CSCI 434 - Digital Forensics

Syllabus for section D1, Fall 2023.

This is an asynchronous, online course. There are no scheduled meeting times.

Instructor Information

Dr. Mike Murphy
mmurphy2@coastal.edu
Office Location: Penny Hall (formerly AOC2) room 238
https://ww2.coastal.edu/mmurphy2

Office Hours

• Tuesdays 13:00-15:00
• Wednesdays 14:00-16:00
• Thursdays 10:30-12:30

I am available at other times by appointment. Please email me for scheduling.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

1. Explain legal and ethical issues related to the practice of digital forensics.
2. Describe sources and types of digital forensic evidence.
3. Apply the rules for appropriate handling and custody of evidence in an investigative scenario.
4. Discover digital evidence using open-source tools.

ABET Assessment

This course measures the following Performance Indicators:

• 1.1. Define requirements and/or specifications for a computing problem.
• 1.2. Analyze a complex problem by breaking it down into smaller components.
• 1.3. Evaluate solutions to mitigate or solve a problem.
• 1.4. Identify solutions to a problem by applying principles of computing and/or other relevant disciplines.
• 4.1. Assess ethical/legal issues in the discipline.
• IT 6.2. Create appropriate IT-based solutions based upon user needs.
• IT 6.3. Select systems appropriate for different user and environment requirements.

Texts and Materials

• Recommended: James Duane. You Have the Right to Remain Innocent. Little A, 2016. ISBN 978-1503933392.
• Readings, reference materials, tutorials, and videos will be assigned.

Technology Requirements

• Broadband Internet access is required to access course materials.
• A device capable of taking online quizzes using Moodle is required.

Grading

Grades will be broken into different categories and weighted as follows:

The final course grade will be computed using the standard 10-point scale:

There is NO final exam in this course.

Quizzes

Most of the grade for this course is based on weekly quizzes. These quizzes are delivered via Moodle and will cover course learning materials, readings, etc. Some weeks may have multiple quizzes due, depending on the topics covered that week. You will have an unlimited number of attempts on each quiz, and you MAY work together as long as you aren’t simply sharing answers. Each quiz attempt draws random questions in a random order from the underlying question bank, so it is to your benefit to review the material prior to attempting each quiz.

Discussion Assignments

There will be two discussion assignments: one in the first half of the semester, and one in the second half of the semester. Each assignment will have guidelines and a grading rubric available.

Late Work

Each quiz and discussion has an automatic one-week extension between the DUE date and the closing date. The DUE date for each activity is in the activity title: quiz closing dates in Moodle are the dates WITH extensions. There is no need to submit documentation or request an extension since one is provided automatically. That said, you should treat the DUE dates as due dates and not habitually wait until the closing date to complete the activity.

No work will be accepted after the corresponding closing date for ANY reason whatsoever. It is your responsibility to plan ahead and be prepared for any contingencies that might arise during the semester (including illness, family emergencies, work conflicts, and other things beyond your immediate control). There is no such thing as an “excused” reason for an extension beyond the closing dates. I am instead providing you with a no-questions-asked extension on every activity to provide flexibility for handling unexpected events.

Attendance Policies

Regular, weekly participation in this class is expected. As provided in the CCU Distance Learning Policy, missed quizzes and discussions are treated as absences for reporting purposes.

Please do NOT attend physical office hours if you are sick. Instead, please let me know via email at least an hour before the scheduled meeting so that you can participate electronically.

Other Policies

Academic Integrity and Artificial Intelligence

The CCU Academic Integrity Code applies to this course. In particular, making false statements, hiring or permitting someone else to complete course activities, and willful and flagrant plagiarism are all examples of academic integrity violations. Violations of the CCU Academic Integrity Code in this course will result in a course grade of FX.

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT MAY NOT be used in this course. Use of an AI tool on a quiz or discussion post is an academic integrity violation.

Communications Policy

I will normally reply to email within 1-2 business days. Email received over a weekend or on a holiday may not receive a response for 1-2 business days after the weekend or holiday. Please note that I’m only able to answer the phone and return phone calls on days where I work from the office (typically, days when I have posted office hours). Email is a much faster way to reach me and receive a reply.

Disability Accommodations

Per University policy, I can only grant you accommodations that are authorized through Accessibility and Disability Services. Please have your accommodations information sent to me within the first week of class or within a week of approval if accommodations are implemented in the middle of the semester. Note that quizzes in this course are NOT timed, and lectures are prerecorded with closed captioning.

Contingency Plan

Per the CCU Academic Continuity Plan, courses will continue online whenever the University is unable to hold in-person classes. If this course has a synchronous meeting time, then we will meet online using a University-licensed meeting platform. All other activities will proceed as scheduled, unless the University announces otherwise. ALWAYS take your laptop or other computer with you whenever you go out of town, including during University breaks, evacuations, and other travel. Remember that you could encounter travel difficulties and have issues returning on time, even if University operations are not affected.

For fall semester courses, please review my Hurricane Information page. Always monitor your email and the CCU Website for official announcements regarding irregular operations.

Disclaimer

Portions of this course may deal with issues related to cost analysis, laws, and ethics. I am not a lawyer, accountant, or financial advisor, and no portion of this class constitutes legal, financial, or other regulated professional advice. This syllabus is tentative and is subject to change with notice to the class during the semester. If a portion of this syllabus is found to be non-compliant with University policies or applicable laws, the remainder of this syllabus will remain effective.