Program Overview

Digital Forensics & Investigations, Certificate

Program Description

This certificate program validates students' ability to gather and secure digital evidence, document a digital crime scene, retrieve lost files, retrieve deleted files and e-mails, and reconstruct data from various computer storage media. Students get hands-on experience with some of the popular commercial and open-source digital forensics tools. In addition, students will have the ability to detect the vulnerability of the computer system, identify threats, and assess the risk.

Requirements

Prerequisite Requirements

• CSCI 100 or equivalent
• CIS 150, A+ certification or equivalent
• CIS 160, Cisco I, Network+ or equivalent
• CIS 215 or equivalent - Linux+ or similar

Professional-Technical Core Courses

• CIS 155 - Information Security Foundations
• CIS 166 - Network Defense
• CIS 249 - Intro to Cybercrime Investigative Tools
• CIS 269 - Internet of Things (IoT) Security & Forensics
• CIS 289 - International Cyber Crime Investigations

Total Professional-Technical Courses: 25 credits

Important Notes

• This information does not substitute for meeting with a faculty adviser.
• Students must achieve a minimum 2.0 GPA in each core course to attain an AAS degree.
• Not all classes are offered every quarter or at night.
• This certificate is for a student with an IT background.

Learning Outcomes

• Describe the key security concepts in modern computing systems and networks.
• Determine and design an appropriate plan for identifying, securing, and gathering evidence in a case.
• Understand the importance of ethics while conducting investigations and apply the principles in their professional and personal lives.
• Search, monitor, and analyze big data cyber threats by effectively using software.
• Analyze data acquired and use the evidence to come to a conclusion that can be confirmed using standard or accepted forensic science techniques.
• Perform security, threat intelligence, and response in support of investigations by applying cloud cybersecurity tools.
• Create a mitigation plan based on the type of cybercrime investigation.