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(Associate of Applied Science Degree)
Richland only
- Students pursuing this award program are required to meet Texas Success Initiative (TSI) standards and course prerequisites.
- Students must earn at least 25% of the credit hours required for graduation through instruction by the college awarding the degree.
Degree Plan Code: AAS.DIGIT.FOREN.12
This degree is designed to prepare students for various career opportunities in the computer forensics arena in government, private sector, and law enforcement agencies. The program consists of two degree tracks leading to the Associate of Applied Science Degree. Students may specialize in the Cyber Crime or Information Assurance Track. The Cyber Crime Track places emphasis on investigative techniques, audit and financial analysis applicable to computer forensics. The Information Assurance Track places more emphasis on computer operating systems, network security, and incident response to security threats. This program is intended to provide a foundation on which the graduate can build a computer forensic career through expanded experience and/or further education. In order to enter the field of Information Assurance/Digital Forensics, a clear criminal background is required by most employers. The State of Texas, in most cases, requires those working in this field to hold a valid Private Investigator (PI) license that can be obtained after employment.
For better transferability of AAS of Digital Forensics degree to universities, students should complete an AAS in Digital Forensics degree's Information Assurance Specialization requirement plus:
3 Credit hours of Humanities course 3 Credit hours of History (HIST 1301 or HIST 1302) 3 Credit hours of Government (GOVT 2305 or GOVT 2306) 3 Credit hours of English (ENGL 1302) |
CREDIT HOURS |
(1st YEAR CURRICULUM)
SEMESTER I
ENGL 1301 | Composition I | 3 |
ITSC 1405 | Introduction to PC Operating Systems | 4 |
ITDF 1300 | Introduction to Digital Forensics | 3 |
MATH 1314 | College Algebra OR | 3 |
MATH 1332 | Contemporary Mathematics (Quantitative Reasoning) | (3) |
+Elective | Social/Behavior Sciences | 3 |
16 |
SEMESTER II
ITDF 2320 | Digital Forensics Collection | 3 |
COSC 1330 | Computer Programming | 3 |
ITCC 1477 | Cisco 1 - Introduction to Networks | 4 |
SPCH 1321 | Business and Professional Communication OR | 3 |
SPCH 1315 | Public Speaking | (3) |
++Elective | Humanities/Fine Arts | 3 |
16 |
SEMESTER III
ITDF 1370 | Introduction to Cyber Crime | 3 |
ACNT 1305 | Forensic Accounting OR | 3 |
ITSY 1300 | Fundamentals of Information Security | (3) |
IMED 1316 | Web Design I | 3 |
+++Speciality Elective | 3 | |
12 | ||
Minimum Hours Required | 44 |
A student must complete the Semester I, II, III, and all the courses in one of the following specializations (Cyber Crime or Information Assurance) in Semesters IV and V in order to be awarded the AAS in Digital Forensics.
+Social/Behavioral Sciences Elective - must be selected from the AAS Core Options for Social/Behavioral Sciences.
++Humanities/Fine Arts Elective - must be selected from the AAS Core Options for Humanities/Fine Arts.
+++Specialty Elective - must be selected from the following courses:
ITSY 2342 | Incident Response and Handling | 3 |
ITSY 2343 | Computer System Forensics | 3 |
SEMESTERS I, II, and III
Semesters I, II, and III Curriculum | 44 |
SEMESTER IV
IDTF 2370 | Financial Cyber Crime | 3 |
ITDF 1305 | Digital Data Storage Forensics | 3 |
ITDF 2325 | Digital Forensics Tools | 3 |
9 |
SEMESTER V
ITDF 2330 | Digital Forensics Analysis | 3 |
ITDF 2435 | Comprehensive Digital Forensics Project OR | 4 |
ITDF 2471 | Internship for Digital Forensics | (4) |
7 | ||
Cyber Crime Minimum Hours Required | 60 |
SEMESTERS I, II, and III
Semesters I, II, and III Curriculum | 44 |
SEMESTER IV
COSC 1436 | Programming Fundamentals I | 4 |
ITSY 2359 | Security Assessment and Auditing | 3 |
ITSY 1342 | Information Technology Security | 3 |
10 |
SEMESTER V
ITSY 2301 | Firewalls and Network Security | 3 |
ITSY 2341 | Security Management Practices | 3 |
6 | ||
Information Assurance Minimum Hours Required | 60 |
NOTE: Students enrolling in this program who plan to transfer to a four-year institution should consult an advisor or counselor regarding transfer requirements and the transferability of these courses to the four-year institution of their choice.