College of Business and Humanities
Criminal Justice – White-Collar Crime and Fraud Investigation
Criminal justice students at UF study the legal system, crime, and public safety and learn how to apply critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and analytical skills to understand criminal behavior, support law enforcement and legal processes, and contribute to justice in their communities and the world.
Overview
About the Program
The University of Findlay’s White-Collar Crime and Fraud Investigation Program prepares students to investigate complex, nonviolent financial crimes that impact individuals, businesses, and governments worldwide. These crimes—including corporate fraud, cybercrime, identity theft, money laundering, racketeering, embezzlement, counterfeiting, Ponzi schemes, and insurance and healthcare fraud—cause widespread financial and organizational damage, making skilled investigators essential in today’s justice system.
Through an interdisciplinary curriculum grounded in criminal justice principles, students learn to analyze financial misconduct, evaluate patterns of deception, and understand the legal and ethical dimensions of trust-based crimes. Coursework emphasizes critical thinking, communication, and analytical problem-solving while connecting theory to real-world applications in law enforcement, regulatory agencies, and private industry.
Experiential learning is a central part of the program, with opportunities for internships, job shadowing, and fieldwork that connect classroom learning to real-world practice. Students graduate prepared to enter the workforce or pursue advanced study with confidence, knowledge, practical experience, critical thinking, and leadership skills.
With experienced faculty, hands-on learning opportunities, and strong professional partnerships, students gain the knowledge and skills needed to pursue careers in fraud investigation, risk assessment, and federal law enforcement. The program also provides a strong foundation for those interested in graduate study or advancement into specialized investigative roles.
Program
Highlights
The University of Findlay, a degree in criminal justice prepares you to make a meaningful impact in communities by studying crime, law enforcement, and the legal system and applying critical thinking and ethical decision-making to support public safety, strengthen justice, and serve the public good.
Opportunities to gain professional experience
Opportunities to engage in hands-on learning opportunities
Top 5 in all evaluative categories relative to comparative universities
College
At a Glance
Hear from those who found their place here.
College
College of Business and Humanities
Degree
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Format
Hybrid
Required credits
120+ Credits
Curriculum
Course Requirements
Students earning a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with an Emphasis in White-Collar Crime and Fraud Investigation must complete the following:
Core Curriculum – The curriculum consists of required courses in criminal justice, business, finance, economics, accounting, criminology, ethics, law, and forensic science. View the full curriculum at the University of Findlay Undergraduate Catalog.
Emphasis Curriculum – The curriculum consists of required and elective courses in criminal justice, business, economics, accounting, and finance. View the full curriculum in the University of FIndlay Undergraduate Catalog.
beyond graduation
Careers
Graduates of the White-Collar Crime and Fraud Investigation program are prepared for specialized roles that focus on financial crime detection, prevention, and enforcement across public and private sectors. These positions often involve analyzing complex data, investigating fraud schemes, and supporting legal proceedings.
Common careers include:
- Forensic Accountant
- Certified Fraud Examiner
- Corporate Compliance Officer
- Financial Crime Analyst
- Cybercrime Investigator
- Insurance Fraud Investigator
- Healthcare Fraud Analyst
- Money Laundering Investigator
- Risk Assessment and Loss Prevention Specialists
- Federal Law Enforcement Agent (FBI, Secret Service, etc.)
- Financial Intelligence/Compliance Officer
Graduates may also pursue careers in government agencies, banking and finance, consulting firms, or continue their education in law school or advanced criminal justice or forensic programs.
opportunities
Hands-On Experience
- The Behavioral & Justice Sciences Department proudly partners with the Washington Center to provide federal government agency internship opportunities for our students in Washington D.C. Examples include: FBI, U.S. Secret Service, Department of Justice, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals, Border Patrol, Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, and Washington DC Process Servers.
- Students complete internships with state and local government agencies as well as private-sector organizations. Examples include: FBI, Homeland Security, IRS, Department of Justice, ATF, Secret Service, GAO, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Ohio State Highway Patrol, accounting firms, law firms, State Pharmacy and Medical Boards, banks, credit unions, financial institutions, insurance companies, and healthcare institutions.
- The Behavioral & Justice Sciences Program’s internship policy is flexible, allowing students to complete internships locally, at the state-level, nationally, internationally, and in the non-profit and private sectors, which can be paid experiences.
- Throughout their academic career, students engage in field experiences and job shadowing with state and local criminal justice agencies as well as private sector firms.
- Students gain hands on experience in processing crime scenes at the Behavioral & Justice Sciences’ dedicated crime scene house
- Students conduct evidentiary analysis in the Behavioral & Justice Sciences Department’s state-of-the-art forensic laboratory
- Students are grounded in criminological theory and engage in undergraduate research
- Students participate in hands-on self-defense training through the Self-Defense-Stress Management course
college of business and humanities
Accreditation
University of Findlay’s College of Business and Humanities is accredited by recognized regional and national bodies, ensuring your degree holds weight with employers and institutions nationwide. The College of Business and Humanities holds national accreditation through ACBSP and CHEA .
Accreditation status is reviewed on a regular basis. For the most current accreditation information, visit the University of Findlay Accreditation page.