Course FAQs

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

This learner-centric competency-focused education will train students on evidence identification, acquisition, preservation and investigative processes for traditional hard disk drives, emerging loT devices, cloud accounts and online communication. OSINT Academy students will develop the following investigative skills:

• Best practices for open source intelligence and dark web investigations

• Evidence identification, acquisition, and preservation

• Processes for traditional hard disk drives, IoT devices, cloud-based accounts, the dark web, and social media platforms

WHAT TO EXPECT

Each week in this 8-week program consists of up to three hours of pre-recorded online lecture and approximately 15 hours worth of homework/exercises, including quizzes and assignments weekly. The 9th week culminates in a capstone exam and assignment. All training is asynchronous, hosted via Learning Management System D2L. You can learn more about the course in depth, including weekly goals, course materials, grading, and more by downloading the course syllabus here.

PREREQUISITES

• High school diploma or GED

• Prior military and/or first responder experience preferred but not required

• U.S. citizenship or permanent residence

• Basic computer operation knowledge

• Desirable qualifications: Investigative work, case building skills, and experience with legal matters.

CERTIFICATION

Dakota State University issues accomplishment badges for completion of weekly course content. At the completion of all program requirements, The Academy will issue a certificate of completion confirming eight weeks and 250 hours of core study in OSINT fundamental training, as recognized by DSU, Hetherington Group, and the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C).

CONNECT WITH FUTURE EMPLOYERS

Students will be able to connect with leading digital forensics and open source intelligence professionals in public, private, educational, and government sectors. Opportunities during your study include participation in career events, and exposure to workforce opportunities such as apprenticeships, internships, and employment.