Computer Forensics
Associate in Applied Science (Computer Forensics Specialty)- Cost
- $12,766*
Turn data into evidence
Investigate and analyze for legal proceedings
Earn how to collect and analyze digital evidence, preserving its integrity so it can stand up in court. To use your IT skills in the service of justice, you begin with a thorough grounding in computers, networks and cybersecurity. Layer in more criminal justice and law enforcement electives, learning crime scene note-taking and how to present your findings clearly.
You graduate ready to go to work, sifting digital traces for evidentiary value.
What can you do with an A.A.S. in Computer Information Technology?
The Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Computer Information Technology prepares you to start to work or continue your studies in law enforcement, programming, computer science or related fields.
Expand your skillset with stackable certificates
The 63-65 college credits you earn for your A.A.S. include courses that also form stand-alone certificates. Earn one or more certificates that stack into your A.A.S. and expand your career options.
Choose a certificate combination specific to your interests or how you want to develop your career. These certificates may be the most efficient to earn on the way to your A.A.S. with a specialty in Computer Forensics:
Highlights
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Stackable Credentials
Earn and learn as you go with stackable credentials. -
WIOA Program
Eligible for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)-awarded vouchers. -
100% Online
Can be completed 100% online. -
Financial Aid/Scholarships Available
Based on need and/or achievement. Explore ways to pay for college. -
Career Degree
Earn an associate degree in 2 years and gain in-demand technical and job-ready skills. -
Program Length: 2 Years
Full-time students finish in 2 years.
Career Outlook
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Apply knowledge of health care and database management to analyze clinical data, and to identify and report trends.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $63,577
- Median
- $111,498
- Senior-Level
- $180,352
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Entry-Level
- $30.56
- Median
- $53.60
- Senior-Level
- $86.70
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
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Top entry-level education
Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
- Associate Degree
- 5%
- Bachelor's Degree
- 90%
- Master's Degree
- 5%
Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
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Design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks. Perform network modeling, analysis, and planning, including analysis of capacity needs for network infrastructures. May also design network and computer security measures. May research and recommend network and data communications hardware and software.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $90,425
- Median
- $140,396
- Senior-Level
- $196,237
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Entry-Level
- $43.47
- Median
- $67.50
- Senior-Level
- $94.34
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
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Top entry-level education
Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
- Some college
- 4.55%
- Associate Degree
- 4.55%
- Bachelor's Degree
- 45.46%
- Master's Degree
- 45.45%
Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
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Design, model, or implement corporate data warehousing activities. Program and configure warehouses of database information and provide support to warehouse users.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $54,246
- Median
- $132,635
- Senior-Level
- $183,218
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Entry-Level
- $26.07
- Median
- $63.76
- Senior-Level
- $88.08
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
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Top entry-level education
Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
- High school diploma or less
- 4.35%
- Certificate
- 4.35%
- Some college
- 4.35%
- Associate Degree
- 4.35%
- Bachelor's Degree
- 78.26%
- Master's Degree
- 4.35%
Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
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Administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems. Coordinate changes to computer databases. Identify, investigate, and resolve database performance issues, database capacity, and database scalability. May plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard computer databases.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $52,840
- Median
- $101,615
- Senior-Level
- $187,069
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Entry-Level
- $25.40
- Median
- $48.85
- Senior-Level
- $89.94
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
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Top entry-level education
Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
- Certificate
- 0.15%
- Some college
- 2.21%
- Associate Degree
- 3.46%
- Bachelor's Degree
- 92.89%
- Master's Degree
- 1.29%
Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
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Design strategies for enterprise databases, data warehouse systems, and multidimensional networks. Set standards for database operations, programming, query processes, and security. Model, design, and construct large relational databases or data warehouses. Create and optimize data models for warehouse infrastructure and workflow. Integrate new systems with existing warehouse structure and refine system performance and functionality.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $54,246
- Median
- $132,635
- Senior-Level
- $183,218
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Entry-Level
- $26.07
- Median
- $63.76
- Senior-Level
- $88.08
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
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Top entry-level education
Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
- Certificate
- 4.76%
- Bachelor's Degree
- 80.95%
- Master's Degree
- 14.29%
Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
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Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. May respond to computer security breaches and viruses.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $69,722
- Median
- $120,338
- Senior-Level
- $181,940
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Entry-Level
- $33.52
- Median
- $57.85
- Senior-Level
- $87.46
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
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Top entry-level education
Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
- Certificate
- 7.16%
- Some college
- 2.01%
- Associate Degree
- 12.87%
- Bachelor's Degree
- 75.16%
- Master's Degree
- 2.8%
Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
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Plan, initiate, and manage information technology (IT) projects. Lead and guide the work of technical staff. Serve as liaison between business and technical aspects of projects. Plan project stages and assess business implications for each stage. Monitor progress to assure deadlines, standards, and cost targets are met.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $52,677
- Median
- $112,361
- Senior-Level
- $166,479
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Entry-Level
- $25.32
- Median
- $54.01
- Senior-Level
- $80.03
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
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Top entry-level education
Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
- Certificate
- 9.52%
- Associate Degree
- 23.81%
- Bachelor's Degree
- 57.15%
- Master's Degree
- 9.52%
Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
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Need help?
Your College & Career Navigator (CCN) helps you
- complete the admission process
- choose an academic program
- enroll in first-semester classes
- get access to helpful resources
Recommended Pathway
Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their College and Career Navigator (CCN) to identify coursework that will meet degree requirements based on individual academic goals. View degree requirements in the college catalog.
*Cost is estimated based on recommended pathway credit hours. This includes in-district tuition and other fees, such as books and materials before financial aid is applied, as well as grants, loans or scholarships. There are many opportunities for financial assistance at CLC. Learn more about Cost of Attendance.
Computer Information Technology at CLC
Get the bigger picture
This degree is just one possible way to study Computer Information Technology. Get the bigger picture—degrees, credentials and extra options.
Frequently asked questions
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You qualify for the following exams:
- Cloud Security
- Ethical Hacking
- Cybersecurity Analyst
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First, there’s the cost. Tuition at CLC is lower than almost anywhere else, and you have financial aid and scholarship options that don’t saddle you with debt.
Second, the classes. They’re small and hands-on, so you get the attention you need to learn the skills you’ll use every day. You’re taught by experienced instructors who will also talk you through career and college choices.
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Our student profile is varied. You’ll be in classes with many people who are working already, with those who are changing careers and with those who just finished high school.
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Yes—well, most of them. Every course in this program is offered in an online format, except for our field courses which must be taken in-person.
Attend class in the way that works best for your goals:
- Virtual Live: Learn remotely in real time. Take classes taught live via Zoom.
- Online: Have the flexibility to complete course work without scheduled meetings while staying actively engaged in a fully online environment.
- In-person: Keep your degree on track with classes that meet face-to-face, providing you with opportunities to interact in person with faculty and peers.
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The estimated cost of this program appears at the top of this web page, under the program title.
The cost is based on recommended pathway credit hours. It includes in-district tuition and fees, such as for books and materials. It does not factor in financial aid (grants, loans, scholarships) that you may receive.
Some courses in this program are subject to variable tuition and course fees because they provide specialized experiences, instruction or technology/equipment.
View courses with variable tuition and fees
Many opportunities exist at CLC to get financial assistance. Learn more about Cost of Attendance.
Take the next step...
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