Computer Science for Digital Forensics?

[cookderosa]

I've posted this on our "sister forum" as well - so this may be a duplicate post for a few of you.

Question for those of you in computer occupations. My high school senior son is taking dual enrollment at our local community college on campus. His teacher for his OS and Device Foundations course has been a great inspiration for him, and my son is interested in pursuing the Digital Forensics AAS after he graduates.

I have some questions because if he does pursue this program, I want to be sure it's worth it for him.

Here's what you should know about him: he is homeschooled and will graduate June 1 from high school with his diploma and also his AS from Charter Oak (he has everything completed except his Cornerstone).

He has taken all online courses up until this course on campus- and his engagement/enthusiasm has been below average. Our plan was to have him finish his bachelor's at COSC. He's a good student, get's A's, but just wasn't into anything until this class. This ON CAMPUS class lit his fire- so while I know he can easily do his bachelor's at COSC (he currently has over 100 credits) I want him to learn the foundation of his career on campus with a live teacher- so a plus for me is that most (not all) of the AAS courses are on campus.

The more I read about careers in digital forensics the more confused I become. I think it's the same as cybersecurity, but I'm not sure. I also know that THIS AAS won't accept any of his gen eds from COSC and that our local 4 year university won't accept our local AAS in transfer there - so we have a big decision to make:

AAS - starting from scratch, 70 credits while (maybe?) simultaneously doing a bachelor's at COSC too. He could do a business degree for cheap/fast, but they have Cybersecurity that wouldn't be cheap or fast- but it would give him a bachelor's and would build on the AAS.

other option:
UNC-Charlotte (local uni) not only has this degree, but is also a participant in the CyberCorps Scholarship program. This would put him into an internship at some point in Washington DC as well as a service obligation wtih the NSA. The huge cons of this degree, are that it's computer science and he doesn't meet the admissions requirements. He *could* eventually meet the requirements, but we'd have at least a year of courses at the CC to make that happen. He needs SAT scores (doesn't have) and needs to be at Calculus 1 (he's in Algebra). It's a very high bar he'd have to hit just to qualify, let alone gain admission or receive the scholarship (no guarantee).

I'm ready, willing, and able to help him be successful, so - the BIG QUESTION is whether or not he needs a degree in computer science to make this happen. If he doesn't need a computer science degree, we're ready to go straight into the AAS - but I don't want him to invest 2 1/2 years only to be under-employed. If we found that out AFTER the AAS, he'd essentially be starting his bachelor's at UNCC from scratch- and no matter what he does, we're not investing 7 years in his undergrad.

Advice or suggestions would be really appreciated at this point!! THANKS!

EDIT to add: this is the course list for the AAS http://www.cpcc.edu/it/programs-of-study..._06_18.pdf

and the Department of Labor Occupational Outlook handbooks says a bachelor's degree is typical for entry level Information Security Analysist but lists computer science as one of several degrees that would work - also listed are "Information security analysts usually need at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information assurance, programming, or a related field."
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-inf...alysts.htm

[quigongene]

First off, digital forensics is a subset of cybersecurity (just to clarify :-) ). The rest of this might be a bit of a ramble. That program looks pretty nice.

Here's the kicker though. Cybersecurity usually isn't an entry level career choice. I personally started in helpdesk, moved up to systems administration, systems analysis and then finally cybersecurity (all without any degree). Not saying it isn't doable, but most companies will expect that you have some background in IT (sysadmin, networking, programming, cloud, etc.) before jumping in. For an entry level analyst, odds are he'll be working at a SoC watching for anomalies.

To answer your main question. It doesn't have to be CS, but it wouldn't hurt knowing how the innards of computers (both hardware and software) work.

[allvia]

They are connected fields but not exactly the same.  Both fields are likely to grow, although cybersecurity (proactive - stop it before it happens) gets talked about more - which could mean more go to school for it, not knowing there is path for forensics (reactive - who done it?). Champlain College has a good overview article on the differences. https://www.champlain.edu/online/blog/di...-forensics

Being that the degree is at an Associates level it does have a well rounded course plan, and a good deal of hands on (lab time).  Hands on is often far more valuable than theory alone when it comes to anything IT/CS related. If he has found a bit of passion for it then I would encourage him to go for it. Plus the in person college experience would do him well, that would likely be an easier adjustment at the CC level than the 4 Year College/University level.

He can always work towards a bachelors through COCS piecemeal; but an Associates in something he enjoys, provides him with documented experience (entry level) and more importantly he actually has interest to pursue professionally is far more valuable than a bachelors in something that just checks a box.

[cookderosa]

Quig and Al, thanks so much!

I appreciate that you guys didn't tech me to death lol, I'm way over my head here.

I will have more questions for you both, but in general, I get the feeling you both agree that Computer Science isn't necessary. If it's not, there's no way I'm making him do it. It would add no less than a year of math and science prereqs to his plan, assuming he could even get through them swiftly. The CS degree requires an entire Calc 1-3 sequence as well as general physics sequence <ugh>

His dual enrollment classes in this program have him in the first semester of the AAS (but that's all they allow until after hs graduation) but as you can see, no gen eds other than a few sprinkled around. I'm not 100% sure that his COSC AS won't fill those, and that question has too many moving parts for me to shoot off an email to his CC. I'll wait until it's clear and simple for them.

P.S. Quig, that you spent ANY time on a helpdesk and didn't kill yourself impresses the hell out of me. Seriously, there's a special place in Heaven for those guys. I helped my mother in law order plane tickets once- she was on her computer in NY and I was on my computer in IL. I took her click-by-click over the phone. After about 90 minutes, I went ahead and placed the order for her. <deep breath> just remembering it makes my blood pressure rise.

[jsd]

I think most of us IT/InfoSec folks have plenty of help desk stories : Just part of paying your dues in the career path I guess.

[allvia]

I would not go down the degree in CS in this case, why? - he is looking to do Forensics/Cybersecurity. As you're aware WGU has many IT degrees (including the CS), but this would be a far better bachelor match if he wanted to move on in the field and get a bachelor after the AAS - https://www.wgu.edu/online-it-degrees/cy...ogram.html#  Plus as you mentioned he will have an AS from COCS, so that is a block in for his gen eds (as long as he has those maths listed, no Calc required).  This is of course for reference only showing there are many options available once he gets started in the industry - who knows what will be the next thing out there.   I do really think the the AAS on campus is a better life experience option to start with - exposure to a diversified group of people he'll cross paths with in the real world work environment (tech and non tech type)

[quigongene]

Also, the AAS is IT related, so some other courses would be knocked out at WGU, like scripting & programming.

P.S. Quig, that you spent ANY time on a helpdesk and didn't kill yourself impresses the hell out of me.

There was a set of lockers not too far from my cube that had several dents in them thanks to me. I wore combat boots to work and kicking the daylights out of those lockers (after pressing mute) was my stress relief.

[dfrecore]

I was going to say, I think this is more IT than CompSci - which is good if you aren't into the math that is required for CS. I don't have time to research, but if you look at WGU's IT degrees, or TESU's IT degree and then the CompSci degree, you'll start to see the difference.

I personally think he's probably fine to get the AAS in DF, and then start working while getting a BSIT eventually (if he even needs one).

[quigongene]

I personally think he's probably fine to get the AAS in DF, and then start working while getting a BSIT eventually (if he even needs one).

BSCSIA would be more in line with that career field, and includes forensics and incident handling (which pretty much go hand in hand).

[dfrecore]

I personally think he's probably fine to get the AAS in DF, and then start working while getting a BSIT eventually (if he even needs one).

BSCSIA would be more in line with that career field, and includes forensics and incident handling (which pretty much go hand in hand).

I was thinking anything in the IT field, just not having to go the CS route.