Online Graduate Certificate Programs in Computer & Digital Forensics

Online Graduate Certificates in Digital Forensics Admission Prerequisites and Courses

An online graduate certificate can provide a foundation for a career as a computer forensics investigator, information security analyst, forensic computer analyst, or security consultant. These certificates can be completed in nine months or more and provide students with a strong background in digital investigation, network forensics, access methods, and cybercrime and criminal justice.

Admission requirements for these online certificate programs typically include:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Letters of recommendation
• Statement of purpose
• Complete application
• Application fee
• Competitive GPA
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores for non-native English speakers

While coursework will vary from program to program, classes required may include:

• Forensic acquisition and analysis
• Advanced topics in network and systems security
• Digital evidence recognition
• Network security concepts
• Malware analysis
• The practice of digital investigations

Featured Online Graduate Certificates in Digital Forensics

Completing an online graduate certificate in digital forensics can help aspiring professionals entre this growing field or help those already in this career advance to senior positions. Here are some top programs across the country to consider.

At Utica College, students can pursue an online certificate in advanced studies in computer forensics. In as little as a year, students can complete this 18-credit certificate. Students will learn tactics and how to use state-of-the-art tools to identify the cause of digital crimes.

Upon completion of the program, students are prepared to sit for the EC-Council Certified Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI) certification exam. Credits earned in this program can be transferred seamlessly to complete a master’s in cybersecurity, should further education be desired.

DeSales University in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, offers an entirely online graduate certificate in digital forensics. This four-course certificate provides aspiring professionals in the field with the necessary tools and methods to handle digital evidence. One class focuses exclusively on the new trends in digital forensics to keep students up to date as well as teach them how to research new techniques.

The total cost to complete this certificate is $9,300, and criminal justice professionals receive a 20 percent discount. Admission requirements are straightforward, and applicants only need to have already completed a bachelor’s degree, provide a personal statement, have an interest in the field, and have three letters of recommendation.

The University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, offers an online graduate certificate in digital forensics. Topics covered in this certificate program include legal and ethical principles, digital forensics tradecraft, standards of practice, and how to assure that digital evidence is accurate, complete, and reliable. Only five courses and 15 credits are required to earn this certificate.

There is no prerequisite coursework for enrolling in this certificate program. However, students should already have training in technology and have some knowledge of how to securely collect data and digital evidence. It costs $772.43 per credit-hour for this certificate. Scholarships, financial aid, and veteran’s discounts are available.

Students also can earn an online computer forensics certificate from Purdue Global. This intensive 28-credit program helps students develop a working knowledge of digital forensic techniques, as well as become proficient in industry-standard software.

Coursework is designed to prepare students to sit for industry certification. Classes include instruction in network security concepts, computer forensics, intrusion detection, incidence response, and digital forensics. Because this program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), students can transfer the credits earned for this certificate to a master’s degree program. The cost for this program is $371 per credit-hour.

The digital forensic science online graduate certificate program at Champlain College emphasizes network forensics and operating system and mobile device analysis. This 12-credit program is self-paced so students can complete it on their schedule.

Notably, Champlain is nationally recognized as being a leader in cybersecurity and digital forensics. This certificate program is housed in the Senator Patrick Leahy Center for Digital Investigation & Cybersecurity. Required coursework includes malware analysis, the practice of digital investigations, and operating system analysis. Tuition is $795 per credit-hour.

Finally, the online graduate certificate in digital forensics from the University of Rhode Island is designed for professionals who need additional education but cannot commit to a master’s degree.

No prior formal training in digital forensics is required to complete this certificate as there is an optional summer course in computers that students may complete before they begin the program. Courses taken in this program may be applied towards a future master’s or doctorate. This program can be completed in as little as nine months. Students must complete 36 credits to earn this certificate. Tuition is $955 per credit-hour.