Home study through an online course is a popular way to gain certifications or degrees these days. It is more cost efficient, more flexible, and less time consuming for many.?Many colleges/universities are providing online courses in computer forensics. Top colleges/universities include American InterContinental University Online, ITT Technical Institute and Kaplan University, just to name a few, are all offering online courses on computer forensics.?However, when the numbers get bigger, the harder it is to choose.?Let’s look at few factors to consider in ensuring you make the right choice:
1.? Accreditation – Ensure that the college/university you enroll is accredited by the recognizable credentials in the forensic industry. ?
2. Course Objectives/Outline – Spend time reading the objectives and syllabus coverage of the course to see if it covers the areas you wanted to pursue in. ?
3. Cost – Conduct a cost comparison for the chosen course among few preferred colleges/universities. Check if there is any hidden or extra cost to incur after enrolling.
4. PC Requirements / Materials Included?- Check out the minimum PC requirements and ensure that your computers/laptops are able to support the systems used. You might need to incur additional cost to configure your computers/laptops. Besides, check out whether any free package of forensic industry-standard software, books and other materials to be given which you will need to do your online courses. If not, you will have to get ready all these before the commencement of the course. ?
5. Interaction with lecturers – The availability of the lecturers to attend to your questions plays a major role in ensuring you get your certification. Hence, read the profile of the lecturers and ensure that you are allowed to interact with them either through forums or email. ?
6. Hands on training – Experience in a real life “forensic” world will enhance your knowledge and show you how to put what you study into practice. Check out what are the companies that are collaborating with your college/university. ? Above all, home-based study requires more patience, initiative and self-discipline than normal face to face lectures. Hence, do perform a detail research in advance before enrolling to ensure you will succeed in getting the certification. ?
By: Jack Jong
In the competitive world of the internet, computer training is necessary to gain skills and knowledge in order to get the validation you need to be recognized as an expert IT professional confronting all those opportunities and career challenges that have never been greater than today.
An IT certification is a common a prerequisite to get a job or a salary increase, hence professional certifications are a necessity and not just a marketing strategy to sell determined software or useless courses. Both computer training and IT certification are the best way to demonstrate your skills and expertise in any given technical field to present to prospective employers.
Computer training is possible through formal education attending one of the many colleges or university offering both IT and computer science programs. There are many other institutes offering computer training online and computer based training products and courses for Web Development, Microsoft Office, and various Information Technology certifications among others.
Computer training online and computer based training products also offer online support from expert instructors, which make it easier to learn without even leaving the comfort of your home. From study guides, practice exams, to audio training, video training and online training. Computer training offers different requirements and levels of learning to focus on anyone’s demands.
On the other hand, IT Certifications not only lets you demonstrate undeniable expertise on diverse IT areas but also a document that credits your qualifications enhancing your curriculum vitae whether if getting a new job or engaging in a new system-wide deployment.
Furthermore, employers are more likely to hire job candidates with IT Certification credentials since it is a way to ensure that they are getting top qualified professionals with proven proficiency in their technology area.
For companies, this is as clear as water, certified professionals give them competitive advantage over other firms in the same field increasing customer satisfaction, reducing network downtime, and pushing their services to higher levels. A person with computer training and IT certification translates into an excellent return on their investment.
In the United States, some of the colleges and universities offering both computer training and IT certification are Berkeley College, University of Phoenix Online, Kaplan University, AIU Online, Capella University, Strayer University Online, Kennedy-Western University, DeVry University, Westwood College Online, just to name a few.
Some companies specialize in online certification, training and employee testing offer free tools online to measure your skills and determine if you need to achieve certain computer training skill or if an IT certification is required to develop your professional career.
By: Natalie Aranda
The data released by Internet World Stats shows that as at 30 June 2009, internet users in the world had increased to 1,668,870,408 users compare to 360,985,492 users in the year 2000. This indicates the popularity and importance of information technology (IT) to our everyday life. However, these also lead to an increase in internet and computer related crimes. As a result, we see an upward trend in the demand of computer forensics specialist over the years.
As this is still relatively new to many, difficulties may arise when it comes to choosing the right schools for those interested in pursuing the degree. Degrees are offered either online or on campus basis, or both. Below are some of the accredited schools offering this exciting field to pursue.
1) American International University, one of the most accredited schools offers Bachelor ‘s (BIT) Computer Forensics, Bachelor’s (BIT) Internet Security, and Master’s (MIT) Internet Security.
2) University of Phoenix offers Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Information System Security.
3) Strayer University Online offers computer forensics programs such as BSIS in Computer Security, BSIS in Security Administration and Diploma IS in Computer Security.
4) Kaplan University offers Bs in Criminal Justice Computer Crime, Bs in Criminal Justice Crime Scene Investigation, and Ms in Information Technology Information Security and Assurance.
5) Ellis University offers BS in Criminal Justice: Forensic Investigation.
6) South University offers Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice – Cyber Crime and Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice – Crime Scene Investigation.
The above schools also offer many other computer related degrees.
By: Jack Jong
If you are really interested in retrieving lost data from digital devices like hard discs and memory cards for crime investigation purpose, you can consider earning a computer forensics degree as federal agencies and other detective agencies recruited people who have knowledge about computers and trained them for specific tasks regarding to this particular field of forensics. There are many universities and colleges have started running specialized courses for this field of study.
Most universities offer this particular course online, while some institutions offer traditional degree that requires candidates to attend lectures on campus. Here are the best universities that offer both online and off-line degree of this particular course:
The American Intercontinental University (AIU) is one of the most reputed universities offering such courses. You can earn one of the most reputed Bachelor’s degrees in computer forensics and a Master’s degree in Internet Security through the AIU. The Kaplan University provides degrees in computer crime and criminal justice. This university does not provide a Master’s degree program but they offer Bachelor’s degree course in this field of study. The Virginia College runs courses that would help you in earning a Master’s degree in Cyber Security. The University of Phoenix runs regular and online courses for associate degrees in Information Systems. Similar programs are run by the Colorado State University, offering associate degree in Information Technology, Bachelor’s degree in IT security and Master’s degree in Information technology. The Capella University also runs highly reputed online programs specializing in IT and Information systems.
By: J.J. Yong
One cannot imagine a world without computers or without the aid of technology. Everything from the banking system to the medical world or governmental services relies on computers and the software that runs on these machines. Because many vital areas have to depend on computers to do their tasks, the need for powerful, no wonder that the demand for reliable software programs is on the rise. There are large differences between the software applications that students make during their training years and the programs needed to work for years without stopping, on different hardware configurations and with different people operating them. It is a very sensitive subject, as there are many areas that need very reliable programs.
Only highly trained and experienced software programmers are able to produce very large, complex, yet very secure software applications. No wonder that these programs cost a lot of money, as a highly experienced software programmer is very well paid. However, in order to become a good programmer, one must have a lot of work and training behind him and an associated degree can always help. No one is born a genius and in this ever-changing world of computer technologies, a good programmer must always be in touch with the latest discoveries and programming languages.
The better qualified you are, the higher your chances of getting a well paid job as a computer programmer and this is indeed the dream for every computer science student. That is why having a computer programming degree is very demanded, as it allows you to enjoy the multiple benefits of being a professional and experienced software programmer.
A computer programming degree is a very precious asset in every resume as it allows you to move forward in your software programmer career, ensuring you a better payment. Having a computer programming degree certifies that you are in touch with the latest trends as well as the latest technologies and documentations. Besides the basic skills of code writing, working with compilers and source codes you can get a degree in related topics, such as database programming languages or web based programming languages. If you are searching for a job, such a computer programming degree in your resume can weight a lot. Of course, aside from code writing and other similar jobs you may always be interested in getting a job as a DSP engineer especially since these jobs are getting paid better and better by the year.
Almost any large university offers its student the possibility to acquire a computer programming degree, as they all have computer science courses. Some universities famous for their degrees are Capella University and Kaplan University. Universities such as these offer a large array of computer programming degrees, two of the most important example being the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and Programming degree and Introduction to Computer Programming Language Certificate. These two degrees in computer programming degree can make the difference of you obtaining a programmer’s job and a very well paid, specialized programmer’s job. Businesses require the skills of computer programmers to help develop new programs and the need for good programmers is very high.
By: Dean Forster