Hi everyone.
I am newly enrolled in a 2-year computer forensics program at MCTC in Minneapolis, MN. However, I stumbled upon another school, Century College, that was also offering a 2-year computer forensics program. Although they are a little similar, I am favoring what Century has to offer. However, I am not a working professional in this field so I would like some input. From looking at the courses being offered, which school's program offers courses that are more applicable towards the field of computer forensics?
MCTC Computer Forensic Curriculum
Area 1 ITEC Core (14 credits)
ITEC 1100 - Information Technology Concepts (2 credits)
ITEC 1110 - Information Technology Skills (2 credits)
ITEC 1150 - Programming Logic and Design (3 credits)
ITEC 1250 - Microsoft Windows Operating Systems (3 credits)
ITEC 1425 - Data Communications (4 credits)
Area 2 Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Core (12 credits)
PSCI 1101 - American Government (3 credits)
PSCI 2000 - Constitutional Law (3 credits)
SOCI 2155 - Introduction to Criminal Justice (3 credits)
LAWE 2230 - Legal Issues and Law Enforcement (3 credits)
Area 3 Advanced ITEC/CF Courses (18 credits)
ITEC 1310 - Microcomputer System Maintenance (4 credits)
ITEC 2710 - Microsoft Network Administration (4 credits)
OR
ITEC 1475 - Linux System Administration (4 credits)
OR
ITEC 2880 - Cisco Network Administration (4 credits)
ITEC 2865 - Internet/Intranet Security (4 credits)
ITEC 2950 - Information Technology Career Preparation (2 credits)
Area 4 General Education Courses (20 credits–9 required, 11 electives)
ENGL 1110 - College English 1 (3 credits)
ENGL 1111 - College English 2 (3 credits)
SPCH 1000 - Fundamentals of Communication (3 credits)
Century College Computer Forensics Curriculum
Career/Occupational Requirements (37)
CFIT 2065 Introduction to Computer Forensics 3
CFIT 2070 Window& NTFS File System Forensics 3
CFIT 2075 Computer Investigative Law for Forensic Analysts 3
CFIT 2080 Open Source Forensics Methodology 3
CJS 2095 Interview, Interrogation and Investigation 3
CSCI 1060 Introduction to Programming 3
ITT 1021 Principles of Information Security 3
ITT 2020 Network Security Fundamentals 3
MCST 1001 PC Hardware and Software 4
MCST 1011 Supporting Microsoft Windows XP Professional 3
MCST 1013 Supporting Microsoft Windows 2003 Server 3
MCST 1030 Linux Operating System 3
Additional Requirements (4)
Select at least 4 credits – Select from the following courses
CFIT 2081 Incident Handling and Computer Crime Investigation 3
CFIT 2083 Windows Security & Auditing 3
CFIT 2085 Computer and Network Hacker Techniques I 3
CFIT 2088 Computer and Network Hacker Techniques II 3
COMM 1051 Intercultural Communication 3
CSCI 1081 Programming Fundamentals 3
CSCI 1082 Object-Oriented Programming 3
ITT 1031 Network Fundamentals (CCNA1) 3
ITT 1032 Routing Protocols and Concepts 3
MCST 2015 Administering the Active Directory 3
MCST 2780 Internship 1-6
General Education/MnTC Requirements (23)
See MnTC course list for options.
Goal 1 – Communication 7
ENGL 1021 Composition I 4
COMM 1021 Individual Public Speaking 3
Goal 2 – Critical Thinking
Fulfilled automatically when all other MnTC goals are complete.
Goal 3 and/or Goal 4 – Sciences/Math/Logical Reasoning 4
MATH 1025 Statistics 4
Goal 5 – History/Social and Behavioral Sciences 9
POLS 1031 American Government 3
POLS 1035 Constitutional Law 3
SOC 1080 Introduction to the Criminal Justice System 3
Goal 6 – Humanities and Fine Arts 3
Goal 7, 8, 9 or 10
Three credits in ONE of the four goals – Fulfilled by COMM course.
Total Credits 64
*Note how the 2-year program works is that once you finish the two years, you transfer to a 4-year college/university and spend 2 years there and receive the undergrad degree.
Any useful feedback would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Only one of those course listings appears to have actual forensics content (the second one; Century College), while the other does not. If you haven't made a mistake in pasting the first curriculum, then the choice should be very obvious. D
I agree, Century College Computer Forensics Curriculum seems much better…. The first school seems like a normal "2-year school IT Degree".
Thanks for your input guys! I am definitely going to make the transfer over to Century.