Course structure
Core modules
Advanced Forensic Computing
You learn about advanced digital forensic and cyber-investigation techniques. You are exposed to advanced topics, including complex data recovery, and advanced and non-standard data acquisition techniques. You cover threshold concepts in-depth and explore topics relating to current professional practice such as accreditation. You examine advanced topics with a focus on manually interpreting and verifying evidence. You learn through diverse, embedded sessions in the digital forensic laboratory.
Advanced Internet Forensics
In this module you explore advanced internet investigation techniques. You are exposed to advanced topics in computer and digital forensics associated with internet investigations, including browser data investigations, internet history recovery, cache reconstruction and the reverse engineering of browser log data. You are also exposed to privacy enhancing technologies such as in-private browsing and the implications of these technologies on forensic investigations. You learn suitable investigation techniques and methods for analysing and interpreting information related to an investigation where internet technologies are involved.
You learn through diverse, embedded sessions in the digital forensic laboratory. Your assessment involves investigating an internet technology - you select an appropriate technology (browser, service, application) and forensically test its usage and document the forensic implications of its simulated use.
Advanced Mobile Forensics
This module focuses on advanced mobile investigation techniques within the newly emerging specialist sub-discipline of mobile forensic investigation. You are exposed to topics which include data acquisition methods, advanced techniques such as jailbreaking and rooting, and methods of developer interaction with mobile devices including JTAG and similar techniques. Although you cover fundamental concepts, this is an advanced module. You cover threshold concepts in-depth and explore topics relating to current professional practice such as the challenges relating to acquiring data from handsets. You explore advanced topics with a focus on manually interpreting and verifying evidence. You learn through diverse, embedded sessions in the digital forensic laboratory.
Coding for Intelligence Analysts
You learn basic coding with teaching geared to providing support to first-time coders. Coding is primarily about data analysis, cleaning and merging data before it’s visualised in charts and tables. Learning some scripts to manipulate tabulated data is a valuable skill – and will become increasingly valuable when dealing with big data. You learn the principles of the programming language Python and how it can be used to change, group and strip out irregularities in data frames. Performing these simple scripts on large datasets makes life easier – it also provides a platform for you to be able to research on your own with publically available data. Cleansing data in this way makes utilising old favourites like Microsoft Excel much easier too.
You study SQL (structured query language) to develop the skills to grab data from a database. Today everything from mobile phone data to performance business metrics in policing is packaged ready for extraction, provided the user has the knowledge and understanding to ‘query’ its contents.
Crime Science: Theories, Principles and Intelligence Sources
You study crime theories, such as rational choice and routine activity packaged up in environmental criminology. You appreciate how the environment has the potential to facilitate or inhibit criminal behaviour. You consider problem-orientated policing and how we can use theoretical models to understand crime and responses to it – along with emerging debates as to whether traditional theories are still relevant with 21st-century online criminal activity. You study intelligence sources and the explosion of openly available material for analysis. You also consider the software and applications available for this research or data capture.
Legal Issues and Evidence Reporting
Forensic evidence of all types plays a major role in the detection of crime and the successful investigation of other types of incident such as road traffic collisions and natural disasters. You explore the legal and procedural contexts in which forensic science operates, providing you with opportunities to develop skills and knowledge for the gathering, examination and presentation of evidence in a range of situations.
You attend a series of keynote lectures, seminars and a practical session in the University’s replica courtroom. You may have an opportunity to visit a local coroner’s office and/or court. You are assessed by a portfolio (30%) and evidence in the form of a written statement and verbal presentation in a simulated courtroom situation (70%).
Research Project
This module will provide an appropriate environment for an in-depth investigation of a subject relevant to the programme chosen and the continued development of cognitive, professional and transferable skills. It aims to unify your understanding and awareness of engineering or science as developed in the programme, with individual and independent research and analysis on a selected topic within the discipline. It also aims to expose you to the management of a significant project and to enable you to apply research methods relevant to your specific field and related discipline.
You investigate problems which involve the consideration of relevant legal, social, ethical, environmental and other professional issues.
You will be expected to develop and practice a professional approach to the presentation, delivery and appraisal of your written and oral presentations.
