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(@dngroen)
Posts: 55
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Was thinking it could be intersting/useful for people to know what subject areas are actually taught on the various degree courses out there. Not least when deciding which is the most relevent.

For example the course currently running at BCU covers the following;

Year 1
Programming
Intro to FOrensic Investigation
Basic Networking
Basic Electronics
ICT (inc Ethics)

Year 2
English Legal System
Operating Systems Forensics
Market led enterprise (Ethics, professionalism, project management)
Switched LAN/WAN
Security Systems (cyptography, quantum cyptography, tamper testing)

Year 3
Advanced Networking (Wireless, security, firewalls)
Computer Law/Evidence (RIPA 2000)
Forensic Investigation for IT Systems
Mobile Device Forensics (Phones, CCTV, Consoles)
Final Year Project

http//s08434928.wordpress.com

 
Posted : 22/01/2009 2:53 am
(@larrydaniel)
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Not much in the way of forensics in that curriculum.

 
Posted : 22/01/2009 3:37 am
(@dngroen)
Posts: 55
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Not much in the way of forensics in that curriculum.

What would you consider more relevent, to include in a potential degree?

 
Posted : 22/01/2009 3:57 am
(@larrydaniel)
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It looks like a mash up of a little forensics and a little incident response.

For a forensics degree, I would like to see someone come out of college having taken the following course in their major

File Systems 100
File Systems 200
Browser forensics
Regular expressions
Introduction to criminal law
Ethics for expert witnesses
Public speaking
Forensic Acquisitions - PC, Mac, Linux
MAC Forensics
Linux Forensics
Windows Forensics
Mobile Device Forensics
Forensic Case Analysis
Forensic Examination Procedures

Of course I don't know of any CF degree that requires that much specific training and it is a shame in my opinion.

 
Posted : 22/01/2009 5:23 am
(@dngroen)
Posts: 55
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All of these are included in this course. With the exception of File system 100/200, this I am not sure about.

 
Posted : 26/01/2009 12:59 am
(@dficsi)
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The British University system is quite different to the American system. I did an undergraduate degree in computing with a forensic slant. This more than prepared me for my first job in CF, however I do not think it was as good as it could have been.
In the UK you have a set number of modules that typically last the whole academic year. You can't teach things like 'browser forensics' unless its included as part of another module otherwise you have to find enough teaching material for the whole year for that one subject. Its possible, but when you consider that a BSc takes 3 years in the UK (as opposed to 4 in the US) this will take a great deal of time away from teaching other things.
The other thing is that Universities are not there to teach, per se, they are there to help you become independent learners. My degree consisted of sitting in classes, yes, but I read around the subject a great deal more, spent time researching things, etc.
I think that the main problem with most CF degrees is that they are taught by research only with no practical experience. If I were to do it again I'd make sure that I found a lecturer that had a few years experience in the field, who has some first-hand experience.

 
Posted : 26/01/2009 1:50 pm
(@dngroen)
Posts: 55
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Yes it would be nice if lecturers had more practical experience in the field, it is a reletively new subject area, so I imagine tha situation changing in the next few years.

Additional industry qualifications would also be highly useful if included along side a degree course. For example EnCE.

 
Posted : 01/02/2009 2:13 am
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