Fraud Examination and Financial Forensics Major Resources

Fraud Examination and Financial Forensics Major Resources

The Bachelor of Science in Fraud Examination and Financial Forensics provides an interdisciplinary program of study that seeks to integrate knowledge of accounting with law; criminal, civil and social justice; and related disciplines. To get the most out of this major, and ensure that you complete your degree in a way that most conveniently fits in with your other commitments, it is essential that you take advantage of the full range of advising services available.

Here you will find:
● Key information about your major
● How and when to meet with your major advisor
● Planning tools that will help you track your progress in the major
● Ways to explore career opportunities related to the FEFF major
 
Take a few moments to look at the information below. It will help you plan effectively and avoid surprises during your studies at John Jay.
 
FEFF Requirements

Major Requirements

You are responsible for the major requirements that were in effect when you declared the major. To confirm the requirements you should be following, go to the Undergraduate Bulletin for that academic year. For example, if you declared the FEFF major in Fall 2015 or Spring 2016, you would click on the 2015-2016 Undergraduate Bulletin. If you declared the major and then left the College for more than one full semester, you’re responsible for the major requirements in effect when you return, if they have changed. Not sure when you declared the major? Find out here.
 
Below, find the Undergraduate Bulletin that was in effect when you declared the major.

FEFF Courses That Meet General Education Requirements

Each of the following FEFF courses can count toward your major requirements and toward your General Education requirements:

 

Major Advising

Freshman Students

As a freshman, you must meet with a General Academic Advisor, who can get you started with the FEFF major requirements and clarify general education requirements. For more information, visit the Freshman Advisement page.

Transfer Students

As a transfer student, you should start with a visit to a General Academic Advisor to discuss General Education Requirements. It is important to understand which General Education requirements are satisfied by your transfer credits and which are still outstanding. Head to AdvisorTrac to make an appointment with a General Academic Advisor.
 
After meeting with a General Academic Advisor, make an appointment with FEFF major advisor Yvonne Purdie. During this appointment, you will discuss which major requirements you have satisfied and what you still need to complete. This is particularly important if you have transferred to John Jay with accounting credits. 
 
Ms. Yvonne Purdie is available year-round and has a walk-in policy. You are free to drop by to visit her at Haaren Hall Room 533.44, Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You may want to email her in advance at ypurdie@jjay.cuny.edu to confirm her availability. 

Sophomore Students

Be sure to make an appointment with FEFF major advisor Yvonne Purdie to discuss major requirements, learn about opportunities in the major, and do smart planning. Ms. Yvonne Purdie has a walk-in policy, though you may want to email her in advance at ypurdie@jjay.cuny.edu to confirm her availability. She can be reached year-round and is usually available Monday-Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. in Haaren Hall Room 533.44.
 
Note: If you are a sophomore with 45 to 59 credits, you will have a hold placed on registration. The hold will only be removed after an appointment with your major advisor. You do not need to wait for the hold to be placed before seeking advisement.

Continuing Students

As a continuing student, you are encouraged to make an appointment at any stage in your academic careers to discuss planning or address any questions about the major. The advising staff are available year round, so please feel free to make an appointment at any time of the year.  

 

The FEFF major advisor is Ms. Yvonne Purdie, who has a walk-in policy. She is usually available Monday to Thursday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. in Room 533.44 Haaren Hall. Her email is ypurdie@jjay.cuny.edu.  Students may want to email her in advance to confirm her availability.

Registration and Major Holds

In both fall and spring terms, a major hold will normally be placed on registration for students who have earned between 45 and 59 credits. This happens a couple of weeks before registration, and is meant to get these sophomore students in to see their major advisor to make sure they are clear about requirements and how to make progress in the major.

The hold is designed to help you benefit from your major advisor’s perspective and guidance. If you have such a hold, make an appointment with one of the FEFF major advisors right away or stop by during Ms. Yvonne Purdie’s walk-in hours (Haaren Hall Room 533.44 Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.). When you meet you will discuss your plans and get a clear idea of how to complete your major in the most efficient and satisfying way. The major advisor will lift your hold after the meeting, allowing you to register for classes.

 

How do you know if you have a major hold? Go to CUNYfirst and complete the following steps:

 

  1. Check the Holds box of your CUNYfirst Student Center. If "Advisement Required" appears, click on “details.”

 

 

 

  1. Click on “Advisement Required.”

​

 

  1. See which type of advisement you need. If you must see a major advisor, then make a major advising appointment following the steps preferred by this department.

.

 

Plan Ahead: Graduate on Time

Avoid Course Planning Mistakes!

FEFF has several courses that build on each other in a sequence, so it is important to be aware of this and plan accordingly. The following sequence is ideal:

 

  • ACC 250 is a prerequisite for most other accounting classes, in particular ACC 307
  • ACC 307 is a prerequisite for ACC 308 and ACC 309
  • ACC 308 and ACC 309 are prerequisites for ACC 410
  • ​For further guidance, see the FEFF Major Checklist or meet with an advisor.
  • Remember that you will need at least a 2.0 GPA in the major and at least a 2.0 overall GPA to graduate.

Monitor Your Progress in the Major

  • DegreeWorks degree audit - Use this online planning tool to track your overall progress toward graduation. You will see which of your general education and major requirements are completed, in progress, or still needed.  Refer to the DegreeWorks FAQs to better understand how to use this helpful tool. Note: be sure to confirm the accuracy of your degree audit with a general advisor and major advisor.

     

  • FEFF Major Checklist - Get important information about major requirements and how they can meet some general education requirements as well.

     

  • Sample Four Year Plan - See an example of how you could complete all your degree requirements (major, general education, electives) and graduate in four years! Remember that this sample plan shows just one possible way to combine your requirements. Transfer students in particular should work with advisors to determine a plan that works best for them.

Meet with a General Academic Advisor

A General Academic Advisor will confirm what general academic requirements you still need, make suggestions about smart course planning that will help you graduate without delays, discuss your interest in adding a minor or second major, inform you about opportunities such as study abroad, discuss general questions and concerns, and make helpful referrals. Visit the Academic Advisement Center's webpage for more information.

 

FEFF and Careers

What are the employment opportunities?

The program focuses on areas that offer especially promising employment prospects. According to Kranacher, Riley and Wells (2011), “The demand for students who have specialized qualifications in fraud and financial forensics has grown significantly and is likely to continue to grow. The increasing demand is creating an unprecedented opportunity for those professionals who develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with fraud examination and financial forensics.” Fraud Magazine reports a “hiring boom on the horizon for CFEs”; the Wall Street Journal claims that “Forensic Accounting is a particularly hot field”; and The New York Times reports that “the demand for fraud investigators is rising.”
 
Careers in fraud and financial forensics include positions with government and law enforcement agencies (e.g., Criminal Investigation Division of the IRS, Inspectors Generals offices, FBI), professional service firms (e.g., CPA firms, law firms, and other consulting firms, some of which specialize in litigation advisory services), and corporations and non-profit organizations (e.g., Internal audit, corporate compliance, security, and internal investigations).

Does the curriculum satisfy the CPA 150-hour requirement?

Graduates from the Program will need to complete an additional 30 credit hours to qualify to sit for the CPA exam in most U.S. jurisdictions, including New York State. John Jay College also offers an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Forensic Accounting that does satisfy the CPA 150-hour requirement.

Does the curriculum satisfy the educational requirements for the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) exam?

Yes. Graduates will meet the educational requirements and will have covered all four parts tested by the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) exam: Financial Transactions & Fraud Schemes; Law; Investigation; and Fraud Prevention and Deterrence.

What are FEFF alums doing now?

Take a look at our Student Success Stories to see what FEFF alums are doing now!