Course Description
Criminal profiling course is about reconstructing the serial offenders' motives and intent by closely examining all psychological evidence left by perpetrators at a crime scene. Today more and more International Police enforcement agencies rely on criminal profilers' work to address the investigative process; this is caused by the significant and steady rise in psychopathologies and psychosis in which crime is fought through the use of another perspective, the murderers'. If you feel the urge to recognize what lies beyond the offenders' criminal trail in the search for victims, their modus operandi and ultimate dark dreams, this course will reward you with a valuable knowledge about the field.
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No concepts are presented in this course that will prevent even novice students from improving skills needed to evaluate and classify serial criminals based on scientific premises. All students will play the part of a profiler's most trusted assistant throughout these lessons which will review all aspects and theories on serial crimes. This course will nurture your curiosity into a deeper understanding about Criminal Profiling.
Course Requirements
This class does not require previous experience nor education in the field of criminal profiling.
This is a self-paced course so that there is no need to rush through all lessons, but rather to step slowly and deeply into the subject.
Active participation in the class will be rewarded.
Course Goals
The aim of this coursework is to allow you to:
1. Know the basics of criminology and its origin;
2. Understand the work of criminal profilers and the noteworthy contribute of the most famous ones;
3. Master the latest investigative techniques used by international enforcements organizations and relevant theories on serial crime;
4. Psychologically evaluate a list of suspects and recognise criminal behaviour patterns and motive;
5. Be able to classify serial criminals' typologies and sub-categories;
6. Outline and construct a criminal profile on your own based on scientific assessments and assumptions.
Course Materials
Course material as it is delivered and conceived does not require you to buy additional publications to reach coursework objectives; so, no supplementary course material is required to attend this course except what supplied online.
Upon students' request and specific interest, selected readings will be suggested for the sake of broadening knowledge and understanding on the subject presented.
Grading Policy
A Certificate of Academic Excellence will be earned by those who reach at least a 85% score on overall assignments and exams undertaking.
A Certificate of Outstanding Achievement will be awarded to students completing all assignments and lessons.
Being awarded a Certificate of Appreciation implies that all assignments have been carried out.
Completing all lessons will allow students to be awarded with a Certificate of Merit.
Participation in class forums and posts for at least five times entitle students to be conferred with a Certificate of Class Participation.
Disclaimer
This course does not grant you any official title. Being informative and divulgative in its scope attending this class cannot be substituted for any state, government, licensing, or educational requirements. Misuse of the information enclosed in this coursework is highly discouraged.
Course Outline
Current coursework is composed of ten lessons, covering the following topics summarized below:
Lesson 1 - History of Criminology;
Lesson 2 -- Criminal Profilers;
Lesson 3 -- Criminal Profiling generating process;
Lesson 4 -- Homicide type and style;
Lesson 5 -- Organized/Disorganized offenders;
Lesson 6 -- Criminal profile validation and investigations;
Lesson 7 - Geographic profiling;
Lesson 8 -- Psychological side of serial offenders;
Lesson 9 -- Serial murderer' classification;
Lesson 10- Creating a criminal profile.
