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Program Co-Directors:
Dr. John J. Sloan III, Department of Justice Sciences
Dr. Anthony Skjellum, Department of Computer and Information Sciences
Two graduate-level certificate programs in Computer Forensics (CF), co-sponsored by the Departments of Computer and Information Sciences (CIS) and Justice Sciences (JS) are avaialable.
The Category "A" Certificate is designed for degree-seeking graduate students already enrolled in the criminal justice (MSCJ), forensic science (MSFS), or computer science (MS/Ph.D.) program. The Category "B" Certificate is designed for non-degree seeking graduate students desiring to learn more about computer forensics and use CF skills in an "on the job" fashion. Presented below are program details.
Program Description
The certificate programs provide to both degree and non-degree seeking graduate students the opportunity to obtain graduate-level knowledge, training, and skills in CF. Offenders are increasingly using computers as "weapons" to commit crimes such as illegally downloading from websites or network servers, information, documents, or copyrighted materials or releasing "worms," "viruses," and similar "rogue programs" on computer networks to disrupt and "bring them down." As a result, law enforcement agencies will have to rely upon, to greater extent than ever before, local, state, and federal crime labs to provide experts in CF to uncover, retrieve, and protect evidence of such illegalities.
CF, as an area of specialization within the larger disciplines of Forensic Science and CIS, is literally at the point where DNA analysis as an investigative and prosecutorial tool was 10-15 years ago. The need for CF-based skills continues to grow as personnel working at local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and crime laboratories develop requisite training to retrieve and preserve electronic evidence (e.g., digital documents and images, or similar material) stored on personal computers, including hard drives, floppy disks, zip drives, and related information storage devices.
Additionally, CF training provides to those seeking positions in law enforcement agencies and state/federal crime labs the necessary tools to identify, and appropriately respond to, attacks on local- and wide-area networks. Finally, individuals certified in CF will be prepared to testify in state and federal court as expert witnesses in criminal and civil litigation.
The program will help thrust UAB to the forefront as a major source of training in both forensic science and computer and information science.
Purpose
The purpose of the graduate certificate programs is to provide to degree and non-degree seeking students an opportunity to acquire specialized CF knowledge and training.
Curriculum
Requirements for the CF Certificate (21 Cr. Hrs.)
JS502 Introduction to Computer Forensics (3 Cr. Hrs.; Fall Semester)
JS675 Law, Evidence, and Procedure (3 Cr. Hrs.; Spring Semester)
CS537/JS525 Computer Crime and Forensics (3 Cr. Hrs.; Spring Semester)
CS516 Digital Documents, Security, and Intellectual Property (3 Cr. Hrs.; Summer Semester)
JS670 Elements of Forensic Science (3 Cr. Hrs.; Fall Semester)
OR
JS679 Seminar in Forensic Science (3 Cr. Hrs.; Fall or Spring Semester)
CS534 Internetworking and Intranets (3 Cr. Hrs.; Spring Semester)
OR
CS535 Network Programming (3 Cr. Hrs.; Fall Semester)
CS536 Network Security (3 Cr. Hrs.; Summer Semester)
OR
CS636 Computer Security (3 Cr. Hrs.; Spring Semester)
Suggested Course Sequence for Criminal Justice/Forensic Science Students:
First Year:
JS502 Introduction to Computer Forensics (3 Cr. Hrs.; Fall Semester)
JS670 Elements of Forensic Science (3 Cr. Hrs.; Fall Semester)
OR
JS679 Seminar in Forensic Science (3 Cr. Hrs.; Fall or Spring Semester)
JS675 Law, Evidence, and Procedure (3 Cr. Hrs.; Spring Semester)
CS534 Internetworking and Intranets (3 Cr. Hrs.; Spring Semester)
CS516 Digital Documents, Security, and Intellectual Property (3 Cr. Hrs.; Summer Semester)
Second Year:
CS537/JS525 Computer Crime and Forensics (3 Cr. Hrs.; Spring Semester)
CS636 Computer Security (3 Cr. Hrs.; Summer Semester)
Suggested Course Sequence for Computer Science Students:
First Year:
JS502 Introduction to Computer Forensics (3 Cr. Hrs.; Fall Semester)
JS670 Elements of Forensic Science (3 Cr. Hrs.; Fall Semester)
OR
JS679 Seminar in Forensic Science (3 Cr. Hrs.; Fall or Spring Semester)
JS675 Law, Evidence, and Procedure (3 Cr. Hrs.; Spring Semester)
CS537/JS525 Computer Crime and Forensics (3 Cr. Hrs.; Spring Semester)
CS516 Digital Documents, Security, and Intellectual Property (3 Cr. Hrs.; Summer Semester)
Second Year:
CS535 Network Programming (3 Cr. Hrs.; Fall Semester)
CS536 Network Security (3 Cr. Hrs.; Summer Semester)
Requirements for Admission
Category "A" Certificate: Acceptance into and enrollment as a degree seeking student in one of the following graduate programs: MSFS, MSCJ, or CIS (master's or Ph.D.) AND computer science competency at the level of CS106: Introduction to PYTHON Programming (or its equivalent based on courses taken at other universities; if the student does not have competency at the above level, he or she will be required to take CS106 before being admitted to the certificate program) AND forensic science competency at the level of JS110: Introduction to Forensic Science (or its equivalent, based on courses taken at other universities; if the student does not have competency at the above level, he or she will be required to take JS110 before being admitted to the certificate program).
Category "B" Certificate: Enrollment as non-degree seeking graduate student in CIS, FS, or CJ graduate programs. Student indicates on application for enrollment as non-degree student, his or her desire to enroll in CF "B" certificate program by completing the application form and indicating a "concentration designation" (to which the Graduate School will attach a specific numerical identifier); AND computer science competency at the level of CS106: Introduction to PYTHON Programming (or its equivalent, based on courses taken at other universities; if the student does not have competency at the above level, he or she will be required to take CS106 before being admitted to the certificate program); AND forensic science competency at the level of JS110: Introduction to Forensic Science (or its equivalent, based on courses taken at other universities; if the student does not have competency at the above level, he or she will be required to take JS110 before being admitted to the certificate program).
Completion of the Certificate Program
During the student's final semester, he or she will apply for certification with the Graduate School and with each Department. Program Co-Directors (A. Skjellum in Computer and Information Sciences and J. Sloan in Justice Sciences) will approve all applications for certification.
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