George Mason University

Digital forensics is a discipline addressing the collection, processing, and analysis of digital data for the purpose of verifying/validating the existence of an event of investigative, intelligence, cyber, or business interest.  The data can be from physical media, a mobile device, real-time network traffic, the Internet of Things (IoT), unknown code, memory, the cloud, and many other sources. Digital forensics is interdisciplinary by nature and our program includes computer engineering, computer science, information technology, law, and ethics.  Digital forensics is a key component in criminal, corporate, civil, cyber defense, incident response, intelligence, and counter-terrorism matters. In the last several years, with a proliferation of digital storage, transmission, and processing of sensitive information, there has been an increase in the aberrant use of digital devices. This aberrant behavior includes but is not limited to digital extortion, intrusions, economic espionage, child exploitation, cybercrime, fraud, terrorism, and identity theft.  In response to this, digital forensics has become an important profession serving both public and private sectors.  The MS in Digital Forensics will prepare graduates for a wide variety of careers to include law enforcement, various other branches of government, incident response, and all facets of cyber security by combining academic education with real world practical techniques and by offering advanced training in analyzing digital evidence, intrusion forensics, reverse engineering, network analysis, legal, and ethical matters.