DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

DIGITAL FORENSICS COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

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DF 531 Principle and Policy In Information Assurance . An investigation into the development of security planning and policy formation, risk management, security education, training and awareness programs. This course examines physical and electronic approaches to data protection and derives appropriate assessment strategies for determining the assurance quality of target systems. Credit 3.

DF 534 Digital Security . This course introduces the student to basic security needs. The course will include, but not be limited to examination of individual vs. government privacy issues, federal encryption standards, the different layers of security currently available, cryptography, and strategies for evaluation and selection of security methods. Credit 3.

DF 535 Malware. This course will study the motivations of malicious code (such as computer viruses, Trojan horses, spyware and adware) developers and the common weaknesses exploited by such code. Forensic techniques for protection and recovery from such malicious code will be examined in detail. Prerequisites CS 534. Credit 3.

DF 560 Special Topics. Topics and courses are selected to suit individual needs of students. The course may be repeated for additional credit. Prerequisite: Consent of graduate advisor. Credit 3.

DF 561 Network Security I. The rationale and necessity for securing computer systems and data networks, as well as methodologies for the design of security system, establishing security protocols and the identification of best practices in the administration, testing and response protocols for secure communications systems. Credit 3.

DF 564 Organizational System Security. This course provides advanced study of system security concepts as applied to the protection of organizational systems including 1) principles of security modeling, accountability and access control, 2) the ISO model for network infrastructure design and protection, 3) communication security and control management, 4) auditing and monitoring, 5) incident management, and 5)  law, investigations and ethics. Credit 3.

DF 566 Risk Assessment and Financial System Security. This course will provide the rationale and necessity for a full range of security concepts and techniques to manage and mitigate information, and particularly financial information, security risks.  Information technology auditing techniques, issues, and current topics, including risk assessment, creating threat profiles, developing protection strategies and internal control management will be examined.  Best practices in risk management will be explored through current readings. Credit 3.

DF 583 Digital Forensics Investigation . This course explores tools for the recovery of information on hardware or hidden within other formats. Topics also include cryptographic analysis, password recovery, the bypassing of specific target operating systems, and obtaining data from a digital device that has been destroyed. Credit 3.

DF 584 Software Forensic Evidence Management . Analysis of investigative techniques and tools in the detection, investigation and analysis of digital crimes. This course examines the nature of cyberevidence and the tracking and identification of cybercriminals. Credit 3.

DF 587 File Systems Forensics. This course is an advanced treatment of computer file system analysis in the field of Digital Forensics. Topics covered include foundations of computer disk technology, storage volume analysis and storage file system analysis.  Detailed analysis of DOS and Apple partitions, server based partitions including Sun slices, and multiple disk volume analysis such as RAID and disk spanning will be covered.  Detailed analysis FAT, NTFS and EXT3 file systems will also be covered.  An emphasis will be placed on manual analysis with minimal supporting tools and utilities in order to give the student a mastery of the various file systems from a low-level perspective.  Credit 3.

DF 589 Disaster Recovery. This course will focus on the discipline of Information Security and its associated areas of Contingency operations. It will provide the student with skills and knowledge concerning managerial issues associated with planning for and reacting to events, incidents, disasters, and crises. Prerequisites: DF 531. Credit 3.

DF 630 Cyber Law . Focus will be on how the law impacts digital security in diverse ways. Discussion will emphasize the concept of criminal intent, the digital victim and address jurisdictional issues and provide an overview of legal terms and issues with which the security manager must address. Prerequisites: CJ 593, DF 583. Credit 3.

DF 637 Directed Management and Development Project. This course will provide the rationale and necessity for a full range of security concepts and techniques and how to apply them to multiple operating systems. The course will cover methodologies for the design of operating system security and forensic techniques for operating systems. Also covered will be the identification of best practices in the administration, testing and security for operating systems. Prerequisites 24 hours graduate coursework. Credit 3. Continuous enrollment in DF 637 is required until graduation.

DF 661 Cyber Warfare and Terrorism. This course will focus on philosophies, tactics, and targets of cyber terrorist organizations. The course includes discussion of emerging cyber war trends and the roles of the private sector and U.S. Government in responding to, mitigating and preventing electronic offensive actions. Prerequisite: DF 561. Credit 3.

DF 670 Internship. minimum of three months in an approved digital forensics or information assurance and security environment.  Designed to provide the graduate student with an opportunity to synthesize theory and practice.   Prerequisite:  consent of the Graduate Advisor, Department of Computer Science

               

 

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