INA, Ill. (July 10, 2014) -Learn to prevent and combat crime in the digital world with a new offering from Rend Lake College’s Criminal Justice program.
The newest certificate for Rend Lake College students starts this fall with a focus on cybercrime. Registration has already begun for the Cyber Forensics Specialist occupational certificate, a program designed to help RLC students make the most of their Information Technology or Criminal Justice degrees.
The 24-credit-hour certificate blends the functions of a computer technician and criminal investigator together by teaching students the legal and technical limits of a forensic search of a digital system. New, state-of-the-art software called EnCase will be used so students can retrieve information from computers, cell phones, tablets, and other electronic devices. EnCase is used by federal and state governments, the Secret Service, and many local law enforcement agencies.
As a part of the certificate, students will be required to take two new classes involving the EnCase software specifically: Computer Forensics I (CJRS 1207) and II (CJRS 2217). Students who successfully complete both EnCase courses will be eligible to take the EnCase Certified Examiner (EnCE) test.
RLC Computer Networking Professor Ricky Robinson has been working all summer to complete the classes for the EnCE test.
“I’m already through the first semester, and I’ll be taking another class at the end of this month and one in December to finish,†said Robinson. “Then there are two tests to take for the EnCase Certified Examiner certification. Phase one is 180 questions to be completed in 120 minutes. You can take it anywhere there is internet access.â€
Robinson added the second part of the EnCE test is more hands-on and focuses a large portion of the result on organization skills with the software.
“The second phase is work on an actual case with several questions to answer as you go along. It’s a lot of hands-on work. I think Rend Lake College students are going to have an advantage because we’re going to be teaching case organization using the actual EnCase software,†said Robinson.
The EnCE certification is not only recognized by law enforcement, but can also be used in legal and corporate industries as a way of showing in-depth knowledge and understanding of investigation and computer skills. The occupational certificate and EnCE certification provide stand-out additives to any résumé.
To help get Information Technology and Criminal Justice students on the same page for the certificate, two prerequisites are also required. The first is Introduction to Computers (CSCI 1101) and can be waived by the Dean of Applied Scienceand Technology if the student has adequate knowledge to continue. The second class, Hardware and Operating Systems (CNA CNS 1212), can be taken along with other courses.
The classes required for the occupational certificate include Introduction to Criminal Justice (CRJS 1201), Criminology (CRJS 1202), Criminal Procedures (CRJS 2206), Cyber Crime and Investigation (CRJS 2216), Cyber Crime and Law (CRJS 1205), and Criminal Law (CRJS 2209), in addition to the two Cyber Forensics courses.
To register for Cyber Forensics or for more information, contact the Applied Science and Technology Division at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1261.