*Based on 2026–2027 Boston University tuition and fees.
Build Practical Skills in Cybercrime Investigation and Cybersecurity
There are few, if any, sectors in the world not driven by networked technology. We live our lives online, from reading the headlines to dating to ordering groceries. We have smart locks at home, sensors in our vehicles, and devices that connect us to every service we could ever need—creating vast amounts of private and sensitive data stored in commercial, financial, medical, military, and government databases. This technology enhances the quality of life in many cases and can even be life-saving. Yet, at the same time, the wealth of lucrative and destructive opportunities for cybercriminals, hackers, spies, predators, and other “bad actors” has ballooned. According to the 2018 Internet Crime Report released by the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, there were 351,936 complaints reported that year, with losses exceeding $2.7 billion—a 238 percent increase in losses since 2014. The need for law enforcement officers, investigators, and information security professionals with expertise in cybercrime investigation and cybersecurity techniques continues to grow.
The Graduate Certificate in Cybercrime Investigation & Cybersecurity at Boston University’s Metropolitan College offers an interdisciplinary approach that combines criminal justice and cybersecurity. Taught by faculty from the departments of Applied Social Sciences and Computer Science, the curriculum ensures that students develop competency and practical knowledge, enabling them to work with various issues related to cybercrime. Students will gain insight into cybercriminology and the practical digital investigative knowledge, legal practices, and policies related to cybersecurity risk assessment. In addition, students who successfully complete the certificate program are eligible to take the forensic examiner exams.
The Cybercrime Investigation & Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate is also available on campus in Boston. Learn more.
Curriculum
Boston University’s Graduate Certificate in Cybercrime Investigation & Cybersecurity (CIC) consists of four required online courses (16 units).
Coursework from the Graduate Certificate in Cybercrime Investigation & Cybersecurity can be applied toward the Boston University Metropolitan College Master of Science in Master of Science in Criminal Justice.
Learn about application requirements for BU MET graduate degree and certificate programs.
How You Benefit from a Boston University Education
A BU credential can help lay the foundation for career advancement and personal success.
Benefit from an average 24:1 student-to-instructor ratio
BU MET’s Cybercrime Investigation & Cybersecurity program is the recipient of a grant from the US Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) supporting the Student Computer Forensics and Digital Evidence Educational Opportunities Program—designed to enhance current capacities of law enforcement agencies in the areas of computer forensics and digital evidence.
Coursework employs case studies, simulations using real data, and hands-on problem solving to develop practical skills you can immediately apply on the job.
Collaborate with faculty who have subject-matter expertise, research-based insight, and extensive field experience in law enforcement, corrections, cybercrime investigation and digital forensics, research and policy, forensic mental health, the judicial system, strategic management, and many other areas.
Study alongside classmates whose diversity of criminal justice experience inspires discussion and debate, along with the opportunity to form valuable, long-lasting connections in the field.
BU MET has offered criminal justice education since 1973, introducing its master’s degree in criminal justice in 1980, which became BU’s first fully online program in 2002.
Rankings & Accreditations
#5 in 2026, and top 6 since 2015
MET’s online master’s degree in criminal justice is ranked #5 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for 2026.
#4
America’s Top Online Colleges
Graduate with Cybersecurity Expertise
Students who complete the Cybercrime Investigation & Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate will be able to demonstrate:
Use theory, research, and analysis applied to cybercriminal behavior to inform and critically evaluate prevention and intervention strategies that seek to reduce and mitigate the harms of cybercrime.
Apply criminological and investigative principles to cybercrime cases by examining offender behavior, assessing investigative and jurisdictional challenges, and addressing the legal admissibility of digital evidence.
Apply digital forensic methods and industry standard tools to support cybercrime investigations and analyze digital evidence with professional-level competency.
Identify cybercrime and cybersecurity threats and evaluate appropriate responses through technological controls, investigative practices, policy considerations, and education or awareness strategies.
“I believe my degree will make me more competitive for advancement within my agency…what I learned has made me sharper and more familiar with progressive policing strategies. Most importantly, my degree has provided me with additional cyber and investigative skills that I can use to contribute to my work as a member of the Rhode Island State Police.” Read more.
Matthew Moynihan (MET’19) Captain, Rhode Island State Police MS, Criminal Justice, concentration in Cybercrime Investigation & Cybersecurity
Advance Your Career
While traditional crime has been on the decline since the 1990s, cybercrime has been on the rise. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), from its inception in 2000 through 2019, there have been 4,883,231 complaints received. In the years since 2015, IC3 reported an average of more than 340,000 complaints annually, with $10.2 billion in financial losses. That is just the tip of the iceberg, however, as some estimate that only 1 in 10 incidents are reported to law enforcement.
With cybercrime occurring globally and across jurisdictions, the challenges for police are real, as is the need for specialized resources and expertise in cybercrime investigation training. BU MET’s certificate in Cybercrime Investigation & Cybersecurity provides practical and essential knowledge of cybercrime and cybersecurity—and as a graduate you are eligible to take the forensic examiner certification exams.
Recent graduates have found job opportunities and career paths at companies such as:
Louisiana State Police
Pennsylvania State Police
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
Wilmington Police Department
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
Capital One
Roger Williams University
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
United States Army
Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC)
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