Overview
Delivery Mode: ONLINE
- This program will be delivered online during COVID-19.
- Your education is our priority and we will continue to deliver the applied instruction, collaborative experience, and industry connections that you expect from BCIT.
The increasing pervasiveness and convenience of computers make them vital to our everyday lives. Computers are the backbone of our infrastructure, and anyone with malicious intent can cause irreparable harm by crippling these systems. Our dependence on computers leaves us vulnerable to exploitation and all stages of computer operations or transactions are susceptible. Criminals are finding more and more ways to take advantage of this: from identity and corporate theft to credit card fraud, they are not only targeting our computers but using computers to commit these crimes. Most crimes leave some clues behind and computer crime is no exception. You have to know what, how and where to find them.
This proliferation of crime involving computers has led to a need for specialists trained in the field of computer forensics and cybersecurity, the scientific analysis of communications and data on computer storage devices. Specialists in computer forensics unite technical expertise with investigative skills and legal knowledge, a combination that is essential for computer crime investigations. Some applications of computer forensics are:
- Investigating and uncovering evidence of illegal activities conducted via computer
- Investigating crimes by searching for evidence the accused may have stored on computers or data drives, although the crime itself may not have been committed via computer
- Hacking legally, that is, working for corporations to find and close computer system security holes
Training in computer forensics is extremely important in order to understand how to handle the delicate information in storage devices. Technical people may think they know how to extract data; however, they may inadvertently alter or delete important information. Computer forensics practitioners know how to handle information extraction, as well as how to identify information that is useful in a legal case and how to explain and present it in court. Primary responsibilities of computer forensic investigators include:
- Preserving, identifying, extracting, and documenting evidence stored in computers
- Searching through documents on a computer for information that will help detectives build their cases, often spending much of their time recovering deleted emails and files
- Compiling computer evidence for legal cases and working on programs that help recover computer evidence
- Giving expert testimony when a case comes to trial
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Entrance Requirements
COVID-19 Notice to Applicants
Application processing
Applications are accepted throughout the year.
Entrance requirements
Most courses may be taken for professional development purposes on an individual course basis without formally applying to the program. To request approval to take a course for professional development, email the Program Assistant identifying which course you'd like to take and attach your current resume along with a brief explanation of how it pertains to your occupation or area of studies.
This program has a two-step admission process. Applicants must meet all entrance requirements to be accepted.
Step 1: Pre-entry assessment
Contact the Program Coordinator for a pre-entry assessment.
You must upload an approved pre-entry assessment from the program area to your online application.
Step 2: Meet the following entrance requirements
- English: two years of education in English in an English-speaking country with one of the following:
- English Studies 12 (67%) or
- English First Peoples 12 (67%) or
- Other acceptable BC and Yukon courses or
- 3.0 credits of post-secondary English, humanities or social sciences (67%) from a recognized institution
- Completion of one of the following options:
- Option 1: A two-year diploma (minimum 60.0 credits), an associate's degree, or a bachelor's degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a computing or IT field, such as:
- Computer Information Technology (CIT)
- Computer Systems Technology (CST)
- Full-Stack Web Development (FSWD)
- Business Information Technology Management (BITMAN)
- Computer Information Systems Administration (CISA)*
- Industrial Network Cybersecurity (INCS)*
*To satisfy the breadth requirement for BCIT’s BTech degree, CISA students are required to take two additional courses. INCS students are required to take BUSA 7250. - Option 2: A minimum of 60.0 credits of courses fulfilling the requirements of the first two years of study towards the completion of a defined undergraduate degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a computing or IT field.
- Option 3: A minimum of 60.0 credits, including 18.0 second year or higher level credits, of courses from one or more recognized post-secondary institutions in a computing or IT field.
- Option 4: Certification as a police constable and working within a Technological Crime Unit and completion of 30.0 credits from a recognized post-secondary institution in an appropriate computing or IT field.
- Option 1: A two-year diploma (minimum 60.0 credits), an associate's degree, or a bachelor's degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a computing or IT field, such as:
- Criminal Record Check (CRC)
- Contact your local police department to obtain the appropriate forms - Letter for police department [PDF]
- Must be issued within one year of your application date
- The outcome of the CRC may influence your acceptability for this program
- Completed and signed applicant waiver form from the program area
- Resume
Applicants who have completed post-secondary studies outside of Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand will require a comprehensive evaluation of their credentials by the International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES). Credential evaluation reports from other Canadian services may be considered. These reports must include course-by-course evaluations and GPA calculations.
Recommended for success
- Attend an information session prior to applying for this program. For more information and to register for an information session visit the Forensics website.
International applicants
Part-time Studies (course-by-course) programs are only available to international students who have a valid status in Canada. If you are currently outside of Canada, please apply to a full-time program or ISEP.
Apply to program
To submit your application:
- Include proof of meeting all entrance requirements.
- Convert all transcripts and supporting documents to PDF files.
- Have a credit card ready to pay the application fee.
Apply Now
Scheduled Intakes
Ongoing Part-time Studies intakes: January, April, and September.
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
Prior Learning Assessment Recognition (PLAR) allows students to use knowledge and skills learned outside recognized programs to gain exemption for particular courses in the program. Contact the Program Coordinator for details.
myCommunication
Within two business days of submitting your completed application, BCIT will send a message to your personal and myBCIT e-mail addresses. All correspondence regarding your application will be posted to your online myCommunication account at my.bcit.ca. We'll send you an e-mail when a new message is posted. It's important to watch for these e-mails or regularly check your account online.
You can expect to receive communication concerning the status of your application within four weeks.
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Costs & Supplies
Tuition fees
Please see the Part-time Studies Tuition & Fees page for information on part-time tuition fees.
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Courses
Program matrix
Check current availability of courses for this program.
1. Required Courses (5.0 credits): | Credits | ||
---|---|---|---|
FSCT 7001 | Forensic Applications of Criminal Law 1: Legal Procedures | 2.5 | |
FSCT 7002 | Criminal Law 2: Legal Evidence | 2.5 | |
2. Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity: complete 18.0 credits from the following: | Credits | ||
FSCT 7509 | Introduction to Forensic Evidence Imaging and Acquisition | 3.0 | |
FSCT 7510 | Digital Forensics Foundations | 3.0 | |
FSCT 7511 | Cybersecurity Foundations | 3.0 | |
FSCT 8500 | Mobile Forensics | 3.0 | |
FSCT 8513 | Digital Forensics 1 | 3.0 | |
FSCT 8523 | Digital Forensics 2 | 3.0 | |
FSCT 8540 | Network Security 1 | 3.0 | |
FSCT 8560 | Network Security 2 | 3.0 | |
FSCT 8561 | Security Applications | 3.0 | |
FSCT 8581 | Cryptography | 3.0 | |
FSCT 8590 | Network Exploits and Vulnerabilities | 3.0 | |
FSCT 8592 | Special Topics in Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity | 3.0 | |
3. Electives (3.0 credits): | |||
Complete 3.0 credits from the Bachelor of Technology in Forensic Investigation - Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity Option core, elective or specialty courses. | |||
Total Credits: | 26.0 |
Check current availability of courses for this program.
Transfer credit
Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.
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Program Details
Program length
Students work through their chosen curriculum at their own pace, therefore, the total length required to finish the program can vary. At six credits per term, the Advanced Certificate Program can take five terms to complete.
Grading
Depending on the course learning outcomes, students will be graded on a combination of the following:
- Participation in in-class exercises
- Participation in and completion of case studies
- Participation in discussion forums
- Submission of completed projects
- Submission of completed assignments
- Quizzes
- Mid-term and final examinations
The minimum passing grade for each course is 60%.
Additional program options
- Crime and Intelligence Analysis
- Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity
- Forensic Science
- General Criminalistics
Program location
Burnaby Campus
3700 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, BC
Downtown Campus
555 Seymour Street
Vancouver, BC
Courses are also offered through distance and online learning.
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Graduating & Jobs
Job Opportunities
Graduates from the Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity Option will gain additional skills and knowledge that professionals require to work successfully in the prevention and investigation of commercial crime and computer crime. There is a growing requirement for professionals in both the private and public sectors. Some position titles include:
- Police detective
- Provincial investigator
- Manager, corporate security
- Network security manager
- Risk manager
- Securities investigator
- Private security/investigations practitioner
- Information systems auditor
Graduates will be able to function both as professionals in their own right and as members of multi-disciplinary teams composed of financial and investigative professionals.
Apply for graduation
Upon successful completion of all program requirements, complete an Application for BCIT Credential [PDF] and submit it to Student Information and Enrolment Services.
Allow approximately six to eight weeks for processing.
All financial obligations to the Institute must be met prior to issuance of any credential.
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Faculty, Advisors & Staff
Advisory committee
- Dana Adams – Director of Security Services, Telus Communication
- Lynn Gifford – Coordinator, Forensic Nursing Services, Surrey Memorial Hospital
- Taras Hryb – President, Canadian Association of Private Investigators
- Jared Jung – Computer Crime, ASC Student
- Lisa Lapointe – Forensic Science and Identification Services, Province of BC
- Stefano Mazzega – General Manager, Forensic Science and Identification Services, National Forensic Services Laboratory, Vancouver
- Kevin McQuiggin – Inspector(retd), Tech Crime Unit, Vancouver Police Department
- Aaron Oliynyk – Crime and Intelligence, Btech Student and Civil Aviation Safety Inspector
- Jess Ram – Inspector, Criminal Intelligence Services
- Jagjit Sumra – Director, Investigative Services, Canada Post
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Contact Us
Raymond Yu, Program Coordinator
604.453.4092
Questions or comments?
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Programs and courses are subject to change without notice.