Computer Forensics

The Minor in Computer Forensics is available to students who wish to develop knowledge and skills in digital investigation principles and applications. The Minor consists of five courses totaling 15 credits. Three of these five courses are specific computer forensics courses, and the remaining two elective courses can be selected from the SST courses at the 300 or higher level. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 in the minor.  All students can participate in this minor except those who are majoring in Security Systems or Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement Technology.

Student Learning Outcomes: 

  • Students will gain knowledge of the fundamental concepts of digital computers and digital forensic science
  • Students will develop skills in data acquisition, data analysis, integrity validation, and evidence generation.
  • Students will examine federal, state, and local computer fraud statutes that provide a legal foundation on which to approach computer investigations.

About Academic Minors

Farmingdale State College students are invited to enhance their studies with an "Academic Minor." A minor is a cluster of thematically related courses drawn from one or more departments. In addition to department based minors (e.g. computer programming & info systems), interdisciplinary minors are also available (e.g. legal studies).

Academic minors are approved by the College-Wide Curriculum Committee and the Provost. Students must make application for an academic minor through the department offering the minor in conjunction with the Registrar's Office Specific course work must be determined in consultation with a faculty member in the department offering the minor. A statement of successful completion of the academic minor will appear on the student's transcript at the time of graduation.

  • A minor is considered to be an optional supplement to a student's major program of study.
  • Completion of a minor is not a graduation requirement and is subject to the availability of the courses selected. However, if the requirements for a minor are not completed prior to certification of graduation in the major, it will be assumed that the minor has been dropped. Consequently, the student will only be certified for graduation in their primary major.
  • Only students in 4 year baccalaureate programs can apply for a minor.
  • A minor should consist of 15 to 21 credits.
  • At least 12 credits must be in courses at the 200 level or higher.
  • At least 9 credits must be residency credits.
  • Specific requirements for each minor are determined by the department granting the minor. 
  • Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 in their minor.  Some minors may require a higher GPA.
  • Students are prohibited from declaring a minor in the same discipline as their major (e.g. one cannot combine an applied math minor with an applied math major). Academic minors may not apply to all curricula.
  • Students are permitted to double-count courses.
  • Students are only permitted to take more than one minor with appropriate written approval of their department chair or curriculum Dean.

Admission to Farmingdale State College - State University of New York is based on the qualifications of the applicant without regard to age, sex, marital or military status, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability or sexual orientation.

Computer Security | Dr. M. Nazrul Islam | sst@farmingdale.edu | 934-420-2538

Fall 2024

Subject to revision

Required:
SST 115 Computer Forensics 3
SST 217 Computer Forensics II 3
SST 218 Computer Forensics Ill 3
Any two additional SST courses at the 300-level or higher 6
Printed on 12/14/24

2350 Broadhollow Road
Farmingdale, NY 11735-1021

934-420-2000

farmingdale.edu

SST 115 Computer Forensics

This course will introduce basic concepts of computer and digital hardware and software as they apply to challenges of computer and mobile forensics, including the process of analysis and examination of operating systems and file systems. Students will learn differences in evidence locations and examination techniques on Windows and Linux computers, as well as for common mobile devices. A concise survey of standard forensics tools commonly used in forensics investigations will be presented and reviewed for their latest features and applications. Legal issues governing the collection and handling of digital evidence will be explored.

SST 217 Computer Forensics II

Computer Forensics II is a continuation of CRJ 115 or SST 115. This course covers topics such as disk geometry and organization. Master boot sector record and volume record creation and organization, file signatures for data type identification, cyclic redundancy checksum for data integrity validation, and RSA's MD5 hash values for file authentication. Other subjects introduced include the UNIX "grep" search utility, search string techniques and file signature matching, and recovery of files that are intentionally deleted, hidden, or renamed. The course examines advanced computer-based evidentiary and "discovery" data methodologies, and includes a study of evidence identification, documentation, and chain of custody procedures. Prerequisite(s): CRJ 115 or SST 115

SST 218 Computer Forensics III

This course examines federal, state, and local computer fraud statutes to provide the student with a legal foundation to approach computer investigations. The course includes lecture elements that provide the student with the skills necessary to conduct successful computer-related investigations, and includes an examination of the processes involved in preparing an affidavit for a search warrant. Prerequisite(s): CRJ 217 or SST 217
Last Modified 6/17/24