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School of Security & Global Studies

Cybercrime Essentials

Online Undergraduate Certificate in Cybercrime Essentials

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$0 Transfer Credit Evaluation
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About This Program

Cybercrime incidents are rapidly increasing all over the world. Those who can detect, document, and verify cybercrimes are useful for organizations of all sizes, from small businesses to international organizations.

The undergraduate certificate in cybercrime essentials from American Public University (APU) offers useful cybercrime courses to help you acquire a foundation in digital forensics tools and techniques. Through APU’s online cybercrime classes, expand your knowledge of cybercrime, cyberterrorism, cyberstalking, and cyberbullying, as well as the theory, best practices, and methods for conducting computer forensics investigations.

This certificate is ideal if you want to increase your knowledge of cybercrime basics without committing to a degree program.

NOTE: Completion of this program does not award any professional certifications, but may be helpful in preparing to earn such certifications.

What You Will Do

  1. Increase your knowledge of the basics of cybercrime and computer forensics and the challenges of securing information on the internet
  2. Understand the processes, techniques, and technologies hackers use to gain unauthorized access to information systems
  3. Know the processes, best practices, and techniques for cybercrime management and prevention
  4. Learn the strategies and steps for investigating, identifying, securing, cataloging, and storing digital evidence in cybercrime, as well as how to construct a legal portfolio of digital evidence to support cybercrime prosecution

Program at a Glance

Number of Credits
18
Transfer up to 9 credits1
Cost Per Credit
$350 | $250*
$315**
*with Preferred Military Rate
**with Veteran Grant or APUS Opportunity Grant
Courses Start Monthly
Online
and vary from 8 to 16 weeks

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Program Requirements Printable Catalog Version

Must take all courses for this section.

Course ID: 4006

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The explosion in the use of the Internet and the ensuing growth in cybercrime have given rise to the field of computer forensics (also called digital forensics). Digital forensics is used to assemble digital evidence to prosecute cybercrime, analyze intrusions, mitigate risk, and for data recovery. This course examines the theory, best practices, and methodologies to conduct computer forensics investigations; it includes the ethical issues, data presentation, and chain-of-evidence procedures. It also appraises current tools and technologies to analyze, acquire, and organize digital evidence. This course maps to the general objectives of the International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists (IACIS) certification. Requires CITRIX CLIENT SOFTWARE INSTALLATION FOR ONLINE VIRTUAL LABS accessibility.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/30/24 - 05/30/25 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 Spring 2025 Session D 8 Week session
01/27/25 - 07/04/25 07/07/25 - 08/31/25 Summer 2025 Session B 8 Week session
02/24/25 - 08/01/25 08/04/25 - 09/28/25 Summer 2025 Session I 8 Week session
03/31/25 - 08/29/25 09/01/25 - 10/26/25 Summer 2025 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 2634

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This course is a study of the discipline of Information Assurance that focuses on protecting information assets by ensuring availability, confidentiality, integrity, authenticity, and non- repudiation. This course delves into the deliberate engineering, planning and implementation of the five major areas in any enterprise: hardware, software, networks, people, and policies. This course meets the topical requirements of the DoD Directive 8570.1M Information Assurance Management (IAM) Technical III, Management II and Management III categories.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/30/24 - 05/30/25 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 Spring 2025 Session D 8 Week session
01/27/25 - 07/04/25 07/07/25 - 08/31/25 Summer 2025 Session B 8 Week session
02/24/25 - 08/01/25 08/04/25 - 09/28/25 Summer 2025 Session I 8 Week session

Course ID: 3183

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This course allows students to examine a broad range of computer security issues and provides the student with technical knowledge not normally addressed in traditional training. It explores the protection of proprietary information and security planning with an emphasis on networked computer vulnerabilities. It also focuses on detection (e.g. viruses, hackers, types of computer crime, computer forensic examination, etc.), as well as disaster recovery and technology law. A primary focus is put on security of systems and computer crime prevention. Also addressed is the maturing criminal population with increased computer literacy, whose tendency is to move from violent actions to more profitable computer crime. Finally, issues of privacy and freedom of information are examined. This course meets the topical requirements of the DoD Directive 8570.1M Information Assurance Management (IAM) Technical II and Management I categories. Requires CITRIX CLIENT SOFTWARE INSTALLATION FOR ONLINE VIRTUAL LABS accessibility.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/30/24 - 05/30/25 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 Spring 2025 Session D 8 Week session
01/27/25 - 07/04/25 07/07/25 - 08/31/25 Summer 2025 Session B 8 Week session
02/24/25 - 08/01/25 08/04/25 - 09/28/25 Summer 2025 Session I 8 Week session
03/31/25 - 08/29/25 09/01/25 - 10/26/25 Summer 2025 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 4009

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The rapid change in technology and the exponential growth in the use of the Internet have resulted in an increase in the number of computer and technology related crimes. This course is designed to provide students with the foundational knowledge and technologies needed to detect, investigate, and prevent computer related crimes. Topics to be covered include: cybercrime classification (hacking, denial of service attacks, cyberstalking, cyberbullying, virus dissemination, identity theft, electronic funds transfers, phishing, spoofing, Internet fraud, access device fraud and salami attacks), vulnerability of computer systems and computer applications, computer intrusions and attacks, the impact of cybercrime (social, economic, and legal), investigation of digital evidence, computer forensics, and the prevention of cybercrime.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/30/24 - 05/30/25 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 Spring 2025 Session D 8 Week session
01/27/25 - 07/04/25 07/07/25 - 08/31/25 Summer 2025 Session B 8 Week session
02/24/25 - 08/01/25 08/04/25 - 09/28/25 Summer 2025 Session I 8 Week session
03/31/25 - 08/29/25 09/01/25 - 10/26/25 Summer 2025 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 5169

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This course examines how laws have changed to account for the expanded realm of crimes in the digital age. Students will learn about topics such as online identity theft, sexual harassment, intellectual property rights violations, and plagiarism. In addition, students will learn how stalkers can access the digital data of victims, gain access to highly confidential medical and financial information, and sabotage their victims' reputations. This course examines current literature on topics such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and other legislation impacting legal disputes.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/30/24 - 05/30/25 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 Spring 2025 Session D 8 Week session
01/27/25 - 07/04/25 07/07/25 - 08/31/25 Summer 2025 Session B 8 Week session
02/24/25 - 08/01/25 08/04/25 - 09/28/25 Summer 2025 Session I 8 Week session
03/31/25 - 08/29/25 09/01/25 - 10/26/25 Summer 2025 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 2937

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This course explores the Internet's impact on business and personal dynamics, from a managerial perspective. A review of current literature will examine such issues as: changes in workplace productivity, legal issues arising from company Internet use policies, staff morale in the face of nearly ubiquitous Internet access, institutional liability for employee conduct while on the Internet, telecommuting, and the impact of conducting personal business during work time. Non-workplace issues such as the impact of the Internet on family life, politics and the economy will also be explored.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/30/24 - 05/30/25 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 Spring 2025 Session D 8 Week session
01/27/25 - 07/04/25 07/07/25 - 08/31/25 Summer 2025 Session B 8 Week session
02/24/25 - 08/01/25 08/04/25 - 09/28/25 Summer 2025 Session I 8 Week session
03/31/25 - 08/29/25 09/01/25 - 10/26/25 Summer 2025 Session D 8 Week session

Courses Start Monthly

Next Courses Start Jun 2
Register by May 30
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Admission Requirements

  • All APU undergraduate programs require a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent (i.e., GED). Please read all undergraduate admission requirements before applying to this program and be prepared to submit the required documentation.
  • There is no fee to complete the APU admission application for this program. View steps to apply.

Need Help?

Selecting the right program to meet your educational goals is a key step in ensuring a successful outcome. If you are unsure of which program to choose, or need more information, please contact an APU admissions representative at 877-755-2787 or [email protected].

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Disclosures

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1The University reserves the right to accept or deny credits according to policies outlined on our University website. Please see the University's transfer credit policy webpage for complete information.

*Cost Per Credit Hour

The Preferred Military Rate is $250 per credit hour for undergraduate and master's-level courses. This rate is available to all U.S. active-duty servicemembers, National Guard members, Reservists, and military families, including parents, spouses, legal partners, siblings, and dependents.

See all military student benefits.

Cost of Attendance

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