Expanding its focus on emerging areas of finance, Seton Hall’s Stillman School of Business launched two new undergraduate majors this fall.
The forensic accounting and wealth management majors aim to prepare students for careers at the intersection of money and human behavior. They are open for enrollment.
The interdisciplinary wealth management major, designed as a secondary major, blends an understanding of people and their personalities, empathy, and communication skills with “technical knowledge about finance and investing,” Dr. Joyce Strawser, dean of the Stillman School of Business, said.
“With wealth management, what you’re doing is ensuring that people have security, [that] they’ve made solid and reliable plans for the future such that they've got sustainable wealth,” she added.
Dr. Mark Schild, Stillman’s associate dean of student success and finance professor, echoed this sentiment, describing wealth management as a “service profession.”
“You have to help people,” he said.
According to Schild, the wealth management major has established partnerships with Morgan Stanley, Charles Schwab, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and other smaller independent advisors. In terms of hands-on learning, students are given the opportunity to volunteer, sit with clients and potentially earn Chartered Financial Analyst (CFP) recognition.
A CFP recognition “adds a level of legitimacy that doesn’t exist by just putting a shingle out and saying ‘I can help you with your investments,’” Schild said.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for financial advisors are projected to grow 10% by 2034.
“They are desperately looking for young, diverse talent to join the industry,” Schild said.
Forensic accounting is also increasingly in demand.
“In the private sectors, it’s really important…in the event that a company has some kind of fraud or theft that occurs, some kind of white collar crime that’s occurring there, they’re going to need help [putting together a legal case],” Dr. Mark Holtzman, department chair and associate professor of accounting and taxation, said.
Holtzman explained that in the public sector, forensic accountants may assist with cases related to terrorism and organized crime.
Strawser added that forensic accountants have the ability to detect “criminally wrong” actions and protect the integrity of organizations.
“One of the special connections between this program and Seton Hall is that this is really geared towards public service and the public good and typically our accountants…will work on a variety of different companies for profit companies but they will also work with not for profit organizations too,” Holtzman said.
Students who earn a B.A. in forensic accounting are qualified to pursue the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential, which Holtzman said validates their skills and gives them a competitive edge.
In addition to preparing students for careers in public service, the program stands out for its prestigious accreditation.
Holtzman said SHU’s accounting program holds supplementary accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), making it the only program in North Jersey with that distinction. He added that the forensic accounting program is the only one of its kind within the AACSB network.
Ultimately, Strawser said the new majors reflect Stillman’s commitment to preparing students for an evolving financial landscape.
“At the heart of the Stillman School of Business’ mission is preparing students not only through rigorous academics but through hands-on learning and strong industry partnerships, transforming concepts into practice,” Strawser said.
Carly Hunter is a writer for The Setonian’s News section. She can be reached at carly.hunter@student.shu.edu.
