Students at campus-based or online colleges who wish to land jobs in the fast-growing field of digital forensics may be able to gain real-world experience through competitions, such as the one sponsored by the Department of Defense.

The federal agency has opened the registration process for its annual Cyber Crime Center Challenge, which invites students to compete against one another in 25 different contests related to internet-based criminal activity.

The competition is intended to build relationships between the department and prospective innovators in the field, resolve technical issues as well as foster the development of new tools, techniques and technologies that could propel the digital forensics industry.

James Durie, a supervisory special agent for the FBI, told the Huntsville Item that this sector has "certainly opened new avenues to look at crimes," and added that "there should be more competition in the field…as technology and public policy change."

Last year, approximately 1,100 teams and individuals from military branches, educational institutions and the private sector entered the competition, according to the media outlet.

Individuals who are taking online college courses in this subject may be able to schedule enough time to participate in similar opportunities to develop more practical skills, which could make them more marketable to employers.