REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DIGITAL
FORENSICS AND CYBER SECURITY
MINOR
DIGITAL FORENSICS
Those students who prefer to specialize in Digital Forensics
and Cyber Security have an opportunity to minor in the
program. Methodist University also offers a 21-semester
hour minor that will complement any undergraduate degree
including (but not limited to) justice studies, computer
science, business administration, accounting, mathematics,
and education.
AND CYBER SECURITY PROGRAM
Required courses for the Digital Forensics and Cyber
Security minor include: JUS 2430, JUS 2450,
JUS 2500, JUS 2510, JUS 2550, JUS 3400 and JUS 3600.
CONTACT INFO
SABRINA KONCABA
Program Director, Digital Forensics and Cyber Security
skoncaba@methodist.edu
910.630.7516
HOW WILL THIS HELP ME FIND A
CAREER?
The demand for college-trained individuals in the cyber
security and digital forensics fields is higher than ever.
Since digital forensics and cyber security are technology
specializations that are needed for any industry, Methodist
University’s course of study will prepare students to pursue
a variety of IT career specialties that include, digital
forensics, cyber security, incident response, IT governance,
auditing and compliance, penetration testing, vulnerability
scanning/detection and system/network management. In
addition, courses within Methodist University’s Digital
Forensics and cyber security program are tied to industry
certification exam objectives that help prepare students to
sit for highly recognized certification such as ISC2 SSCP and
EC-Council’s C|EH. Students who possess certifications and
a degree are more highly sought after in the employment
market.
The journey for a Methodist University Digital Forensics
and Cyber Security graduate can lead to success. Graduates
can move forward and be accepted to prestigious graduate
programs or students can find rewarding careers in the
following areas:
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Local, state and federal agencies
School and university systems
Hospitals and medical research facilities
Telecommunications
Emergency management
Banking and financial
Defense industrial base
Energy, water, nuclear and waste management
Food and agriculture
Transportation
WHERE DO I START?
The most common route for those interested in
the Digital Forensics and Cyber Security Program
is to sign up for the JUS 2430 Introduction
to Cybercrime. This class provides a basic
understanding of the area of cybercrime, and serves
as an introduction to courses within the minor.
CAREER OUTLOOK
Demand for information security analysts is
expected to be very high. Cyber attacks have grown
in frequency and sophistication over the last few
years, and many organizations are behind in their
ability to detect these attacks. Analysts will be
needed to come up with innovative solutions to
prevent attackers from stealing critical information
or creating havoc on computer networks.
In 2015, Frost and Sullivan conducted a study for
ISC2 that assessed the Global Information Security
Workforce. They estimated the current number
of employed security professionals was around
2.25 million; a global increase of 195,000 security
professionals is expected by 2016, and by 2020 an
additional 1.5 million security professionals will be
needed to fill the widening gap and to combat the
escalating cyber threat landscape. The Bureau of
Labor Statistics also projects that the employment
outlook for Information Security related occupations
is expected to grow 37 percent from 2012 to 2022.
KARLA WEINBRENNER
Instructor, Digital Forensics and Cyber Security
kweinbrenner@methodist.edu
910.480.8492
Methodist University does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, gender,
national or ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation or disability for otherwise qualified persons in the administration of its admissions, educational
policies, scholarships, loan programs, athletics, employment, or any other
university-sponsored or advertised program.
Design 1.0
WHAT IS DIGITAL FORENSICS AND
CYBER SECURITY?
THE CURRICULUM
The Bachelor of Science in Digital Forensics and Cyber
Security is designed to provide graduates with a holistic
view of information security from securing desktop
systems to investigating digital intrusions and reporting
findings to the proper authorities and management.
This program consists of hands-on exercises that help
to reinforce curriculum content taught in the required
courses. Students receive information security content
and skills in the following areas:
Digital Forensics and Cyber Security are two
specializations within the Information Technology
field that focus on the protection, identification,
and prevention of various types of attacks against
mobile and computer networks as well as using
digital evidence that has been collected, analyzed and
presented to law enforcement personnel to prosecute
criminals or help attorneys in civil litigation.
In response to the need for trained information
security professionals and the growing number and
sophistication of cyber attacks against our nation’s
businesses, defense industrial base, government
and critical infrastructure, Methodist University
developed the Digital Forensics and Cyber Security
program.
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THE PROGRAM
Methodist University's Justice Studies Digital
Forensics and Cyber Security major is a 36 semester
hour program that will prepare students for a career
in the ever-growing digital forensics and cyber
security field. The prevalence of computers and
electronic devices in society has highlighted a need
for those trained in digital evidence collection as
well as those who can identify, mitigate, protect and
respond to the wide variety of cyber attacks. This
program is designed to give students a leg-up from
the average undergraduate candidate, providing
hands-on experience with network security and
electronic evidence collection. Students who complete
Methodist University’s program requirements
for a major in digital forensics and cyber security
will be qualified to enter private and public sector
occupations focused on preventing, detecting and
mitigating cyber attacks as well as gathering digital
evidence and electronic crime investigations.
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Operating systems
Networking concepts
Penetration testing
Vulnerability scanning
Incident response
IT governance and policy development
Digital forensics
Network forensics
Virtualization
Basic scripting
THE COURSEWORK
Required Non-Digital Forensics and Cyber Security
Courses
u CSC 1000 | Introduction to Computers
u JUS 2410 | Introduction to Criminal Justice
u JUS 3090 | Criminology
u JUS 3890 | Criminal Evidence and Procedure
u JUS 3900 | Victimology
u JUS 4500 | Seminar in Criminal Justice
Note: Students must also complete university core requirements
as outlined in the catalogue for the year they entered Methodist
University or the catalogue they have chosen.
Required Digital Forensics and Cyber Security
Courses
u JUS 2430 | Introduction to Cybercrime
u JUS 2450 | Cybercrime Law and Ethics
u JUS 2470 | Operating Systems and Programming Concepts
u JUS 2500 | Digital Crime Investigation
u JUS 2510 | Networking Concepts
u JUS 2550 | Hardening The Enterprise Network
u JUS 2650 | Cyber Threats and Counterintelligence
u JUS 3400 | Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Scanning
u JUS 3600 | Basic Data Recovery
u JUS 4050 | Incident Response and Network Forensics
u JUS 4450 | Social Media and Cloud Security
u JUS 4650 | Mobile Device Forensics