Digital Forensics & Cyber Investigation

Develop digital forensics skills and cybersecurity knowledge in this online certificate program.

With an online graduate certificate in digital forensics and cyber investigation from University of Maryland Global Campus, you'll examine the foundations of digital forensics and become familiar with industry-standard tools and procedures used in conducting forensics investigations related to cybersecurity. Learn how to secure and validate digital evidence, recover and analyze digital artifacts, and report and present findings in legal settings.

  1. Courses
  2. Requirements
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Total Credits Required: 12

Accelerated Pathway

If you completed your undergraduate degree at UMGC with a major in cybersecurity technology, an accelerated pathway between UMGC's graduate and undergraduate degree programs in this field may allow you to reduce your total coursework for this program by up to 6 credits.

Total Credits Required: 12

Requirements

Accelerated Pathway

If you completed your undergraduate degree at UMGC with a major in cybersecurity technology, an accelerated pathway between UMGC's graduate and undergraduate degree programs in this field may allow you to reduce your total coursework for this program by up to 6 credits.

Explore the MARS Program in Your Courses

Some of UMGC's online cyber graduate courses utilize the Multi-Dimensional Applied Relevant System (MARS), an AI-driven virtual learning platform that allows students to demonstrate their abilities and apply their cyber skills in a practical, immersive environment.

Search Course Catalogs

These requirements are for students who enroll in the 2024–2025 academic year. For prior year requirements, visit our catalog archive.

Graduate Certificate Requirements

In addition to the specific course requirements outlined on each certificate webpage, UMGC maintains certain requirements for all certificates.

Program Highlights

Prepare for Success Refine your communication, critical thinking, and reasoning skills. Build a Foundation Understand the fundamentals of cybersecurity and applied cyber methodologies. Understand the Threat Explore the impact of cyber terrorism on national security. Formulate Strategy Create an investigation plan for a digital forensics incident. Proactively Solve Problems Conduct a digital forensics investigation in a challenging environment. Get Hands-On Experience Gain practical, real-world experience with state-of-the-art technologies.

Industry Snapshot

This program is designed to help you prepare for a career as a cybersecurity first responder or cybercrime analyst.

Tyrone A., Martinsburg, WV Projected Increase

The global digital forensics market size is projected to more than double from $4.15 billion in 2017 to $9.68 billion by 2022.

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Industry Certification Exams

This program is designed to help prepare you for the following certification exams:

Additional Program Information

  1. Experience Recommended for Success
  2. Technology Requirements
  3. Student Organizations

We recommend that you have recent work experience in information technology, computer networks, or databases.

For some of the upper-level cybersecurity and IT courses in this program, you will need equipment that meets the following specifications. Courses in graphics- or computing-intensive disciplines may require a higher processing speed, more RAM, and/or better screen resolution.

Hardware Requirements

Operating System

Choose one of the following:

Software

Additional Recommendations

Computing Club

The Computing Club provides a dynamic environment where members can work collaboratively, share innovative ideas, enhance their career-readiness, and gain marketable experience in their respective fields. It is available to graduate or undergraduate students, alumni, faculty, and staff members. Students and alumni can join the Computing Club group on CareerQuest.

Cyber Competition Team

The Cyber Competition Team represents UMGC at various cybersecurity events and tournaments nationwide. Being a member of the team gives students an opportunity to develop their cybersecurity skills and network with other students. The team is open to undergraduate and graduate students and alumni through a tryout process. Email jesse.varsalone@umgc.edu or visit the team webpage to learn more.

Upsilon Pi Epsilon (Computing & Technology Disciplines)

Upsilon Pi Epsilon, the international honor society for the computing and IT disciplines, is designed to promote the computing and information sciences and to encourage the enhancement of knowledge in the field. Upsilon Pi Epsilon is open to both undergraduate and graduate students who are pursuing a degree in the computing and information science disciplines. Membership is by invitation only.

Undergraduate membership is open to students majoring in one of the computing disciplines who have completed at least 45 credit hours towards their degree, including 30 or more credits at UMGC (in graded coursework) and at least 15 credits from information technology and computer science courses. Undergraduate students need to have a cumulative GPA of a 3.5 or higher and a GPA of 3.5 or higher in all coursework taken from the information technology and computer science courses.

Graduate student membership is open to students pursuing a master's degree in cloud computing systems, cyber operations, cybersecurity management and policy, cybersecurity technology, data analytics, or digital forensics and cyber investigation; a master's degree in information technology with a concentration in database systems technology, informatics, information assurance, software engineering, or systems engineering; or a legacy master's degree in cybersecurity. Graduate students must have completed at least 18 resident credits towards their degree at UMGC, with a cumulative GPA of a 3.5 or higher.

For more information, please email upe@umgc.edu.

Experience Recommended for Success

We recommend that you have recent work experience in information technology, computer networks, or databases.

Technology Requirements

For some of the upper-level cybersecurity and IT courses in this program, you will need equipment that meets the following specifications. Courses in graphics- or computing-intensive disciplines may require a higher processing speed, more RAM, and/or better screen resolution.

Hardware Requirements

Operating System

Choose one of the following:

Software

Additional Recommendations