Master of Science in Digital Forensic Science

Quick Facts/Highlights

The Digital Forensic Science program provides students with education focused on real-world needs by way of well-connected faculty practitioners, as well as collaborations with local law enforcement agencies through the Leahy Center for Digital Investigation (LCDI).
The master’s program meets a demand for specialized, advanced education. It’s designed for students with experience who want to broaden their skills.
An advisory board of leaders in the field—including Harlan Carvey and Eric Huber—developed the program to meet the needs of both the private and public sectors.

Get the hands-on training and solid networking opportunities you need to become a leader in the growing digital forensics field with abundant career options.

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August 13th is the deadline to apply for Fall 2012 admission

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Program Details

Champlain College's newest graduate program, the Master of Science in Digital Forensic Science, to launch in fall 2012, is designed for full- and part-time students with experience in the industry who want to develop their scientific expertise. In a field with few graduate-level opportunities, Champlain's program, developed with input from practitioners in law enforcement, private practice and defense, meets a demand for specialized education.

The college was one of the first higher education institutions to offer an undergraduate degree in digital forensics. The new master's degree builds on Champlain's reputation for innovation in digital forensics education and complements our undergraduate offerings and master's program in Digital Forensics Management. Champlain's Digital Forensic Science program will be among the first in the nation to meet the requirements of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. The college is recognized as an educational center of excellence in information security by the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency.

Transition to career opportunities

Faculty members in the Digital Forensic Science program are experts in the industry, with professional connections that give students a solid networking advantage. The Patrick Leahy Center for Digital Investigation (LCDI) provides digital investigative and forensic support to Vermont law enforcement agencies, which exposes students to a range of work options and provides ways to link coursework to real-world situations.

The program will train students to be scientists who use digital evidence to investigate a variety of crimes and develop methods with which evidence can be collected for the courts.

Designed for experienced students

The 36-credit program is open to students with a bachelor's degree in digital or computer forensics, computer science or a similar degree with practical experience in digital forensics. Students with a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field but extensive experience in digital forensics also may be considered. People currently working in the industry and recent graduates alike will gain a competitive edge from the program.

Applications to the Master of Science in Digital Forensic Science program are accepted year-round and may begin in any of the three "start" terms (August, January and May).

Entry Requirements

It is recognized that practitioners in the field of Digital Forensics come from a range of backgrounds, and historically tertiary courses in the field have been limited. For this reason it is expected that many potential students may not have Undergraduate qualifications in the field. Therefore multiple entry paths are available into the program. In order to qualify for entry students must have a Bachelor's degree and professional experience or education in the forensics field.