Criminal Justice Digital Forensics Online Graduate Certificate

The Criminal Justice Program

Joseph Walsh, MACJ, Program Director
610.282.1100, ext. 1466
joseph.walsh@desales.edu

The Master of Arts in Criminal Justice (MCJ) program combines theory and its practical application with technology and the study of ethics for the education of the committed criminal justice professional and those with employment interests in criminal justice and related fields.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice (MCJ) program is to provide graduate studies to professionals in criminal justice and related fields. This includes law enforcement and its administration, the criminal court systems, and the correctional areas of criminal justice such as probation and the treatment of offenders. The MCJ program is available to those who aspire to be professionals in those areas. Finally, the MCJ program is designed for individuals seeking graduate studies in criminal justice in anticipation of academic careers and research related employment. Of great importance in the delivery of graduate studies in criminal justice is the teaching of high ethical standards and the real life application of those standards consistent with the Christian humanistic philosophy of St. Francis de Sales.

Learning Outcomes

When students graduate from the MCJ program, they will be able to demonstrate:

• improved ability to compete successfully for employment in the criminal justice field and related areas.
• academic competence in the criminal justice body of knowledge, to include a curriculum that reflects the full spectrum of key criminal justice topic areas.
• skill in researching, writing, and orally reporting issues of significance in criminal justice.
• knowledge of high ethical standards and the application of those standards in real life criminal justice situations consistent with the Christian humanistic philosophy of St. Francis de Sales.

Admission Requirements

Requirements for admission to the MCJ program are:

1. A bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by one of the six regional accrediting bodies (Middle States, New England, Higher Learning Commission, Northwest, Southern, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges) or its equivalent from a foreign institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.*
2. Background or interest in the field of criminal justice.

*Applicants who lack one or more requirements might be admitted to the program on a provisional basis. Individuals with special needs or goals might be considered for admission to the program.

International Admissions Requirements

Graduate Language Requirements

International applicants (regardless of citizenship) for whom English is a second language must submit English proficiency test scores as part of their application.

Please note that graduate admissions requires the following minimum scores on the TOEFL, IELTS, or the Cambridge English Language Assessment: Advanced (CAE):

Language Requirement Exceptions

Language skills assessment and other exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis by the admissions committee. Examples of some language requirement exceptions could include:

• If an applicant completed a degree from a postsecondary institution in an English speaking country
• If an applicant attended a U.S. community college, college, or university full-time for at least two years without English of Speakers with Other Languages (ESOL) coursework
• If an applicant has worked full-time in the U.S. for at least two years (non-healthcare programs only)

An official copy of test results must be sent by the testing agency directly to the appropriate program at DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley, PA 18034.

Visit the following websites for up-to-date information:

• The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Web site at www.ets.org/toefl
• The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) https://www.ielts.org/
• The Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE): http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams/proficiency/

*All exams must have been taken within two years of application to a DeSales program

Official Transcripts

All undergraduate and graduate transcripts must be evaluated by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) and sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley, PA 18034.

Proof of Finances

A statement of finances that covers the cost of the attendance and living expenses for at least one full year must be submitted to the Director of Graduate Admissions/Designated School Official (DSO) upon acceptance to a graduate program.

Obtaining an F-1 Student Visa

The Director of Graduate Admissions/DSO will advise international applicants and students on the steps to obtain an F-1 Student Visa.

Current F-1 Students Transferring to DeSales

Upon admission to a graduate program, the Director of Graduate Admissions/DSO will provide forms for the student to complete for their current institution, requesting the Form I-20 to be transferred to DeSales.

Maintaining F-1 Student Status

Each F-1 student will meet with the Director of Graduate Admissions/DSO upon acceptance into the program regarding maintaining F-1 student status.

Academic Schedule

The Academic Year of the MCJ program consists of four sessions:

In the 12-week sessions, each course meets once a week on a weekday evening from 6:00 - 9:30 p.m.

In the 6-week summer session, each course meets twice a week on weekdays from 6:00 - 9:30 p.m. or in a hybrid format. The 6-week hybrid format combines one 6:00 - 9:30 p.m. in-class meeting per week with an equivalent online, outside the classroom learning experience. Those activities can range from online teaching/lecture presentations, to video review and analysis, to online discussion and blog submissions.

The Academic Calendar can be found at www.desales.edu/mcj.

Student Status

A full-time student is one who carries at least six (6) credits in a given term.

A half-time student is one who carries at least three (3) credits in a given term.

Application Procedure

Acceptance into the program is determined by the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice (MCJ) Committee for Admissions, Academic Standards, and Policies. Applications are considered at regular committee meetings throughout the year. Application forms and information about admission can be obtained online or from the director of the MCJ program.

A complete application will include:

1. A completed Application for Admission.
2. Official transcripts of all college work, undergraduate and graduate.
3. Three (3) letters of recommendation from individuals who have known the applicant in a professional or educational capacity.
4. A non-refundable application fee of $50.
5. A personal statement that will serve as a demonstration of ability to write at the graduate level.

The director of the MCJ program may request an interview with the applicant to discuss his/her application. The director of the MCJ program will submit a recommendation to the committee based on the interview and/or application materials. An applicant may take six (6) credits during the time his/her application is being considered. Grades in those courses will be considered in the admissions process.

Transfer Policy

Normally, a maximum of six credits can be transferred into the program. All requests for transfer of credits must be made to the MCJ program director. Students will be expected to provide official transcripts plus any additional documentation requested by the University. Transfer credit is given for grades of “B” or better, and ordinarily the course work must have been completed within five years of admission to the program.

Prior Learning Assessment

Students enrolled in the MCJ program with a digital forensics concentration may request a prior learning assessment (PLA) for a maximum of 9 transfer credits. Students must submit a syllabus from a former training program that provides detailed course content and a certificate of completion from the past three years. The program must be reputable and have a minimum of 45 hours, post-baccalaureate, for each three-credit course provided for review. The MCJ program director and the graduate digital forensics instructor will determine equivalency, to be approved by the dean of graduate education. An assessment of content mastery may be required. A formal application must be submitted and a fee paid for the approval process. A list of pre-approved programs is available upon request. See graduate catalog policies and procedures for full PLA policy and a link to the current evaluation fee.

Students enrolled in the graduate certificate in digital forensics programs may request a prior learning assessment (PLA) for a maximum of 6 credits. PLA Submission guidelines are the same as delineated above.

Registration

Registration for classes begins six to eight weeks before the first class meeting. The registration process is conducted online using WebAdvisor.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees are available at www.desales.edu.

Refund Amount

Withdrawal during the add/drop period: 100% of tuition refunded.

Withdrawal after the 1st class after the close of the add/drop period: 80% of tuition refunded.

Withdrawal after the 2nd class after the close of the add/drop period: 65% of tuition refunded

Withdrawal after the 3rd class after the close of the add/drop period: 50% of tuition refunded

Withdrawal after the 4th class after the close of the add/drop period: 25% of tuition refunded

Withdrawal after the 5th class after the close of the add/drop period: No refund

Graduation Requirements

The following graduation requirements apply to all degrees under the program:

1. Completion of 30 graduate credits in a program of study.
2. Overall 3.0 GPA for all course work taken at the University for completion of the degree.
3. Resolution of all incomplete grades.
4. Fulfillment of all financial obligations to the University.

Program of Study

The certificate program is a 4-course (12-credit) program that includes the following courses:

• CJ - 536 Digital Investigation and Evidence Collection Credits: 3
• CJ - 537 Forensic Acquisition and Analysis Credits: 3
• CJ - 538 Network and Cloud Forensics Credits: 3
• CJ - 539 Special Topics in Digital Forensics Credits: 3

Admission Requirements

1. A bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by one of the six regional accrediting bodies (Middle States, New England, Higher Learning Commission, Northwest, Southern, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges) or its equivalent from a foreign institution.
2. Background or interest in the field of forensics.
3. Evidence of potential for graduate work: A personal statement must be submitted that serves as a demonstration of your ability to write at the graduate level. It should state personal and professional goals, as well as how the Forensics Certificate from DeSales University can assist in achieving them.