Information Technology is the occupational area that will be the focus of the curriculum in this project. The curricula will be derived from Bloomsburg University’s development of a Computer Forensics Bachelor’s Degree program. This program was selected as a field that will address an emerging specialty within the information science area. The program addresses an escalating need in the information analyst area and provides an alternative career path option for students with a technological orientation who are enrolled in the criminal justice area. Existing programs will be expanded, modified, and/or created at both the secondary and postsecondary levels. The career and technical school, community college, and four-year university will collaborate during the curriculum development process to ensure the transferability of credits up to the baccalaureate level, resulting in articulation agreements that will provide students with at least 15 credits of advanced standing at the next educational level without the need for testing.

In addition to earning 15 college credits that will transfer to the postsecondary level and receiving advanced standing at the next level through articulated courses, secondary students will have the opportunity to participate in Bloomsburg University’s Advance College Experience (ACE) Program. ACE offers qualified high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to enroll in regular, for-credit, university courses on a space-available basis. For students from participating high schools, tuition is discounted 75 percent. In addition to summer courses, students may take Bloomsburg University classes during the regular academic year.  Should the state-sponsored dual enrollment program continue, and the secondary partners choose to participate, students would have the opportunity to complete college courses, with tuition and fees paid under the grant.

Computer Forensics…What Is It?

Acquisition, authentication and analysis if digital evidence for use in court
Involves recovery of deleted files, emails, chat, and internet activity
Sources of evidence: hard disks, diskettes, CD/CD-R, USB thumb drives, digital camera cards, PDAs, cell phones, and Ipods

What Types of Crime?

• Industrial Espionage
• Internet Fraud
• Child Pornography
• Theft of Intellectual Property
• Violation of Company Policy
• Murder / Kidnapping
• Embezzlement / Accounting Fraud

Who Needs It?

• Law Enforcement
• Government Agencies
• Corporations
• Lawyers
• Defense Contractors
• Parents