2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Dec 30, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Computer Information Systems and Paralegal - Electronic Discovery and Digital Forensics Specialist Certificate of Completion


Program Description This comprehensive, one-of-a-kind certificate of completion is a partnership between the Computer Information Systems and the Paralegal departments at Edmonds College. The rigorous curriculum focuses on the nexus between law and technology and covers issues that will be encountered by both legal and information technology professionals. Students will receive hands-on training in several different electronic discovery (e-discovery) and digital forensics tools, including Relativity, providing marketable skills to law firms, IT departments, and vendors. Upon successful completion of this certificate of completion, students will have a technical understanding of digital evidence collection and storage, in addition to knowledge and understanding of the legal contexts for collecting and producing digital evidence in light of emerging laws of e-discovery, privacy, cyber-crime, ethics, and investigations. This certificate of completion requires the successful completion of a minimum of 18 credits as outlined.

Advising Note This program requirement sheet is not a substitute for meeting with an academic advisor. Meeting the requirements to graduate with an Edmonds College certificate or degree is ultimately the responsibility of the student.

Program Requirements (18 credits)


OUTCOMES:

  1. Explain significant e-discovery terminology, fundamental legal principles, and the full cycle of the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM) process, and how they interrelate.
  2. Describe how e-discovery and digital forensics tools can be used in the e-discovery process, and discuss correlations and contrasts between e-discovery and digital forensics processes and goals.
  3. Summarize the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) and the litigation workflow as they pertain to e-discovery, including metadata, sanctions, privacy, jurisdiction, litigation holds, data collection, and meet and confer conferences.
  4. Identify potential sources and types of electronically stored information (ESI) located on both private and enterprise computing devices, as well as the cloud. 
  5. Analyze litigation data using Relativity e-discovery software, including implementing detailed searches and reports, reviewing documents, and handling QC and other core Relativity features. 

Program Notes


The program code for this degree is FSTEDC01. For financial aid, advising, and other reasons, students should work with their advisor to ensure that this code is properly recorded on their academic record.

NOTE: Prerequisites for this Certificate of Completion will vary depending on whether your primary program of study is Computer Information Systems or Paralegal.  Students need to see a CIS or Paralegal advisor to ensure proper placement into the program.

Please email cyberdefense@edmonds.edu with questions.

Paralegal advisors can be found at: edmonds.edu/legal/

Department websites: 
Computer Information Systems | edmonds.edu/cis
Paralegal | edmonds.edu/legal/

Certificate of Completion General Information


This certificate of completion (COC) is awarded upon completion of the required number of courses. Students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or S grades in all college level courses in order to earn this COC. Certain certificates may require a higher cumulative grade point average as dictated by industry standards. All credits for this COC must be earned at Edmonds College.

Certificates of completion (COCs) are not eligible for financial aid; however, some COCs may be eligible for veteran’s benefits. If you are interested in this COC, please talk to your faculty advisor or an academic advisor in student services.

Student achievement is assessed in the general and program specific outcomes via the courses and course objectives that align with those outcomes. More information about program outcomes and course objectives can be found on the Using Program Requirement Sheets  page.

Students Are Advised To:

  • Plan their schedule several quarters in advance in order to accommodate courses that are offered only once or twice a year;
  • Review the college catalog for required course prerequisites and include these in schedule planning; and
  • Communicate with an academic advisor and/or a faculty advisor.

Graduation Application A completed Graduation Application form must be submitted online by the 10th day of the quarter in which the student expects to graduate. Note: Applications for summer quarter are due by the 8th day of the quarter.

College Resources

Internal Coding


PLAN/STACK - FSTEDC01
TC - 18
CIP - 430406
Last revised - 2024/02/02