Is this the coolest MBA out there?

Utica College - MBA in Fraud Management and Economic Crimes

I have spoken to them about this program and it is fascinating, unlike any other MBA program I have seen. Once you are finished, you can also sit for the Certified Fraud Examiner and Certified Financial Crimes Investigator. As best I can tell, this is the only program like this in the world. Utica College comes highly rated by USN&WR, is RA and used to be part of Syracuse (undergrads still receive a Syracuse degree). The only downfall....$800 per credit hour.

 

But with the Certified Fraud Examiner and Certified Financial Crimes Investigator designations you could probably charge your clients 800.00 per hour in fees.

 

My thoughts exactly. And with all the corporate fraud going on (insurance, identity, computer notwithstanding), plus the US Patriot Act and Sarbane Oxley all lend credibility to this being a huge career path...hence why I am considering a transfer. It lines up nicely with my current career as a quality auditor.

 

This is a unique degree that I find interesting. But isn't it weird that they don't offer accounting or finance classes for the MBA especially since this degree deals with accounting and other economic fraud?

 

I asked about that.

There are some aspects of accounting rolled into their 2 (6) credit core courses, but the bulk of what they are trying to teach is surrounds fraud analysis, fraud investigation and fraud examination to prepare you for the certifications, all wrapped around a base MBA core. Given the magnitude of growth in the CFE/CFCI job market, including but not limited to: FBI, Homeland Security, DEA, private investigations, corporate fraud examiners, etc I think what they are teaching is sufficient to meet those needs. They told me they are NOT preparing people to become forensic accountants, in which case your initial posting would make sense.

 

I guess you can also use it in the corporate world using their data analysis techniques.

What's the tuition like? I didn't see it on the website.

 

Pricey at a brisk $800 per credit, with 2 required 4 day residencies (extra). But a brief serach revealed a boom in the CFE/CFCI job market with pay approaching $130,000 a year. Not to mention the possiblity of being an expert witness or doing contracted corporate work on the side. So I can probably cost justify this (in my mind). As a quality auditor, I already have enough job offers to allow me to be picky...and that's in IT! I can only imagine the response if I added this to my background. Plus its just coolio

BTW, my neighbor was a CPA and left to become an FBI Agent in the white collar and economic crimes division. I asked him about this and he (off-record ) HIGHLY recommended it.

 

Sounds good! But its too rich for my blood.

Good luck!

 

See? They start right out teaching you directly what fraud and economic crime is right from the get go..... after you are light about $32K the lesson sinks in.

 

Great! Now I have yet another decision to make. The bachelor of science in economic crime investigation looks interesting. At this rate by the time I "graduate" I could have several degrees only a few months apart.

Damn you, Carl. ;-)

 

I think Duke has cornered the market on that at 95K for theirs

 

Maybe I've been watching too many Banacek re-runs but it seems to me that if someone were to put together a Bachelors degree in justice, a term of service as a Police Officer and then follow it with this MBA, they just might be able to pay back all their education loans within their first year of post-grad employment.
Jack
(trivia question: who can be the first person to correctly identify the actresses who portrayed the "insurance investigator" in both versions of "The Thomas Crown Affair?"

 

C'mon now, someone knows the answer.
Jack

 

Re: Re: Is this the coolest MBA out there?

Good one, Carl!

 

Trivia Answer

Rene Russo played the investigator in the 1999 remake. But I like the 1967 version with Faye Dunaway.

 

Sounds great, I just have one suggestion. Ask the school if you can contact any graduates who are working in the field. It never hurts to double check the facts any school tells you. Just a suggestion, I wish you the best.

Abner

 

Re: Trivia Answer

Thanks for the correct answer. For your prize, a new drink will be named after you at that fabulous bar Supa Molli in Berlin.

Jack

 

It does sound like an interesting program. However, with your current education and experience, you could study for and write the CFE exam without taking this MBA program, saving yourself a lot of money and still be able to enter this exciting and rapidly growing field.

There are two other potential designations that you should seriously consider:

1. Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)

2. Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

You could also add the CISSP to that list.

I am also considering both the CFE and CIA designations, as I am a Chartered Accountant in Canada with most of my experience in external auditing of financial statements (this experience also qualifies for both of these designations).

Good luck!

Michael Weedon, CA

 

Re: Trivia Answer

How flattering. But I think I'll pass on the punk scene insead of making sure you make good on that promise. I can find things to do in Berlin that would interest me more.

On the topic of this degree though, now the hubby is deep into researching a switch of his major. I may not get him off the computer this weekend. Thanks.