Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity (B.S.)
With the increased use of computers to commit crimes and growing demand for computer-based data in civil proceedings, a need has rapidly developed for forensic experts to extract useful information from computer evidence. And that could be you!
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Chair and Professor of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Digital Forensics
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Secretary for the Department of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Digital Forensics
Want to investigate crimes? How about stopping cyber criminals? Like computers? Solving puzzles?
We offer the only digital forensics and cybersecurity bachelor's degree in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and serve as Pennsylvania's Center for Digital Forensics. Bloomsburg graduates are working in law enforcement, homeland security agencies, law firms and private companies.
Our digital forensics and cybersecurity majors will:
- Examine computers and smart phones
- Recover deleted pictures, documents and internet activity
- Explore hidden areas on hard disks
- Trace network activity to find weaknesses and compromises
- Test the security of computer systems and networks
- Determine system and network vulnerabilities
- Discover ways to protect systems and data from hackers
- Respond to cyber breaches
Here, you'll study all aspects of cybersecurity. Strictly speaking, forensics is purely investigative (reactive) and security is purely preventive (proactive). In the cyber realm, these have considerable overlap. At Bloomsburg, we integrate all aspects of cyber security and digital forensics. So, you'll be prepared for it all — a career in any area of cybersecurity. We've done it already. Now, it's your turn to join the climb to the top. Let's get started!
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Courses and Curriculum
*Please see the CU degree requirements effective Fall 2023. All enrolled students can also review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion in Degree Works.
*Please see the BL degree requirements for students who were enrolled prior to Fall 2023 and remained in the BL Program. All enrolled students can also review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion in Degree Works.
Our online certificate program is open and accepting applications. Students who can start in the summer and successfully complete two classes a semester will graduate within a year. Summer starts are recommended, but students can start during any semester subject to class availability. You'll be advised by one of our Digital Forensics faculty members and all our courses are taught by our renowned faculty. Semester course offerings can be easily searched online.
These courses do earn college credit that can be applied to future academic degrees as well as receiving your Digital Forensics Certificate.
Certificate Degree Program
- DIGFOR 121 – File Systems 1
- DIGFOR 122 – File Systems 2
- COMPSCI 115 – Python Programming
- DIGFOR 275 - Intro to Computer Networks
- DIGFOR 311 - Security Fundamentals
- DIGFOR 317 - Digital Forensics Software
Previous Digital Forensics Internship Sites
• Advanced Intelligence, LLC
• Berks County District Attorney’s Office
• Boston Police Department
• Dauphin County Criminal Investigation Division
• Delaware County Office of DA
• Deloitte
• Delsite Consulting
• Department of Homeland Security
• Evangelical Community Hospital
• Federal Bureau of Investigation Cyber Division
• FireEye
• Geisinger Medical Center
• JPMorgan Chase
• LDiscovery
• Lincoln Leadership Academy Charter School
• Lockheed Martin
• Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office
• National Security Agency
• National Security Consulting & Investigating PLLC
• nDepth Security LLC
• OpenText
• Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
• PPL Electric Utilities
• Revolutionary Security
• Select Medical
• SUMURI LLC
• The Crypsis Group
• The Washington Center
• T-Mobile
• Top Notch Distributors, Inc.
• Underwriters Laboratories
• US Army
• US Bank
• USN Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division
• Verizon
• VMWare
• Weis Markets
Bloomsburg University has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Cyber Defense Education through academic year 2027. The BS in Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity program is the validated program of study under which the designation has been granted.
The CAE designation, jointly sponsored by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security, recognizes that Bloomsburg’s digital forensics program has met stringent criteria in regard to its digital forensics curriculum, faculty and research, as well as demonstrated an institution-wide commitment to information assurance practices and cyber defense education.
For details on the courses required, please see the Center of Academic Excellence. Students attending CAE designated schools become eligible to apply for related scholarships and grants through the Federal Cyber Service Scholarship for Service Program.
BU has been designated a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security.
It is one of the top Digital Forensics and Cyber-Security Programs in the country. Classrooms and labs have professional digital forensics software and hardware. Courses cover all aspects of digital forensics and security.
Bloomsburg University has five excellent and well-known faculty members dedicated to teaching courses in this field of study. They come with practical experience and deep knowledge in digital forensics, criminal investigations, network security and forensics, system security and penetration testing.
Digital Forensics graduates have an extremely high placement rate. They work in law enforcement, government agencies, and the corporate world. Graduates work at many major defense contractors, such as General Dynamics, Lockheed, Booz Allen Hamilton, Mantech, Leidos, SAIC, Bechtel, Textron, and CACI. Corporate employees include CrowdStrike, Dell SecureWorks, Pfizer, Airbnb, Home Shopping Network, FireEye, Mandiant, Verizon, LDiscovery, KPMG, Deloitte, Ernst and Young, and Epiq Systems.
Graduates work at governmental agencies concerned with national security such as the National Security Agency (NSA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade.
Law enforcement employers include local law enforcement, sheriff’s departments, district attorney’s offices, attorney general’s offices, and state police agencies.
If you have an active security clearance, you will be appealing to many of the companies and agencies listed above. There are separate job fairs just for veterans and just for people with security clearances. If you have an active clearance, there is a 100% placement rate.
Our graduates do important work such as: Investigate hacking from foreign nations against the US, analyze terrorist hard disks and other media for the war on terror, and offensively hack foreign governments to protect the US.
The Husky Difference
Jointly sponsored by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security, this designation recognizes Bloomsburg’s digital forensics program has met stringent criteria regarding its curriculum, faculty, and research
31%
Job Growth Projected
Demand is expected to be very high, as these analysts will be needed to create innovative solutions to prevent hackers from stealing critical information or causing problems for computer networks. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
College of Distinction
Bloomsburg has earned national recognition as a College of Distinction, honored for its quality and high-impact practices.
FBI internship opens doors for digital forensics major
Working for the Cyber Division of the FBI in the nation’s capital sounds like the perfect plot for a Hollywood movie. For Parker Bumbarger, it was reality. He scored a dream internship for anyone who wants to get into domestic intelligence and investigation. Whether it’s out in the field as a special agent or behind the scenes as an analyst, the FBI Honors Internship Program provides students a step in the right direction for a career in federal law enforcement.
Digital forensics majors receive Department of Defense cybersecurity scholarships
Five Bloomsburg University digital forensics majors — the largest group to date — have been awarded scholarships under the Department of Defense Cybersecurity Scholarship program. Two students were awarded returning scholarships and three were awarded new scholarships. Due to the sensitive nature of positions, the names of the students awarded the scholarships cannot be revealed.
Digital Forensics Club takes on GrrCON
Phil Polstra, professor of mathematical and digital sciences, said students brought knowledge back to campus and shared it with rest of the club by performing a car hacking demonstration. They were able to do this thanks to having won some of the required hardware as a prize in the largest competition at GrrCON, he added. The most popular contest at GrrCON, according to Polstra, was the Open Source INTelligence Capture the Flag competition. Nearly 80 teams competed for thousands of dollars in prizes in this competition, which was introduced last year. One of the BU teams ended up in third place when the dust settled on the final day of the conference.
Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity Contacts
Curt Jones, Ph.D.
- Professor of the Department of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Digital Forensics
Diane Barrett, Ph.D.
- Associate Professor of Mathematical and Digital Sciences, Director of the Center for Information Assurance Studies
Scott Inch, Ph.D.
- Professor of Mathematical and Digital Sciences
Ashley Bilinski
- Administrative Assistant Dean’s Office
Philip Polstra, Ph.D.
- Professor, Mathematical and Digital Sciences
Lawrence Snyder, III, Ph.D.
- Associate Professor of Mathematical and Digital Sciences
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