Loyola launches forensic accounting, construction management majors
Loyola University Maryland’s Sellinger School of Business and Management is introducing three new programs: a Bachelor of Business Administration in Forensic Accounting, a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management and Real Estate Development, and a Community Development Minor. The programs will open to undergraduate students starting this summer.
“These new programs reflect Loyola’s commitment to intentional, market-informed and experientially guided preparation for our students’ career success,” said Mary Ann Scully, MBA ’79, dean of the Sellinger School. “We developed them, as we do all new business programs, in close collaboration with local and national industry leaders. Their insights ensured our curriculum reflects real workforce needs and prepares students with practical skills they can apply immediately. The new programs reflect our industry partners’ commitment to hands-on learning and internships.
“By building these degrees alongside industry partners, we’re giving our students an education that is relevant, rigorous, and deeply connected to the professions they will enter and eventually lead. Their post-graduation successes will prepare them for lives of impact — our ultimate goal for our students.”
The Bachelor of Business Administration in Forensic Accounting prepares students for the growing field of forensic accounting, which blends financial expertise with investigative techniques to collect and analyze financial data, track compliance, uncover fraud, and develop evidence for legal proceedings.
The only undergraduate program of its kind in Maryland and one of few in the nation, Loyola’s forensic accounting program will impart critical thinking skills and technical knowledge across different areas of accounting. The program’s capstone forensic accounting course will combine real-world case studies, faculty-led field experiences, and guest lectures to synthesize student learning across other accounting courses.
The Bachelor of Science in Construction Management and Real Estate Development integrates business education, engineering knowledge, and experiential learning to prepare students for leadership roles in construction management and real estate development. It complements the Sellinger School’s standalone Real Estate Major. Students engage in real-world problem solving, applied project work, close collaboration with industry partners, and paid internships, preparing graduates for the workforce.
The degree requires Spanish-language proficiency, reflecting industry labor force demographics and equipping graduates to communicate effectively, manage teams inclusively, and lead across cultural contexts. Loyola’s focus on linguistic and cultural competence follows the university’s commitment to “cura personalis” — care for the whole person — and social justice.
“The Construction Management and Real Estate Development Major will allow Loyola as an anchor institution to do our part to meet significant workforce demands that have been heretofore unmet, including supporting vacant housing initiatives, infrastructure development needs, and frontline worker development,” Scully said.
The Community Development Minor likewise prepares students to pursue the revitalization, empowerment, and sustainable transformation of communities. The program equips students with theoretical and analytical knowledge to work with diverse populations to address systemic issues, such as poverty, housing inequality, and education disparities. As part of the minor, students study microeconomics, urban economics, community and real estate development, and housing.