Program Overview

Introduction to the Digital Forensics Program

The Digital Forensics program is a discipline that addresses the collection, processing, and analysis of digital data for the purpose of verifying or validating the existence of an event of investigative, intelligence, cyber, or business interest. This field is interdisciplinary by nature, incorporating computer engineering, computer science, information technology, law, and ethics.

Program Overview

The MS in Digital Forensics prepares graduates for a wide variety of careers, including law enforcement, government, incident response, and all facets of cyber security. The program combines academic education with real-world practical techniques, offering advanced training in analyzing digital evidence, intrusion forensics, reverse engineering, network analysis, legal, and ethical matters.

Admissions Criteria

Students who hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in engineering, math, science, computer science, business (with a quantitative background), economics, or other analytical disciplines, or students who have equivalent work experience indicating analytical aptitude, may apply. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00 is required for acceptance.

Degree Requirements

• Total credits: 30
• Students must complete a minimum of 30 graduate credits beyond the bachelor's degree with a GPA of 3.00 or higher, with no more than 6 credit hours of C grades.
• The plan of study includes a 21-credit required core component, which includes a mandatory capstone course, and the choice of either a concentration or a 9-credit elective component.

Core Courses

• DFOR 510: Digital Forensics Analysis (3 credits)
• DFOR 660: Network Forensics (3 credits)
• DFOR 661: Digital Media Forensics (3 credits)
• DFOR 663: Operations of Intrusion Detection for Forensics (3 credits) or DFOR 664: Incident Response Forensics
• DFOR 670: Fraud Analytics (1 credit) or DFOR 671: Digital Forensics Ethics Law
• DFOR 672: Mobile Device Forensics (3 credits)
• DFOR 790: Advanced Digital Forensics (3 credits)
  • Total Credits: 21
  • Note: Both DFOR 670 and DFOR 671 may be taken, but only one may be used in the core component.

Concentration in Penetration Testing/Reverse Engineering (PTRE)

• Focused on the practical aspects of penetration testing and reverse engineering.
• Students are expected to master tools, techniques, and methodologies of penetration testing and reverse engineering.
• Students must take three of the four concentration courses offered (9 credits).
  • DFOR 740: Advanced Offensive Defensive Strategies (3 credits)
  • DFOR 761: Malware Reverse Engineering (3 credits)
  • DFOR 767: Penetration Testing in Digital Forensics (3 credits)
  • DFOR 772: Forensic Artifact Extraction (3 credits)

Electives

• Students who do not choose the PTRE concentration should select 9 credits from the following list:
  • DFOR 590: Special Topics in Digital Forensics
  • DFOR 637: Cloud Forensics
  • DFOR 663: Operations of Intrusion Detection for Forensics
  • DFOR 664: Incident Response Forensics
  • DFOR 670: Fraud Analytics
  • DFOR 671: Digital Forensics Ethics Law
  • DFOR 672: Mobile Device Forensics
  • DFOR 673: Registry Forensics - Windows
  • DFOR 674: Mac Forensics
  • DFOR 675: Linux Forensics
  • DFOR 698: Independent Reading and Research
  • DFOR 710: Memory Forensics
  • DFOR 720: Digital Audio Video Forensics
  • DFOR 730: Forensic Deep Packet Inspection
  • DFOR 740: Advanced Offensive Defensive Strategies
  • DFOR 761: Malware Reverse Engineering
  • DFOR 767: Penetration Testing in Digital Forensics
  • DFOR 768: Digital Warfare
  • DFOR 769: Anti-Forensics
  • DFOR 771: Digital Forensic Profiling
  • DFOR 772: Forensic Artifact Extraction
  • DFOR 773: Mobile Application Forensics and Analysis
  • DFOR 775: Kernel Forensics and Analysis
  • DFOR 780: Advanced Topics in Digital Forensics
  • ECE 511: Computer Architecture
  • ECE 512: Computer Architecture Security
  • ECE 547: Applied Cryptography
  • ECE 611: Advanced Computer Architecture
  • ECE 612: Real-Time Embedded Systems
  • ECE 642: Design and Analysis of Computer Networks
  • ECE 647: Post-Quantum Cryptography
  • ECE 649: Side-Channel Security
  • ISA 650: Security Policy
  • ISA 652: Security Audit and Compliance Testing
  • ISA 656: Network Security
  • ISA 674: Intrusion Detection
  • ISA 785: Research in Digital Forensics
  • TCOM 662: Advanced Secure Networking
  • FRSC 510: Basic Crime Analysis
  • Other courses may be appropriate as electives in the degree program, but they must be approved prior to registration.