Michigan State University Online MS in Cybercrime & Digital Investigation

Michigan State University (MSU) offers a fully online Master of Science (MS) in Cybercrime & Digital Investigation through the College of Sociology School of Criminal Justice. The curriculum is informed by the Department of Justice and prepares graduates for careers investigating and addressing cybercrime in organizations such as government, law enforcement, and private business. Students will learn the impact of cybercrime on the economic and physical safety of individuals, businesses, and the government.

The MS program focuses on the human aspects of cybercrime, the online risks present with nation-states and terrorist organizations, and the legal methods used to prosecute cybercrime. Core courses comprise 18 credits and teach students to collect and analyze cybercrime data, examine the link between crime theories and cybercrime prevention, and explore how current technology and the internet are being used for cyber terror and warfare. Students will examine what security technologies are used to fend off cyber attacks, discuss criminal justice research and how it is used to make evidence-based decisions on cybercrime policy and issues, explore ethics in cybercrime investigation and security, and discuss the roles of the various government, private, and business entities responsible for cybersecurity.

Elective courses comprise 12 credits of the MS program and cover a variety of cybercrime topics such as data systems, interpersonal cybercrime, globalized cybercrime, economic fraud, open-source information analysis, and digital forensic investigation. Cybercrime and Digital Investigation job titles may include Computer Security Specialist, Digital Forensic Specialist, Information Security Analyst, Cybersecurity Consultant, Forensic Detective, and Counter-Intelligence Officer.

Coursework for the graduate cybercrime and digital investigation program is 100 percent online, with start dates landing twice each in the fall, spring, and summer. No work experience or background in criminal justice or computer/IT is required, nor is the GRE. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Prerequisites include at least 12 undergraduate credits of coursework in any combination of economics, sociology, social work, political science, sociology, or psychology. Application materials include an online application, official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. The degree may be earned in two years of study, including summers.

Cybercrime and Digital Investigation courses are delivered asynchronously through Desire2Learn and may include live conferencing, recorded lectures, discussion boards, and assignments requiring 12 hours of study time per week per course. Student services may include admissions counseling, financial aid guidance, student success coaching, academic advising, library services, professional counseling, and writing help at the Writing Center. There are over 45 service organizations and groups for academic and student support, many of which can be accessed by online students.

Online Master’s in Cybercrime & Digital Investigation core courses include Cybercrime, Deviance, and Virtual Society; Crime Causation, Prevention, and Control; Cyber Terror and Cyber Warfare; Design and Analysis in Criminal Justice Research; Legislative and Policy Responses to Cyber Crime; Analysis of Contemporary Cyber Threats (Capstone). Electives include Data Systems/Infrastructure; Economic Cyber Crimes and Fraud; Interpersonal Cybercrime; Comparative Criminal Justice; Globalization of Crime; Open-Source Information Analysis; and Digital Forensic Investigations. The program culminates with a final oral exam or evaluation.

Michigan State University partners with organizations such as the Department of Homeland Security, the MSU Police, and the Michigan Intelligence Operations Center. MSU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and is located in East Lansing, Michigan.