following criteria:

    a) Have a bachelor's degree with an overall GPA of 2.9, and a score of 500 on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or a score of 1000 on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE); Our entrance criteria provide some flexibility so that a higher GPA may offset a lower GMAT or GRE score and vice versa

    b) Hold a Certified Public Accountant certificate, law degree, or be 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.

  2. Do I need to take a standardized test?
    Yes, unless you hold a Certified Public Accountant certificate, law degree, or have been admitted to an accredited law school. Please see FAQ 1 above for additional information on admission criteria to the FAFI program.
  3. 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.

    a) Do I need to take prerequisites at WVU?

    No. You may take your prerequisites online from an accredited college or University of higher education.

    b) Can I take prerequisites on-line?

    Yes. You may take your prerequisites online from an accredited university or college of higher education. c) 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.
  4. How do I apply to the FAFI Program?

    a) You must be admitted to West Virginia University as a non-degree graduate student. You may obtain an application for admission online at http://www.arc.wvu.edu/admissions/applications.html. 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 Investigation Graduate Certificate program.

    Admissions and Records will send your information to the Division of Accounting.

    b) 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 Investigation Graduate Certificate program Division of Accounting, 300 College of Business and Economics, West Virginia University, Morgantown WV 26506-6025; have your GMAT or GRE score, if applicable, sent to the Division of Accounting.

    c) If you are already admitted to WVU in another Graduate Degree Program and meet the admission requirements for the FAFI 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 FAFI courses.

  5. 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 Investigation.

  6. 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.

  7. Who do I contact about advising and obtaining additional information? Contact Professor Robert Maust, Program Coordinator, at 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 Pearson, Division Director, at 300 College of Business & Economics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506-6025. Phone 304-293-7847; tpearson@wvu.edu
  8. May I transfer credits to the FAFI Program?

    Students may not transfer any graduate credits to the Forensic Accounting & Fraud Investigation program.

  9. 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 degree in the United States need not submit a TOEFL score.

  10. How long will it take me to complete the Graduate Certificate in Forensic Accounting and Fraud Investigation?

    The Graduate Certificate may be completed in 12 weeks. The four courses of 3-credit hours each will be taught only in the summer. 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.

  11. May I participate in the Program on a part-time basis?

    Yes. Students participating on a part-time basis will require two summers to complete the Graduate Certificate in Forensic Accounting and Fraud Investigation. In session 1 of the first summer, part-time students may take either ACCT 581 or ACCT 582. In session 2 of the first summer, ACCT 583 must be completed.

    In session 1 of the second summer, part-time students will take ACCT 581 or ACCT 582, whichever was not completed previously. In session 2 of the second summer, ACCT 584 must be completed.

    Note: ACCT 581 and ACCT 582 must be taken before taking ACCT 584.

  12. How much will the FAFI 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 $29 per credit hour for WV residents and $40 for non-residents enrolled in Summer School. The certificate laboratory fee is $130 per credit hour, regardless of residency, for ACCT 581, 582, 583, and 584. The laboratory fee is nonwaivable.