Online digital forensics master's degree graduate working in computer lab

Digital Forensic Science Online Master's Degree Program

can be completed in as little as

6 terms*

*2 terms per semester; each term is 8 weeks

Tuition

$595/credit

$1,785 3-credit course

Active Duty Military

truED Preferred Tuition

Credit Hours Required

30-36*

Application Deadline

Spring 1: Dec. 20

Upcoming Start Dates

Spring 1: Jan. 6

Explore Digital Forensic Science

Advance your career with a top-ranked, award-winning, and nationally recognized digital forensics education. Champlain's online master's in digital forensics degree develops students into scientists through an inspired, cutting-edge curriculum, closely aligned with emerging technology and new trends in the digital investigation industry.

 

A Nationally Recognized Leader in Digital Forensics

Badges representing Champlain's DHS, NSA, DC3 Designations

Champlain is a nationally recognized leader in cybersecurity and computer forensics education and home of the Senator Patrick Leahy Center for Digital Investigation & Cybersecurity. With a robust faculty of expert-practitioner instructors who have significant experience working for top organizations and are sought-after thought leaders in the field, we specialize in building agile cybersecurity and digital forensics programs that the meet mission-critical needs of today's private sector businesses, nonprofit organizations, law enforcement, and state and federal governments.

Champlain has been designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the U.S. National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security since 2006, and Champlain cybersecurity programs have been named best in the nation by SC Magazine. Champlain is also designated as a National Center of Digital Forensics Academic Excellence by the Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3) Air Force Office of Special Investigations - the fifth college in the nation to receive this distinction.

Build Your Career Future

Through this hands-on master's in digital forensics program taught by industry experts who are working for some of the leading organizations in the field, you'll learn how to gather and utilize digital evidence and apply investigative techniques to real-world incident response scenarios. With a focus on both technical expertise (including knowledge of over 34 scripting languages and cloud and software applications, listed below) and advanced professional skills such as leadership and communication, you'll be prepared to handle the complex demands of a career in the growing digital forensics field.

Take the next step

Academic Excellence and Recognition

New England Commission of Higher Education Logo

Regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education

Military Friendly Designation, Silver Badge 2024-2025

Designated as a Military Friendly School for our commitment to the military community

Tech Guide logo/badge

Ranked among the best by Tech Guide for game design and computer science

badge for 2024 ranking

Named the among the best schools with accelerated bachelor's degrees by Intelligent.com

Prepare For What's Next

As network breaches and digital crimes become more prevalent, the need for highly qualified digital forensics professionals is rapidly growing in organizations across all sectors, including mid- to large-sized corporations, crime laboratories, state and national law enforcement agencies, or large municipalities. With a valuable combination of technical skills, subject matter expertise and the critical professional skills needed in leadership roles, graduates of Champlain's online digital forensics master's degree program will be competitive candidates for a variety of roles in the field.

Master's degrees are in high demand and employment in master’s-level occupations is projected to grow by 15% from 2019 to 2029. A master's degree also pays off: the median salary for professionals with a master's degree is $78,210.*

*Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 2020; job titles: BestColleges.com, 2020

What can you do with a degree in digital forensics?

  • Computer Forensics Investigator
  • Digital Forensics Examiner
  • Digital Forensics Analyst
  • Digital Forensics Consultant
Digital Forensics professionals in server room

Program Details

Learn more about Champlain's 100% online master's in digital forensics program, designed for working professionals.

Champlain's online digital forensic science courses encompass the top skills needed by today's computer forensics professionals.

 

*Note: Some essential knowledge is required prior to admission to the MS DFS program. During your application process it will be determined if you meet all requirements. Students who meet all of them will be waived from CMIT 500 and DFS 500 and will earn a 30 credit Master of Science in Digital Forensic Science. Those who do not meet the requirements will have the opportunity to gain the knowledge they need by taking CMIT 500 and/or DFS 500 and will graduate with a 33-36 credit degree.

Digital Forensic Science Courses:

Students will develop an understanding of the components of information systems and their relationships by acquiring knowledge on a variety of foundational information technology and security topics, including computing hardware, operating systems, and applications and their development. Different types of networks, topologies, and protocols are covered in an accelerated fashion to prepare students for successful completion of their desired program(s) and analysis of basic network communications.

In this course, students will acquire explicit legal knowledge, particular computer and other digital device skills, and good oral and written forensic reporting abilities needed for successful completion of the Master's Degree. In this class students have the first contact with digital forensic software like FTK Imager, Autopsy, ProDiscover Basic, and OSForensics.

Students will be using FTK Imager, Magnet Encrypted Disk Detector, OS Forensics Volatility Workbench, Kali Linux, Reg Ripper, Network Miner, and Wireshark to develop a foundation framework for the practice of Digital investigations, including technical and managerial issues.

Students will develop the ability to write basic python scripts (WIngIDE) to help in digital investigations. Students will also interpret scripts written in other languages, like EnCase Enscript or Perl or Microsoft Powershell or UNIX Shell Script.

Prerequisites

Complete DFS-501

Students will use tools such as The Sleuth Kit and Volatility to conduct forensic analysis of PC & server operating systems and software running on those systems, while gaining a knowledge set of forensic relevant information about operating systems, including those used in mobile devices. Finally, students will look at the challenges of virtualization, including those that come with the growth of Cloud systems.

Prerequisites

Complete DFS-501

In this class, students use tools like nfdump, Snort and Wireshark for network forensic analysis in the context of the role of an incident response team.

Prerequisites

DFS-520

This course will teach the concepts and techniques needed to preserve and analyze data on a range of mobile electronic devices, including mobile phones, tablets, eBook readers, and GPS systems. Some of the tools used in this course are Magnet Forensics Axiom, Access Data FTK Imager, EnCase, Cellebrite Physical Analyzer, DB Browser, and Andriller.

Prerequisites

DFS-520

In this class, students will assess and discuss the legal issues currently affecting the practice of digital forensics. Some of the highlights are the study of the following topics: “Cloud Act” and “Data Nationalism”; Supreme Court’s Efforts to Meet the Challenges of “Digital Evidence”; Encryption vs Privacy; and GDPR and the “Right to Be Forgotten.”

Prerequisites

DFS-501

The course introduces principles of digital investigations that are specific to civil litigation. While litigation support services typically utilize many of the same tools, processes, and procedures as public sector criminal investigations, private sector use of computer forensics frequently involves issues that the public sector does not often consider, such as data recovery and restoration, erasure of media, and electronic discovery. Students will examine case studies of public sector digital investigations to compare with private sector methodologies.

Prerequisites

Complete DFS-520

The capstone class is a natural conclusion to the work in the entire program. Students will approach in this class something in the digital forensic field that has not been fully developed yet and will develop and present a methodology for performing forensic investigation in a way that improves what is already known.

Prerequisites

Complete 27 credits

In this course, students gain an insight into malware behavior, including infection vectors, propagation and persistence mechanisms, and artifacts. Some of the used tools are Pescanner, Xorserach, Interactive Disassembler Professional (IDA Pro), Mandiant IOC Editor, Ollydbg, Windbg, FindCrypt2, Krypto ANALyzer (KANAL), Volatility.

Prerequisites

Complete DFS-520

While using tools like Kerberos, openPGP and WireShark, students will learn encryption and hashing algorithm techniques and develop basic understanding of encryption cracking techniques and methods to counter whole-disk encryption and network based encryption.

Prerequisites

DFS-501, DFS-520

In DFS-565, we discuss some of the challenges and decisions that confront managers, supervisors, and administrators in private and public lab environments. We will examine some of the special situations that professionals might encounter during digital forensics lab careers. This class is less focused on the technical aspects of digital forensics and more on some of the human aspects of managing people, making decisions, and managing administrative operations in the lab environment.

Prerequisites

Complete DFS-501

In addition to developing advanced communication and analytical skills, and a strategic mindset, graduates of the digital forensic science master's online program will demonstrate a mastery of the following industry-specific competencies:

  • Evaluate the role of evidence management in forensic examination.
  • Assess the legal issues affecting the practice of digital forensics.
  • Develop software tools for the automation of data processing, manipulation, and analysis.
  • Develop methodologies for the preservation and analysis of digital devices.
  • Conduct the forensic analysis of a variety of digital devices and data
  • Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of digital forensic methods, software, and hardware.
  • Effectively communicate complex scientific topics in the digital forensics to both expert and lay audiences.
  • Conduct independent research in the field of Digital Forensic Science.
  • Outline the challenges and methods for addressing the challenges of leadership of digital forensic professionals.
  • Access Data
  • Andriller
  • Autopsy
  • Cellebrite Physical Analyzer
  • DB Browser
  • EnCase Encript
  • FindCrypt2
  • FTK Imager
  • Interactive Disassembler Professional (IDA Pro)
  • Kali Linux
  • Kerberos
  • Krypto ANALyzer (KANAL)
  • Magnet Encrypted Disk Detector
  • Magnet Forensics Axiom
  • Mandiant IOC Editor
  • Microsoft Powershell
  • Network Miner
  • nfdump
  • Ollydbg
  • openPGP
  • OS Forensics Volatility Workbench
  • Perl
  • Pescanner
  • ProDiscover Basic
  • Reg Ripper
  • The Sleuth Kit
  • Snort
  • UNIX Shell Script
  • Volatility
  • Windbg
  • WIngIDE
  • Wireshark
  • Xorserach

In addition to the admission requirements for all graduate program applicants, our online master's of digital forensic science program has specific requirements that must be met.

Requisite Knowledge Requirement/Conditional Acceptance

In the application review process, all candidates for admission will be assessed for prior work experience and/or academic coursework that provides a solid foundation in the following areas:

  • Information Technology, including computer networks and operating systems
  • Digital forensic investigative techniques and laws
  • Criminal/judiciary system

Acceptance to the program is limited to applicants who can demonstrate knowledge of at least one of the areas above. The number of required classes to complete the program is dependent on the demonstrated ability in all three areas.

Champlain College Online's computer science faculty, led by Department Chair Richard Pickering, are expert practitioners in the field. Their industry expertise ensures that our curriculum is aligned with the needs of employers, and reflects the skills today’s IT systems professionals need for success. Classes led by our seasoned experts will give you real-world insight into the world of information technology, and create a rich community of career-focused learning.

Alumni of the Champlain College Online Master's in Digital Forensics program work in corporations, government organizations, law enforcement agencies, and municipalities nationwide, including:

  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • AT&T
  • Booz Allen Hamilton 
  • Bridgestone Americas
  • CACI International
  • Chevron
  • CSX Corporation 
  • Government of Ontario, Ministry of Finance 
  • New Britain Police Department
  • Department of Defense (DOD)
  • Department of the Treasury
  • Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
  • Department of the Treasury
  • Digital Forensic Certification Board 
  • Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)
  • GE
  • Kyrus Technology
  • L3
  • Mantech
  • Northrup Grumman
  • Pathoras Corporation
  • PWC
  • United States Marine Corps
  • Verizon
  • Vermont Forensic Lab
  • Washington County Sheriff's Office 

Titles our alumni hold include:

  • Analyst
  • Computer Forensic Analyst
  • Counterintelligence Specialist 
  • Criminal Investigator 
  • Digital Forensic Examiner
  • Digital Forensics Investigator 
  • Digital Forensics Specialist
  • Division Coordinator 
  • Forensic Computer Examiner 
  • Forensics Branch Chief
  • Forensic Scientist
  • IT Supervisor
  • IT Strategist 
  • Intelligence Analyst
  • Lead Incident Responder 
  • Security Engineer 
  • Senior Forensic Professional 
  • Senior Information Technology Specialist 
  • Senior Program Area Lead
  • Senior Security Engineer
  • Supervisory Special Agent 

Tuition & Costs

Graduate Tuition Fall '23 - Summer '25

$595 per credit
$1,785* per course
$450** PER CREDIT FOR ALUMNI WHO EARNED A DEGREE FROM CHAMPLAIN, ON-CAMPUS or online
$450 per credit military service members (family members see truED tuition)
$150 One-time graduation fee

*Based on a 3-credit course; cost will vary if course is a different number of credits

** Starting Summer 2024, not retroactive

See the graduate cost of attendance and fees here

 


 

What To Expect at Champlain Online

Expect Convenience

Go to school wherever and whenever is best for you, on the device of your choice.

Expect A Career Focus

Relevant and immediately applicable coursework gets you ready for your next career move

Expect Support

Your dedicated academic advisor provides the support you need to meet your academic goals

Expect Superior Faculty

Learn from practitioner faculty working in the field, with real-world experience and knowledge.

Why Champlain

Online Experience

"Sometimes I got up early and used 5AM to 7AM to do my homework, and then if I had a break throughout the day, I could hop on my phone or tablet and access the online classroom through the app. Champlain makes going to school really accessible and easy."

Crystal Collins Bachelor's in Computer Forensics & Digital Investigation
Private Investigator
Crystal Collins, Bachelor's in Computer Forensics & Digital Investigation from Champlain College Online

From Our Blog

You may also be interested in

Get Your Digital Forensics Program Guide

Learn what you can expect from our online master's in digital forensics program.

Sunset over Lake Champlain from Champlain College campus in Burlington, Vermont

Download Program Guide

I acknowledge that, by clicking the "submit" button, I am giving my express written consent to Champlain College and its representatives to contact me about educational opportunities via email, text, or phone, at the phone number above, including my mobile phone, using an automatic dialer, or pre-recorded message. Message and data rates may apply. I understand that my consent is not a requirement for enrollment, and I may withdraw my consent at any time.