Digital Forensics and Private Investigation Certificate

The Digital Forensics and Private Investigation Certificate is designed to prepare an individual for a future career in a specialized area of Criminal Justice.

The Certificate in Digital Forensics and Private Investigation will provide students with the knowledge and skills to become a Texas Private Investigator. Individuals not employed by a law enforcement agency must be licensed as a Private Investigator to perform digital forensic investigations in Texas.

The certificate is also designed to provide professional development opportunities to those who are currently employed in related industries.

Job opportunities for students who complete this certificate will be available in local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, Digital crime labs, paternity identification labs, and Homeland Security.

Digital Forensics Science is the application of computer science and investigative procedures for a legal purpose involving the analysis of digital evidence (information of probative value that is stored or transmitted in binary form) after proper search authority, chain of custody, validation with mathematics (hash function), use of validated tools, repeatability, reporting, and possible expert presentation.

Scientific discoveries along with advances in technology have increased the accuracy of forensic results and thus the pursuit of justice. Therefore, it is necessary for this particular certificate to combine the knowledge that comes from different academic disciplines, criminal justice and digital forensics.

Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, along with private detectives, attorneys and judges, rely heavily on the work of the professionally trained criminal digital forensic investigation specialist.

Course content for the Digital Forensics and Private Investigation Certificate will focus on the basics of the gathering and the analysis of evidence by qualified, experienced faculty from both Eastfield and Richland campus.

Please note that courses in this certificate will be taught at Eastfield campus under the Criminal Justice Program and at Richland campus under the Digital Forensic Program.