CSCI 534 - Digital Forensics and E-Discovery
Syllabus for section D1, Maymester 2024.
This course is fully online and does not meet in person. It is also asynchronous, which means that there is no specific time that you must be online each day.
Instructor Information
Dr. Mike Murphy
mmurphy2@coastal.edu
Office Location: Penny Hall (formerly AOC2) room 238
https://ww2.coastal.edu/mmurphy2
Office Hours
I will be available in Microsoft Teams during office hours and by appointment.
- Wednesdays 13:00-15:00
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:
- Explain legal and ethical issues related to the practice of digital forensics.
- Describe sources and types of digital forensic evidence.
- Apply the rules for appropriate handling and custody of evidence in an investigative scenario.
- Discover digital evidence using open-source tools.
- Research digital forensics cases related to financial fraud. [CSCI 534]
- Document and present the results of work performed. [CSCI 534]
Texts and Materials
- REQUIRED: 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 and participating in discussions using Moodle is required.
Grading
Grades will be broken into different categories and weighted as follows:
| Category | Weight |
|---|---|
| Quizzes | 85% |
| Discussion Assignment | 15% |
The final course grade will be computed using the standard 10-point scale:
| Grade | Range |
|---|---|
| A | 90-100 |
| B+ | 85-89 |
| B | 80-84 |
| C+ | 75-79 |
| C | 70-74 |
| D+ | 65-69 |
| D | 60-64 |
| F | 0-59 |
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 Assignment
There will be one Moodle discussion assignment that covers Duane’s book. This discussion will take place during the second week of the course, providing ample time to acquire a copy of the book and read it (it’s a short book – I read it the first time in one sitting).
Late Work
Each graded item will close for submissions at 11:59 PM EDT on the specified closing date. No late work will be accepted. This course moves at a fast pace due to the short May session. It is necessary to keep up with the quizzes and discussion on a weekly basis.
If you become so sick that you’re unable to do your work, or if some other significant hardship arises, please let me know immediately. You need to notify me before the closing date unless you are hospitalized or otherwise incapacitated. Extensions and adjustments can be made on an individual basis for excused reasons.
Attendance Policies
Regular weekly participation in this course is required. Per University policy, missed graded items will be recorded as absences. Due to the compressed nature of Maymester, you should expect this course to require 20-30 hours per week.
Other Policies
Academic Integrity
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.
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.