Online Master's in Cybercrime and Digital Investigation
A Digitally Focused Master’s Degree Built for Everyone
100% Online
2 years
30 Credit hours
$857 Cost per credit
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Fight Cybercrime with Digital Investigation
Built for students from both technical and non-technical backgrounds, a cybercrime master’s degree could launch or advance your career investigating or responding to cybercrime in law enforcement, government and private industry. Complete this program in two years as you learn in a flexible online format.
Built on MSU’s 80-year legacy of criminal justice education, your degree goes beyond theory to include hands-on practice. Discover why our programs are ranked No. 10 (tie) among U.S. News & World Report’s Best Online Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs, 2024.1
Program Details
- Learn from world-renowned faculty
- Network with potential employers
- Receive personalized career advising
- Apply without work experience
- Test scores are not required
Study Contemporary Cybercriminology
10 Courses
30 Total Credits
At MSU, you’ll gain a unique perspective focused on the human aspects of cybercrime, including the offenders, victims and threat response communities. Explore the threats posed by cyberterrorism and cyberwarfare, as well as the legal frameworks used to prosecute cybercrimes at the state, federal and international levels.
Course Highlights
- Cybercrime, Deviance and Virtual Society
- Cyber Terror and Cyberwarfare
- Legislative and Policy Responses to Cybercrime
Apply Without GRE Scores or Work Experience
The MSU School of Criminal Justice reviews applications multiple times a year and offers fall, spring and summer start dates. Your application must include:
| Apply Now |
| Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution |
| Cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale |
| Official transcripts for all previously attended undergraduate and graduate institutions |
| Three letters of recommendation |
| A personal statement |
Choose an Accessible Online Program
$857 Per Credit Hour
$25,710 Estimated Total Tuition
Paying for your education is an investment in your future, and we’re here to help make it as simple and stress-free as possible. Explore several financial resources for your criminology and digital forensics master’s degree.
Tuition Details
Fulfill an Immediate Need for Cybercriminology Professionals
The Internet Crime Complaint Center, the nation’s central hub for reporting cybercrime, reported a record-breaking 880,418 complaints in 2023, with potential losses exceeding $12.5 billion.2 Prepare to address these pressing issues and recuperate losses with your online master’s in cybercrime and digital investigation.
You could pursue a career as a cybercrime investigator, financial investigator, counter-intelligence officer, federal agent, cyber-fraud investigator, cybersecurity consultant and more. You could also work in private security or policing.
Explore CareersProgram Outcomes
Develop the skills necessary for cybercrime investigation and digital forensics. Practice collecting, querying, managing and analyzing complex data with intelligence software as you explore field research and reporting techniques.
What You’ll Learn
When you complete this program, you will be able to:
- Explain the four forms of cybercrime, cyberterrorism, cyberwarfare and the impacts on individuals, organizations and government
- Explain the legal frameworks used to prosecute cybercrimes at the state and federal level in the U.S., as well as comparative legal models used to criminalize these behaviors in other nations
- Understand the local, state and federal law enforcement agencies responsible for policing cybercrime, as well as the role of private industry in affecting these offenses
- Collect, query, manage and analyze data using applicable tools and techniques
- Summarize and communicate information about cybercrime and cybersecurity threats to diverse audiences
Cybercrime Experts Are a Click Away
In MSU’s online Master of Science in Cybercrime and Digital Investigation, you’ll study with professors whose research focuses on computer hacking, malware, terrorism and extremism online, violent extremism, hate crime and computational social science. Our faculty have experience working for organizations that include the following:
- Department of Homeland Security
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Michigan Air National Guard
- National Crime Prevention Council
- U.S. Department of Defense
Thomas J. Holt, Professor
Faculty Spotlight: Thomas J. Holt
Thomas J. Holt is a professor at the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University. His research focuses on computer hacking, malware and the role of the internet in facilitating all manner of crime and deviance. His work has been published in Crime and Delinquency, Deviant Behavior, the Journal of Criminal Justice and Youth and Society.
Credentials
- Ph. D., University of Missouri-Saint Louis, Criminology and Criminal Justice
- M.A., University of Missouri-Saint Louis, Criminology and Criminal Justice
- B.S., University of Missouri-Saint Louis, Criminology and Criminal Justice
Selected Awards
- Outstanding Book Award, ACJS International Section for “Cybercrime in Progress”
- Recipient of the John H. Biggs Faculty Fellows Program Award
- Awarded the J. Edgar Hoover Memorial Fellowship through the Society of Former FBI Agents
- Nominated for the Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) competition for the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award
Selected Appointments
- Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Law, School of Justice at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia
- Fellow, Cybercrime Cluster at Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement in The Netherlands
As an online student with MSU, you become part of a diverse community of dedicated students, scholars, data scientists, working professionals and leaders. Receive the same high-quality education as an on-campus student — whether you want to study in the mornings or evenings, in coffee shops or at home.
Discover MSU OnlineAt MSU, we strive to make our online degrees accessible and affordable. We can connect you with many forms of financial aid, including scholarships, loans, and military benefits.
Financial AidFrequently Asked Questions
Explore our frequently asked questions for in-depth answers. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, reach out to us.
You can complete this program in two years of continuous fall-spring-summer semester study.
With this degree, you can pursue a career as a digital forensic specialist, computer security specialist, forensic detective or seek a position in private security. You might also work in local, state or federal law enforcement as a cybercrime investigator. To learn more about what you can do with an M.S. in Cybercrime and Digital Investigation, visit our career outlook page.
Though an undergraduate degree in computer security or information technology is helpful, you can join the M.S. in Cybercrime and Digital Investigation program after having completed a bachelor’s degree in any field. While we welcome those already employed in the field, you do not have to have prior field experience to be accepted.
While there are no official specializations in this program, you can select four electives that suit your professional goals and interests.
This 30-credit program costs $857 per credit, for an estimated total of $25,710. Cost is subject to change without notice. To learn about additional costs to consider, visit the tuition and financial aid page.
Sources
- U.S. News & World Report. “Best Online Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs.” Retrieved July 8, 2024, from https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/criminal-justice/rankings.
- Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internet Crime Complaint Center. “Internet Crime Report 2023.” March 7, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2024, from https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2023_IC3Report.pdf.