Lead the Future of Business
Internal auditors and risk management professionals help their organizations identify, assess and mitigate the risks that could hinder the achievement of corporate objectives. Individuals employed in an internal auditing or compliance environment have the benefit of seeing all aspects of their organizations. In fact, many people working in internal auditing or compliance gain the organizational knowledge to move into other areas including upper management positions. The coursework leading to this certificate will allow you to:
- Identify, assess, and select methods to mitigate risks
- Implement best practices and work with management to develop policies and procedures over controls for safeguarding organizational resources
- Provide assurances to management and the directors that units in the organization are functioning as they should be
- Increase the efficiency and effectiveness of business processes in your organization
- Implement strategies in your organization to detect and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.
Time to Complete
On average, students complete their Graduate Certificate in Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance in 1 to 2 semesters.
Credits
4 courses totaling 12 credit hours. Students may also substitute an internship to earn credit for one of the courses.
Program Highlights
Students enrolling in the Certificate program will benefit from the following:
- All classes are offered at least one time each academic year.
- All classes are offered online. Students may also take advantage of some courses which are offered in a hybrid or in-person environment should they elect.
- The College of Business and the Department of Accounting are fully accredited by the AACSB, the highest level of accreditation afforded to colleges of business and accounting programs.
- The Cleveland State Internal Auditing program has been accredited as a “comprehensive level” program by the Institute of Internal Auditors, the only such designated program in the State of Ohio. This designation reflects the in-depth curriculum CSU has with respect to the profession of internal auditing and risk management. The CSU Accounting Department is guided by an Internal Auditing Advisory Board which is made up of very senior internal auditing practitioners who guide the faculty in maintaining a high-quality internal auditing program. The Department also enjoys a close working relationship with the Northeast Ohio Chapter of Internal Auditors.
Learning Methodology
The Certificate requires completion of two prerequisite courses which may be waived with prior course work, two required courses, and two electives.
Admissions Requirements
Please see the College of Business website for admission requirements for all Graduate Certificate programs.
Courses
Certificate Courses
Prerequisites: ACT 221, ACT 500, or ACT 501 at CSU or an equivalent course elsewhere; BUS 201 or OSM 510 or an equivalent course at another university. Prerequisite courses will NOT count towards the required 12 credit hours leading to the Certificate.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ACT 555 | Internal Controls and Risk Management | 3 Credits |
| ACT 565 | Detecting and Preventing Organizational Frauds | 3 Credits |
Elective Courses - Select two of the following:
Students select an additional nine credit hours of 500 or 600 level MGT courses to complete the requirements for the degree. Students may also take courses outside of the department, but must be chosen with prior consent of the student's advisor.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ACT 553 | Information Systems Auditing | 3 Credits |
| ACT 575 | Accounting Analytics | 3 Credits |
| ACT 588 | Advanced Accounting Information Systems | 3 Credits |
| ACT 632 | Applied Risk Assessments | 3 Credits |
| ACT 690 | Professional Internship | 3 Credits |
| IST 675 | IT Governance | 3 Credits |
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition and financial aid for CSU programs are kept competitive so you can receive the education you deserve. Tuition for online programs and courses follows the same fee structure as traditional, on-campus programs and courses. Current CSU Graduate tuition costs can be found on the Bursar’s website.
Approximately 70% of CSU’s students receive some form of financial assistance. The University participates in or administers all the major federal and state grant and loan programs. In addition, CSU provides University grants and scholarships.
To begin the financial aid process, you will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You must file a FAFSA every year after January 1st to receive your financial aid. Cleveland State University’s financial aid school code is 003032.
If you have any questions, visit the Financial Aid section of CSU’s website, or contact the Financial Aid office.
Faculty
Full time faculty teaching courses in the program have PhD’s and are experts in their fields. Full time and adjunct faculty have professional certifications including the CPA and CIA designations. Adjunct faculty teaching courses in the program have many years of experience in internal auditing and many have senior level positions. All are active in professional organizations.
Career Outcomes
Students obtaining the Certificate may be qualified to work in the following areas within their organizations:
- Work in the area of Enterprise Risk Management where they work to identify and assess risks within their organization
- Conduct internal audits dealing with financial, operational, and compliance risks in their organizations
- Conduct forensic audits in order to help their organizations fight waste, fraud, and abuse
- Work for a government entity to evaluate the use of taxpayer dollars and the efficient provision of government services
Frequently Asked Questions
I do not have an accounting degree. Would I benefit from the Certificate?
Yes. Students could benefit by earning the certificate even though they don’t have an accounting background. For example, someone with a finance degree working at a bank, might move into a corporate compliance area where he/she works with other risk assessors to identify and report on risk exposures that may affect the bank. After completing the Certificate, a nurse might be able to move to an internal auditing function where he/she might be able to identify and prevent waste, fraud and abuse within the hospital or advise on ways to improve the efficiency of hospital operations. An IT specialist completing the certificate might be able to further leverage their skills into working at a public accounting firm or joining an internal auditing department.
I have an accounting degree and have worked in public accounting for some time. Would the Certificate help me in my career?
Yes. If you’ve done financial statement auditing or tax compliance, this certificate will equip you with relevant skills to join a corporate internal auditing or compliance department, a nonprofit organization, or even a governmental internal audit or inspector general department. You will be exposed to the different issues faced by organizational auditors whose emphasis is much more general than just financial statement audits.