As cybercrimes are projected to cost the world economy as much as $6 trillion annually by 2021, Augusta University will offer a new certificate in the field in fall 2018 to prepare students for careers in cybercrime investigation and law enforcement, data security and technology.

“An important element of cyber studies is the human element. All computers and technology are created, programmed and used by humans,” said Dr. Candace Griffith, assistant professor of criminal justice who will teach some of the cybercrime classes. “To only focus on the technological elements and neglect the human element is to understand only a small part of the emerging phenomenon.”

The certificate in cybercrime will offer students of all majors courses in topics such as law enforcement in the digital age, criminal justice, international terrorism, strategic cybersecurity and digital forensics.

“The Facebook/Cambridge Analytica folderol drew out the extent to which we simply cannot trust the security of our personal data to largely disinterested actors with no real skin in the game,” said Dr. Todd Powell-Williams, associate professor of sociology who will also teach some of the certificate courses. “Data and systems security is a huge deal.”

The 18-hour-credit certificate is offered by the Department of Social Sciences and the School of Computer and Cyber Sciences and includes 15 hours of required courses and a three-hour elective.

“The focus of the certificate is an interdisciplinary approach to cybersecurity studies,” Griffith said. “The value of this certificate is allowing the student to have multiple perspectives on cyberthreats, both domestic and international. We understand the importance of looking at an issue from multiple angles to get a fuller understanding of the topic.”