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Is Forensic Computing a 'mickey mouse degree'?

I have always wanted to study Forensic Computing. But ever since discovering TSR, I am thinking about taking a degree in Computer Science just because TSR considers it to be the proper one :erm:

(edited 13 years ago)

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Reply 1

asdalol

Sure, I only say this because I'm studying computer science :yep:

Reply 2

RipperRoo

Exact same thing happened to me, and now I've applied for Computer Science. Means I can do it as a job if I want to but will also be employable in other fields.

Reply 3

vedderfan94

Yeah do Computer Science. It's just that you will be a lot more employable and a degree in CS shows that you have high ability in maths and physics, although I'm not sure what a Forensic Computing degree involves exactly.

Reply 4

Divine Cabbage

Original post by vedderfan94

But what if I wasnt planning on doing Computer Science at all? I might not enjoy it at all. I might end up dropping out.

Reply 5

laser

The problem with very specialist degrees like Computer Forensics is they may limit your job opportunities later - you have to accept you may not necessarily get the job you want. Also, the more vocational computing degrees like CF tend not be taught at the top Unis (of course, I don't know your grades, so this may not be an issue).

Plus, are you 100% sure you want to do computer forensics? A degree like CS would give you a broader education which would perhaps give you access to more jobs at a later date (if in 3 years you decide that perhaps CF isn't what you want after all), whilst still giving you access to CF jobs if you want them.

Reply 6

roblee

Original post by Divine Cabbage

I was 100& sure I wanted to do forensic computing before I discovered TSR :erm:

Before TSR, I wanted to do Media studies at AS :colondollar:

not all advice on here is bad.

Forensic computing is a more applied course that tries to attract undergrads by 'sounding cool'. Those who do CS courses tend to do better even in this specialist subject because they come out of it knowing what they're doing rather than simply having been trained to perform the same mechanical actions day in day out.

When in doubt, always go for the generic course (think of it as like doing Maths as opposed to Using Maths In Graphic Design, obviously you just learn way way more doing the single maths course)

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 7

mosmof

letting the people of tsr subconsciously change your mind about what to do at uni is never a good sign...

Reply 8

roblee

Original post by mosmof

letting the people of tsr subconsciously change your mind about what to do at uni is never a good sign...

Subconsciously?

Reply 9

BigV

I had planned on doing forensic computing until I discovered that the course I was interested in is basically just a computer science course with a couple of forensics modules bolted on. My concern with this type of specialised (some would say limited) course is that come graduation, people may discover very few jobs in what is a very specialised area and have no real transferable skills to fall back on.

My guess is a good CS or computing degree would give all the background knowledge and skills to deal with on the job training or a masters course in FC. However, I doubt a FC course would provide enough depth to allow students to branch out into other areas of CS, like programming or systems analyst, at a later date.

In other words I think FC may just be too limiting, which is why I decide to stick with Computing.

Reply 10

INTit

If you're going to change your plans because some other course is seen as more 'academic' or pretigious on the student room you might as well go the whole hog and do BSc in Mathematics rather than forensics or CS. CS at some unis is probably closer to mathematics than forensic computing is to CS so its not as outrageouse as you think.

Employers really love maths grads as much, and in many cases even more than CS for I.T. You will also impress more people on the student room.

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 11

mosmof

Original post by roblee

Subconsciously?

hes browsed through the forum and saw posts knocking forensic computing and this has stuck in this head..

Reply 12

RipperRoo

Original post by mosmof

hes browsed through the forum and saw posts knocking forensic computing and this has stuck in this head..

Or... like me, maybe he weighed up the pros and cons and made a reasoned decision to do CS instead. O_o

Reply 13

spyka

It's one of those degrees where you can count the number of jobs it'll help you get on one hand. Furthermore the amount of those jobs going is even fewer. I remembering being given a talk about Computer-related degrees when I was in college and was told (can't remember the exact figures) that there were say only 200 or so actual "Computer Foresenic" jobs whereas something silly like 1,000 people graduaitng every year in FC.

The other thing is that you can get into FC jobs with CS, but not the other way around. And there are plenty more jobs in CS than FC.

I wouldn't say it's a mickey mouse course but it's just far too specific to allow you any flexibility in your career

Reply 14

StephenP91

Why do you care? Is it really going to change your mind? If does, then I really don't think that's your calling.

Reply 15

wdywuk

Is it computing with the added forensics that you are after of forensics itself , and in particualr the computing side of things?

A few years, just when Forsensic Science courses were becomming popular in the UK, a PC came knocking on the door of our uni looking for a suitable course. After working in forensics for several years they were looking to be re-trained as there were no opportunities to progress in forensics and numbers employed were being cut back. What the PC ended up doing was an Electrical Engineeering based course as e-crime was where all the jobs were.

So, is Forensic Computing a Mickey Mouse course ...well it depends on the course! If its a quick fix in that its the same as an Elec Eng or Computing course with just a couple of final year mpdules changed , then yes, I'd say it was of limited use. If, hopwever, it has been designed correctly it will be a worthwhile qualification to have.

If you are primarily after the computing side of things, I'd stick with a computing comp/science degree. If its the forensics that's the main thing, then go for it!

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 16

Fidget080

In a word. No.

Clearly this depends on what you want to go into after your course. If you complete the optional modules of the course (Programming/Advanced programming) then you'll have basically completed a Computer Science course anyway. The modules in the first year are generally identical with programming being an optional.

If you want to be a programmer, then software engineering is probably a better choice. People tend to talk about taking CS as it's broader - the best IT jobs fall into niche categories (especially if you want to earn the big money). There are 15 year old kids who can write code, but can they write secure and safe code?

Forensic computing is a "buzz word" course name. But infosec (information security) Network security etc are very good skills to have. With the trend for IT companies being a mass exodus to 'the cloud'. Infosec and network security are more important than ever.

Reply 17

kadz_xox

has anybody studied forensic computing and security or forensic computing only? Iam about to start uni in the next few weeks... Idid the level 3 extended diploma in computing in college and came out with triple distinction* will this degree involve a lot of maths?? do i have to be good at maths to be successfull in this course? does anyone know anybody who is currently studying this?

Reply 18

C0mpletelyBr0ke

Don't listen to the arrogant retards on this forum. Computer science is theory nonsense whilst forensics is more practical based. Just because something is theory based doesn't automatically make it better.