Group photo of Digital Forensics students and professor.

Bachelor of Science in
Digital Forensics

Program of Study

programofstudy

Foundational Courses

  • Introduction to Information Systems
  • Introduction to Digital Forensics
  • Financial Accounting
  • Information Technologies for Business
  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Introduction to Law and Criminal Justice OR Business Law
  • Elementary Statistics


Core Competencies Courses

  • Networking and Cryptography
  • Introduction to Cyber Security
  • Introduction to Database Systems
  • Programming for Analytics

Concentration Courses

  • Computer Forensics
  • Computer and Memory Forensics
  • Mobile Forensics
  • Cyber Defense
  • Database Security and Forensics
  • Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination
  • Risk Analysis and Security Policies
  • Cyber Incident Response and Penetration Testing
  • Multimedia Forensics


Capstone Courses

  • Advanced Digital Forensics
  • eDiscovery Forensics and Moot Court

 

Applied Learning Opportunities

appliedlearning

EY Trajectory Program

Gain experience working on real-world problems as part of an information technology risk consulting team mentored by UAlbany faculty and employees of the global professional services firm EY.

Internships in Digital Forensics

Complete an internship at a private sector company or an organization such as the U.S. Department of State.

Student Clubs

Practice applying your technical and professional skills in UAlbany’s student chapters of the Digital Forensics Association, Cyber Defense Organization, and ISACA (formerly known as the Information Systems Audit and Control Association) and Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS).

INSURE National Security Program

Collaborate with digital forensic and cybersecurity experts in government agencies and national labs to solve national security problems.

Quarantined Lab Research

Explore your areas of interest through hands-on research in UAlbany’s state-of-the-art quarantined research lab. Learn about intrusion detection, networking security behavior, and critical infrastructure and privacy protection.

 

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Career Paths

career

The growing cybersecurity job market that provides ample opportunities to take on positions in forensic technology and science,  information technology, systems defense, risk assessment / compliance, eDiscovery, cyber intelligence, and related fields.

In 2018, UAlbany’s class of digital forensics majors achieved 100% placement within 6 months of graduation. This degree also prepares you for advanced study in a master’s or PhD program in digital forensics, cyber security, and related fields.

Each semester, we hold a Cyber Jobs Fair targeted towards internships and full-time opportunities in the field, attracting employers from private and public sectors. Career and professional development is also integrated within the advisement process for Digital Forensics majors.

Sample Employers

Key Bank, MVP Healthcare, Central Hudson Gas & Electric, EY (Ernst & Young), PwC, KPMG, Deloitte, Accenture, New York State Information Technology Services (NYS ITS), Center for Internet Security (CIS), Rational Enterprise, Raytheon, FireEye,General Electric, Major League Baseball, Cisco, Gartner, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), National Security Agency (NSA), Department of Defense, and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.


Sample Job Titles

Forensic technology analyst, cyber threat analyst, cyber intelligence analyst, Security Operation Center (SOC) analyst, risk advisory consultant, pentester, information security analyst, systems engineer, malware analyst, vulnerability researcher, threat hunter, cybercrime investigator, fraud investigator, cyber exploitation analyst, data recovery expert, cyber defense analyst, information technology security auditor, digital forensics response analyst, Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) analyst, Computer Security and Incident Response Team (CSIRT) analyst, digital evidence technician, and incident response specialist.

UAlbany Launches New Major in Digital Forensics

"The School of Business is filled with great faculty who really care about my future. My professors actually work in the fields they teach, so I get real-life examples from their experience. And my advisor is always letting me know about job and internship opportunities. I wouldn’t choose to be part of any other program."

- Jelani Coleman, BS in Digital Forensics ’19

Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity

UAlbany is a designated Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity by the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity program at the National Security Agency (NSA). This designation recognizes our superior standards and abilities to educate the future cyber workforce.

Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity Community logo
Student Learning Objectives


Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.

Bachelor of Science
  • Student will be able to define federal and state laws and legal processes relevant to cybercrime investigations.
  • Students will be able to identify and define computer forensics analysis concepts, tools, and technologies.
  • Students will be able to utilize appropriate methods collecting and preserving digital evidence at cybercrime scenes.
  • The student will be able to identify federal and state legal statutes, case law and government regulations relevant to network data preservation and incident forensic response.
  • Students will be able to prepare a comprehensive written report and present forensic findings to a panel of subject matter experts.
  • The student should be able to effectively provide testimony during direct and cross-examination.
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What Makes The University at Albany Great

Student move-in day.

Living-Learning Communities

Live and take classes with other incoming freshmen who share your personal interests, passions or intended academic major.

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Study Abroad

Become a global citizen: international experience is crucial to success in business, education, research, and public policy.

A student conducting undergraduate research.

Undergraduate Research

Research, scholarship, and creative activities at the University at Albany is an option for all students, across all academic disciplines. You will be able to learn more about a specific academic field or career path all while building a long-lasting mentoring relationship with a faculty member or principal investigator.

Explore Minors

Build competency in a passion or strengthen your resume.

A minor consists of 18–24 graduation credits which must include a minimum of 9 graduation credits of advanced coursework at or above the 300 level. Most undergraduate degrees require completing a minor and it has to have a different title from your major.

Full List of Minors
  • Acting
  • Africana Studies
  • Anthropology
  • Art
  • Art History
  • Atmospheric Science
  • Bioethics
  • Biology
  • Broadcast Meteorology
  • Business
  • Chemistry
  • Chinese Studies
  • Cognitive Science
  • Communication (Fully Online Option)
  • Computer Science
  • Creative Writing
  • Criminal Justice Studies (Fully Online Option)
  • Cybersecurity (Fully Online Option)
  • Documentary Studies
  • East Asian Studies
  • Economics
  • Educational Studies
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Electronics
  • Film Studies
  • Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity (Fully Online Option)
  • English
  • Forensic Science
  • French
  • Game Design and Development
  • Geographic Information Science
  • Geography
  • Globalization Studies
  • Hebrew
  • History (Fully Online Option)
  • Informatics (Fully Online Option)
  • Instrumental Performance
  • International Studies
  • Italian
  • Japanese Studies
  • Journalism (Fully Online Option)
  • Judaic Studies
  • Korean Studies
  • Latin American and Caribbean Studies
  • Law and Philosophy
  • Leadership
  • Legal Studies
  • LGBTQ Studies
  • Library and Information Science
  • Linguistics
  • Machine Learning
  • Mathematics
  • Medical Anthropology
  • Music
  • Musical Performance
  • Musical Theatre
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Political Science
  • Portuguese
  • Pre-Education
  • Psychology (Fully Online Option)
  • Public Health
  • Public Policy
  • Religious Studies
  • Russian
  • Russian and Eastern European Studies
  • Social Welfare Studies
  • Sociology (Fully Online Option)
  • Spanish
  • Statistics
  • Sustainability
  • Theatre
  • Theatrical Design/Technology
  • Urban Studies and Planning
  • U.S. Latino Studies
  • Vocal Performance
  • Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies