Education 4.12 - Flipbook - Page 11
| Sunday, April 12, 2026 11
Graduate Engineering at University of
Maryland’s A. James Clark School of
Engineering to partner with the department of aerospace engineering and
launch the aerospace master of engineering and graduate certificate in engineering. Both educational opportunities
will be fully online programs to benefit
working professionals who are seeking advanced degrees, says George
Syrmos, assistant dean for continuing
education in the school of engineering.
Syrmos says these programs address
the post-graduate needs for those interested in aerospace engineering.
The graduate programs in the school
of engineering are specifically tailored
for working engineers who hold a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field. The curriculum mirrors the rigor of on-campus
offerings and prepares graduates to
design, develop and test next-generation aerospace technologies. Students
will engage with a comprehensive curriculum covering critical areas such as
structures, propulsion systems, vehicle
movement and control.
“The aerospace industry is quite
active in Maryland … and we’ve always
had a lot of interest in the program,”
says Ken Yu, director of aerospace
engineering graduate studies. “This is
a program that’s designed for working
professionals. So, they can come in,
take a number of courses for a master’s
certificate, and they can use that to
continue into the masters of engineering program”
University of Maryland’s aerospace
engineering program covers five separate disciplines: space systems, hypersonics, aerodynamics and propulsion,
dynamics control autonomy, smart
structure and material and rotorcraft
(helicopters).
Yu says the online programs maintain the same academic rigors, even
with the online flexibility. He adds that
with the option of watching pre-recorded classes, the program has been made
easier for people who are in the private
sector and working full time.
“We’re offering flexibility and trying
to utilize untapped capacity,” Yu says.
Syrmos says the University of
Maryland is an educational hub for
people to not only study aerospace, but
also a gamut of engineering programs.
Since 2017, Salisbury University
has offered the University System of
Maryland’s only upper-level certificate
in fraud and forensic accounting. Now,
students seeking a masters of business
administration can enroll in a fraud and
forensic accounting track, which prepares students for a career as a forensic accountant, fraud examiner, internal
auditor, compliance officer or financial
institution examiner.
Forensic accounting is akin to a
heavily detailed audit, an investigative
examination of an organization’s transactions and money flows. Unlike normal
audits, there’s typical a criminal side to
things when a forensic accountant is
required, explains Aaron Fritz, assistant professor of accounting and legal
studies.
The forensic accounting track
includes courses focused on white collar crime, financial statement fraud and
fraud examination. Fritz says the classes are similar to the undergraduate
program but are a “deeper dive” into
the subjects. One thing Fritz stressed
is that even though this degree has
accounting in its title, it’s a career track
that does not require one to be a certified accountant, or even have a degree
in the subject, just have passed the
principles of accounting course.
The new study track will begin in
the fall of 2026. Fritz says the university
is highlighting the new MBA study to
attract students. The MBA fraud and
forensic accounting track requires students to have passed the principles of
accounting course. Once completed,
the new graduates will be eligible to sit
for the Certified Public Accountancy
and Certified Fraud Examiner examinations. Those who pass the examinations are able to practice as a forensic accountant, qualified to investigate
financial crimes, conduct litigation support and audit fraud risks.
“This is a new way for students
to differentiate themselves from other
MBA students,” Fritz says. “It’s an exciting field. There are a lot of job opportunities available for forensic accountants
in multiple areas. You can work as a
consultant, work for an accounting firm,
work in government or law enforcement. There are a lot of options.”
Yvonne Downie Hanley, MBA director at Salisbury University, highlighted
the success the school’s undergraduate
forensic offerings and says they wanted to provide this option for graduate
students.
