Digital Forensics

As society has gone digital, so too have the criminals, terrorists and other threats to our society and nation. Virtually every crime and many of our most serious national security threats now involve some sort of a digital component. Students looking to pursue a career in digital forensics must stay on the forefront of vulnerabilities, threats, and technological advancements to defend against cybercrime and uphold security.

Tiffin University’s digital forensics major will expose you to real-world problems and real-world solutions. Our program is designed from an investigative and evidence recovery perspective. Upon completion of the program, you’ll be prepared to take professional certification tests in Digital Forensics and Mobile Forensics, enabling you to step into the field immediately.

Professional Digital Forensics Training

• The National Security Agency (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have designated Tiffin University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE).
• The program is grounded in the criminal justice discipline, providing an excellent overview of investigations, evidence, and case preparation.
• Professors in the program have extensive experience in law enforcement, the military and digital forensics.
• You’ll engage in hands-on learning opportunities utilizing industry leading equipment, such as the Forensic Recovery of Evidence Device (FRED) and the all-fiber Center for Cyber Defense & Forensics.
• All students complete an internship in digital forensics – our interns have been placed at the FBI, NSA, United States Coast Guard Research & Development Center and DHS.

In TU’s digital forensics program, you learn from professors who know of what they teach. Our faculty bring many years of law enforcement experience, and very specifically, extensive experience in digital forensics and financial fraud investigation. You’ll be taught by professionals that have actually performed the work.

As part of a professional, real-world program, you’ll gain in-depth knowledge in:

• Criminal Investigation
• Digital Forensics
• Digital Evidence Recovery
• Search & Seizure
• Legal Issues
• Project Management
• Current Issues in Technology
• Open Source Intelligence
• Procedural Issues

You’ll acquire career-ready skills, including:

• Digital evidence recovery
• Chain of evidence
• Incident response
• Investigation
• Interview
• Digital forensics report writing
• Industry certification in digital forensics and mobile forensics

Ohio Police Officer Training Academy (OPOTA)

To be a sworn police officer in Ohio, you must successfully complete the Ohio Police Officer Training Academy (OPOTA). Tiffin University partners with Terra State Community College to include the cost of the academy in tuition and can be earned in just one semester.

This unique training academy is state mandated for all police officers and covers firearms, legal administration, human relations, traffic, patrol, driving, subject control, investigations, civil disorder, physical conditioning and other aspects of law enforcement. Students apply direct, hands-on practice in the crime lab, firing range and police cruisers. With experienced, certified instructors and hands-on application, our students consistently achieve passing rates on the state-certified exam. Once graduates of the program earn the certification, they are immediately eligible for full-time employment.

In TU’s digital forensics major, you’ll engage in an immersive program. In the classroom, you’ll engage in digital forensics case examinations. You’ll work in groups to solve cases, mirroring an actual workplace environment. You’ll hear from, and interact with, guest speakers who are working professionals in the field.

You’ll learn digital forensics by doing digital forensics. As part of an active, professional program, you’ll:

• Utilize our state-of-the-art Forensic Recovery of Evidence Device (FRED) to perform data recovery for individuals or companies that have experienced hardware failure.
• Attend professional conferences.
• Participate in digital forensic competitions.
• Conduct research that has an impact in the field.
• Engage in hands-on labs to understand how tools and techniques are utilized in digital forensics.
• Use tools and techniques learned in labs to solve complex digital forensics cases in a real-world scenario.
• Utilize the Center for Cyber Defense & Forensics for hands-on learning and research opportunities.
• Intern in a professional agency where you’ll experience a real-world, professional work environment.

CURRICULUM

Core Curriculum of the School of Criminal Justice = 18 hours

Digital Forensics Major = 45 hours

Tiffin Campus and Online & Extended Learning major courses, 3 hours each (to be taken in addition to Criminal Justice Core):

• CDS152 Introduction to Cyber Defense – 3 hours
• CDS244 Cyber Security – 3 hours
• CDS334 Technology and Crime – 3 hours
• CDS345 Cyber Law and Ethics – 3 hours
• CDS348 Incident Management – 3 hours
• CDS351 Survey of Computer Forensics – 3 hours
• CDS435 Advanced Digital Forensics – 3 hours
• CDS491 Senior Seminar in Cyber Defense (w) – 3 hours
• CST155 Introduction to Operating Systems – 3 hours
• CST201 Introduction to Programming – 3 hours
• CST230 Networking Fundamentals – 3 hours
• CST330 Network Infrastructures I – 3 hours
• ENF239 Applied Criminal Investigation and Criminalistics – 3 hours
• ENF293 Criminology (w) – 3 hours
• ENF460 Evidence Processing – 3 hours

Total – 45 hours

Total Bachelor of Criminal Justice hours = 121

This is a sample course sequence to illustrate course offerings for this major. Consult the official Academic Bulletin for detailed registration and advising information.

SAMPLE COURSES

Network Management and Administration (CST230) – This course provides an overview of network hardware, operating systems and applications with a focus on design, implementation and management of the network environment inside an organization.

Introduction to Cyber Defense (CDS152) – This course will provide a foundational overview of the basics of computer network operations, their vulnerabilities, the various types of automated network intrusions and some basic defense strategies, including Defense in Depth. Students will become familiar with the differences between major categories of malware, such as viruses, worms and Trojan horses. The importance of security polity, a trained workforce, and the roles of information technology specialists within organizations will be examined. Rudimentary cryptologic, cryptographic, and Public Key Infrastructure concepts will be introduced.

Advanced Digital Forensics (CDS435) – This course will discuss advanced digital forensics, evidence, and case preparation. Concepts will include Access Data’s Forensic Tool Kit (FTK). E-Discovery and courtroom testimony will be discussed and demonstrated. Students will learn about the importance of forensic principles, legal considerations, digital evidence controls, and documentation of forensic procedures. This course will incorporate demonstrations and laboratory exercises to reinforce practical applications of course instruction.

Technology and Crime (CDS334) – This course is a survey of the use and potential of technology in justice agencies. The use of technology will be examined. Criminological theories related to the cyber-crime typologies will be evaluated.

FORMAT

On Campus – Offered in a 15-week semester format with start dates of January and August

With the computer and information technology industry projected to add over half a million jobs between 2019 and 2029, many of them in information security, experts in digital forensics should play a vital role in the future of IT.

CAREERS

• Computer Crime Investigators
• Computer Forensics
• Cyber Investigator
• Department of Defense Criminal
• Digital Forensics Analyst
• Digital Forensics Incident Responder
• Digital Forensics Investigator
• Digital Forensics Response Analyst
• Disaster Recovery Managers
• FBI
• Forensic Computer Examiner
• Forensic Science Technician
• Forensics Investigator
• Incident Responders
• Information Security Analyst
• Investigative Services
• Investigator/Technician
• Network Forensics Investigator
• Secret Service Special Agent
• Security Threat Analyst
• State/Local Law Enforcement
• Technology Crime Investigator

WHERE TU GRADS HAVE WORKED

While it is extremely competitive to obtain such appointments, TU alumni have gone on to careers in these agencies:

• Advanced Technical Intelligence Center
• Banque Saudi Fransi
• Credit Suisse Group
• FireEye
• Interhack Corporation
• Law Enforcement
• Law Offices
• National Security Agency (NSA)
• Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation
• Ohio Department of Homeland Security
• Ohio Department of Public Safety
• Property Pres Wizard
• Private Enterprise
• Private Forensics Firms
• Space X
• S. Secret Service
• Wisconsin Department of Justice