Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics

Description

The Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics will prepare students with a well-rounded, in-depth knowledge of forensic tools and techniques, as well as provide opportunities to enhance specialized skillsets in areas such as network and cloud forensics, e-discovery, incident response and penetration testing. Students in this program will use current techniques and tools to detect, investigate, analyze, preserve, interpret, document and present digital evidence. Relevant legal and theoretical topics are covered to ensure students have a holistic understanding of the environment in which they will work.

Outcomes

Upon completion of the Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics, graduates will be able to:

1. Interpret and apply the applicable laws and statutes that govern cyber security.
2. Collect and preserve digital evidence (including volatile data and network data) during a computer forensic examination in a forensically sound manner.
3. Select the appropriate tools to analyze, interpret, and recover operating system, application, and registry data, as well as other relevant artifacts.
4. Identify attack vectors and vulnerabilities, including advanced persistent threats (APTs) in order to proactively identify vulnerabilities as well as propose appropriate defenses to exploitation.
5. Analyze information systems for signs of compromise and identify data that has been exfiltrated from those systems.
6. Produce a professional forensic report that articulates the methodology used for the collection, handling, analysis, and preservation of digital evidence and asserts appropriate conclusions and recommendations.
7. Present an oral defense of forensic findings.

Policies

The grade of "C" is the lowest acceptable grade, and only one can be awarded during the program. A student may repeat one course in a graduate program one time. Once a student has repeated a course, the student will not be permitted to repeat any other courses. If a student repeats a course, only the latter grade is used in computing the grade point average. However, all courses taken become a part of the student's academic record. Further, a student may withdraw from each graduate course one time only. A minimum cumulative 3.00 grade point average on all graduate work attempted is required for graduation. Only one grade of "C" may be applied toward the GPA requirement. Degree requirements must be completed within seven years after the first course applied to the degree was completed.

Prerequisite Requirements

Students who wish to enter the master's program in cybersecurity and digital forensics must meet one of the following admissions prerequisite requirements:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in a related field (information assurance, computer science, network administration or computer security) and at least two years of related work experience. 
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in an unrelated field and at least five years of experience in information technology, telecommunication systems, system administration, network management, or information assurance.

Requirements

Choose one of the three required courses:

Required Courses

Elective Courses: Choose two (6 credits)

Certificate Option

Digital Forensics

Course Descriptions

See CYBF - Cyber Forensics Courses