Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics

Brown School of Business and Leadership

Department of Computer Information Systems

Interim Department Chair: Zamira S. Simkins, Ph.D.

Description

The cybersecurity and digital forensics bachelor's degree will equip students with the ability to protect an organization’s information technology assets from cyber-attacks, detect and respond to cyber intrusions, and mitigate the effects of such intrusions, as well as uncover digital evidence of criminal or unauthorized activity. The program combines cybersecurity concepts and skills with those of the field of digital forensics, creating a unique degree program. The emphasis of the program is on the prevention, detection, and mitigation of cyber-attacks, combined with the ability to gather digital evidence and conduct electronic crime investigations. Students who complete an associate's degree in cybersecurity or related degree, or a certificate in digital forensics will have CDF 110 waived.

Outcomes

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

  1. Develop a security policy for an organization that balances the organization’s mission, culture, human factors, and security requirements;
  2. Apply risk assessment methodologies in selecting and configuring security controls to protect information assets;
  3. Monitor a network infrastructure for cyber-attacks;
  4. Mitigate the effects on a network infrastructure due to a cyber-attack;
  5. Evaluate an end-to-end computer forensics investigation;
  6. Prepare a digital forensics evidence report.

Policies

Students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.00 in the major. Furthermore, the lowest acceptable grade is a “C” in all major courses. No student, regardless of major, will be permitted to advance to the next major course without earning a grade of “C” or better in the prerequisite course(s). When a grade below a “C” is earned in a major course, the student must repeat that course.

A course may be repeated twice without special permission. Information systems majors must apply in writing to the department chair requesting permission to attempt a course for a third time.

Requirements:

The courses listed below are required for completion of the bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity and digital forensics. Students must also complete the requirements for the Stevenson Educational Experience (SEE). Specific pre- and co-requisites for each course are listed in the course descriptions.

FYS 100First Year Seminar

1 credit

CDF 110Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics Fundamentals

3 credits

CDF 240Linux System Administration

3 credits

CDF 251Network Security

3 credits

CDF 252Networking II

3 credits

CDF 261Digital Forensics

3 credits

CDF 271Intrusion and Penetration Testing

3 credits

CDF 281Advanced Network Defense

3 credits

CDF 290Legal Aspects of Cybersecurity

3 credits

CDF 391Incident Response and Investigation

3 credits

CDF 392Information Systems Forensic Internals – Auditing

3 credits

CDF 393Forensic Evidence Collection Tools and Techniques

3 credits

CDF 475Advanced Digital Forensics

3 credits

CDF 480Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics Capstone

3 credits

IS 140Information Systems Architecture and Design

3 credits

IS 231Network Technologies

3 credits

IS 232TCP and IP Communication Protocols for Windows and UNIX

3 credits

IS 235Advanced Windows Server Architecture & Administration

3 credits

IS 240Programming Concepts

3 credits

IS 350IS Internship

3 credits

IS 365Writing for IS Applications

3 credits

IS 432Network Security-Firewalls, IDS, and Counter Measures

3 credits

MGT 210Business Writing

3 credits

Complete all major requirements and take one course from ACC, FIN, INBUS, MGT, or MKT.

Suggested Course Sequence

2022-23 SCS Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics

Minor in Cybersecurity

The discipline minor in cybersecurity requires successful completion of a minimum of six courses and 18 credits of coursework required for the cybersecurity and digital forensics major. At least four courses must have a CDF course prefix indicator.

Course Descriptions

See Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics Course Descriptions