CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- In its 122nd year, the University of Charleston celebrated a milestone in the school's history Sunday.

A total of 248 graduates will receive their degrees this year. Among the 2010 graduates, the first class of UC pharmacists and the Master of Business Administration and Leadership program received their degrees.

The Forensic Accounting program is what drew Dennis Carte to the university.

"Forensic accounting is an up and coming and growing field. I'm looking forward to putting what I've learned into practice."

Carte is already a Certified Public Accountant, but he says his Executive Master of Forensic Accounting degree will help expand his practice.

Ethan Klein now has his doctoral degree of UC's School of Pharmacy, and he made the long trip from his home in Texas to get it. When he enrolled in the program, the pharmacy school wasn't even built yet. Klein says he's glad he took the risk and is proud to be among the first graduates from the program.

"It was a leap to join a new program, but I feel like it establishes that pioneering spirit that I feel I want to have as a person," said Klein. "Our graduates reflect a quality of graduates that are equal or better than other pharmacy programs in the nation."

Of the 69 pharmacy graduates, nine were selected for specialized post-graduate training.