Understanding an emerging industry like digital forensics is a challenge since there are not many sources of reliable data to refer to. Emerging by definition means that it is coming into view, thus it was not seen before. That means the lack of statistical data specific to the emerging field. Cybersecurity is different in a way that people are aware of the growing problem and the subsequent need of skilled professionals. People are aware of the problem and might even Googled how to recover data. Because there is no relevant scientific community of true researchers that want to focus on defining and clearing definitions for people, there is the feel of due diligence and that is seen as all it is needed by the industry. People see the job market need by reference and they think they understand the job functions from TV shows like CSI.
There are school advertising single courses as digital forensics and computer science course titles are changed to secure coding while the contents are same as before. There is a real unethical emergence of feeding on people's lack of understanding of the industry. Awareness and a 3 day boot camp is not what the job market is looking for. The digital forensic analyst job titles are in most cases cover nothing more than acquisition specialists. What digital forensics is a lot of education combined with training that needs to be continuous since technology is changing rapidly. The job market can drive the development of new programs and it should drive the educational institutions focus, but not by fundamental concept of education. Labs and assignments can mirror the job market needs, but the educational aspects like the scientific process driven problem solving and critical thinking has nothing to do with what the job market is advertising. Job market is focusing on business aspects that is driven by profits. If there is a demand for data recovery specialists, then they will advertise for data recovery specialist positions. When the demand is for forensic analysts, they will advertise for forensic analysts.
When the demand is in eDiscovery then they will advertise for that specific "keyword". In a grand scheme of things, they are really looking for problem solvers that are trained for a specific methodology and tools, but in an environment requiring more and more education in order to gain those skills. Education should not change to meet the changing "keyword soup" job market, but it has to have the agility to quickly adopt to the specific needs. That is what junior colleges are good at. They are not technical schools providing training, but preserving the educational need of the students. They are not continuing education, not boot camps competing with corporate training institutions charging outrageous prices for the latest training that is not fit for those new to the industry. "Sucking it through a fire hose" might fit for other fields, but this field should have a higher ethical standard. Junior colleges are there to provide the latest skills and education that needed for people to reach a long term goal and not just a short term hype.
I see many people looking at the junior college as an opportunity to save money over corporate training prices and being disappointed that coverage is not just about the tools and skills needed to properly use a specific tool. That is not the goal and will never be, but it does not mean that it is not covering what the institution is aiming for. It means the student did not understand the industry or the goals of different institutions. There is a fit for everyone, but the research and decision is placed on the student to know what he/she needs in order to reach a long term goal. It is not enough to know about this field, you need to follow up with due care in order to fulfill a personal gap; in order to fit not just the current job market, but a long term job market need of highly educated and problem solving workforce.
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