Recommendations for Graduate Programs?

xblanksx asks: "I am a soon to be college graduate and I have been looking into graduate programs pertaining to computer forensics and computer crime investigation. So far the only program I have been able to find is the 'High Technology Crime Investigation' program offered through GWU. Since I am finding it rather hard to find any other programs, what other graduate programs might be out there pertaining to computer investigations?"

SFU?

[gregbaker]

A lab [cs.sfu.ca] at SFU [cs.sfu.ca] is just starting a joint venture with the RCMP. It's in the early stages and is still ramping up. I believe projects with Criminology have begun.

If you're interested, drop me an email, or contact the head of the lab [cs.sfu.ca].

NSA reccomendations

[IASmaster]

You could check out some of the schools which the NSA reccomends for security in general. They have a list of National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAEIAE). The link is http://www.nsa.gov/ia/academia/caeiae.cfm [nsa.gov]

Purdue CERIAS

[Iaughter]

Purdue University's Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security.
http://www.cerias.purdue.edu/ [purdue.edu]

It's a well-known and top-notch program, one of the first of its kind.

Its head is Eugene Spafford, who seems to be well-known [wikipedia.org] in tech circles and is part of the Center's claim to fame.

CERIAS offers, I think, both masters and PhD's.

I looked at it a few years ago, but I'm sure that it's still worth looking into. I think that their site recently was dugg for some security checklist or something ...

Maybe this looks interesting...

[barbjfox2000]

Depends what you're looking for. If you want to do it "convenient and cheap", you might be interested in the program I'm pursuing. I'm half-way plus through a Masters of Science in Applied Computer Science with a concentration in Information Assurance at Columbus State University, Columbus, GA. It's an on campus degree, but enough of the courses are offered remotely, they also offer a distance learning version. You probably understand the trade-offs of not being in a face-to-face class, but I'll still end up with a M.S. from an accredited state university and be exposed to everything from Forensics to Auditing to Penetration testing to Network security, etc. And the price is UNBELIEVABLY inexpensive!!
http://cs.colstate.edu/html_hi/programs/grad.aspx/ [colstate.edu]
Price - approx $5000 plus books
Another choice is to get a computer-related degree from "wherever" and add expertise through programs like this:
http://www.kennesaw.edu/coned/sci/index.htm/ [kennesaw.edu]
You will get more up-to-date info through seminars like these and more practical "real life" applications than through most academic courses which need to cover a broader spectrum and use published books (which already puts them 6-18 months behind the most current tools).

Get out of school and get into police agency

[rabbit994]

Most police agencies require you spend time in the field doing police type activities (catching criminals, dealing with domestics, etc) before you can move on to other things. I imagine Foresnics is probably something that is more OJT then degree taught. My recommendation, get your BS and apply to FBI, DHS or state police departments.