Online Class: Serial Killers 101

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20

Lessons
34

Exams &
Assignments
847

Students
have taken this course
12

Hours
average time
1.2

CEUs

Course Description

Few things captivate the interest of the general public more than serial killers. These individuals are so compelling to us because they seem to be so very different from "the rest of us," yet they live among us – they are neighbors and family members to SOMEONE. We read about them, study them, and see movies about them, all in an effort to see what makes them tick.

There are many myths and truths about serial killers. Which of these do YOU know to be true?

Serial killers are only motivated by sex.
Serial killers are compulsive and cannot stop killing.
All serial killers are insane.
Serial killers have "red flags" early in life, so we are now able to identify them at a young age.
Some people are just "born to kill."
All serial killers can be categorized according to their motive.

In this course, you will be fascinated by twenty serial killers. Some of them are quite infamous – Jack the Ripper, Son of Sam, Ted Bundy – but some are less-known (like Harold Shipman and Aileen Wuornos), but no less compelling. You will learn about their early lives, how they killed their victims, how (and if!) they were caught, and what happened after law enforcement caught up with them. Most interestingly, you will consider psychological elements that shaped the behavior of these men and women, factors motivating them to abduct, assault, torture, mutilate, and kill – multiple times.

A word of warning: The eerie, chilling feeling that you will get while you work on this course may have you securing windows, checking to see that doors are locked, and turning on extra lighting.

Completely Online
Self-Paced
Printable Lessons
Full HD Video
6 Months to Complete
24/7 Availability
Start Anytime
PC & Mac Compatible
Android & iOS Friendly
Accredited CEUs

Universal Class is an IACET Accredited Provider

Course Lessons

Average Lesson Rating:

"Extraordinarily Helpful"

(860 votes)

What Makes a Serial Killer?

In this course, you will learn about 19 serial killers. Each lesson contains information about the killer's early life, his or her murders, and psychological elements that were at play. After each lesson, including this one, you will find a 10 question quiz that tests your learning. 11 Total Points

Lesson 1 Video
Review 2 Articles: The Making of a Serial Killer; 12 key traits common in serial killers
Take Survey: Reasons for Taking this Course
Complete: Introduction Assignment
Complete: Lesson 1 Exam

Jack the Ripper

This lesson explores the crimes, investigations, and other facts about Jack the Ripper. 35 Total Points

Lesson 2 Video A
Lesson 2 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
Review 2 Articles: Has Jack the Ripper?s Identity Been Revealed?; Jack the Ripper - History, Victims, Letters, Suspects.
Complete Assignment: Jack the Ripper
Complete: Lesson 2 Exam

Edward Gein

This lesson explores the crimes, investigations, and other facts about Edward Gein. 34 Total Points

Lesson 3 Video A
Lesson 3 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
Review Article: 21 Petrifying Pictures Inside Ed Gein?s House Of Horrors
Complete Assignment: Edward Gein
Complete: Lesson 3 Exam

Albert Desalvo (The Boston Strangler)

This lesson explores the crimes, investigations, and other facts about The Boston Strangler. 35 Total Points

Lesson 4 Video A
Lesson 4 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
Review 2 Articles: Albert DeSalvo Biography; Boston Strangler Case Solved 50 Years Later
Complete Assignment: Albert Desalvo
Complete: Lesson 4 Exam

Edmund Kemper

This lesson explores the crimes, investigations, and other facts about Edmund Kemper. 35 Total Points

Lesson 5 Video A
Lesson 5 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
Review 2 Articles: Edmund Kemper Biography; Kemper on Kemper: Where is serial killer Edmund Kemper now and is he alive?
Complete Assignment: Edmund Kemper
Complete: Lesson 5 Exam

Waneta Hoyt

This lesson explores the crimes, investigations, and other facts about Waneta Hoyt. 35 Total Points

Lesson 6 Video A
Lesson 6 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
Review 2 Articles: Waneta Hoyt Trial: 1995; Waneta Hoyt ? Serial Killer Of Infants ? Her Own ? All 5 Of Them
Complete Assignment: Wanet Hoyt
Complete: Lesson 6 Exam

The Zodiac Killer

This lesson explores the crimes, investigations, and other facts about The Zodiac Killer. 35 Total Points

Lesson 7 Video A
Lesson 7 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
Review 2 Articles: Zodiac Killer Biography; Why the Zodiac Killer Has Never Been Identified
Complete Assignment: Zodiac Killer
Complete: Lesson 7 Exam

John Wayne Gacy

This lesson explores the crimes, investigations, and other facts about John Wayne Gacy. 35 Total Points

Lesson 8 Video A
Lesson 8 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
Review 3 Articles: John Wayne Gacy Biography; Crime Museum; The Killer Clown
Complete Assignment: John Wayne Gacy
Complete: Lesson 8 Exam

Ted Bundy

This lesson explores the crimes, investigations, and other facts about Ted Bundy. 35 Total Points

Lesson 9 Video A
Lesson 9 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
Review 2 Articles: Ted Bundy Biography; ?The Very Definition Of Heartless Evil?: The Story Of Ted Bundy
Complete Assignment: Ted Bundy
Complete: Lesson 9 Exam

Donald Harry "Pee Wee" Gaskins

This lesson explores the crimes, investigations, and other facts about Donald Harry "Pee Wee" Gaskins. 35 Total Points

Lesson 10 Video A
Lesson 10 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
Review 2 Articles: Serial Killer Donald 'Pee Wee' Gaskins One of the Most Prolific Killers in U.S.; ?The Redneck Charles Manson? ? Donald Henry Gaskins Killer Profile
Complete Assignment: Donald Harry 'Pee Wee' Gaskins
Complete: Lesson 10 Exam

David Berkowitz: Son of Sam

This lesson explores the crimes, investigations, and other facts about Son of Sam. 35 Total Points

Lesson 11 Video A
Lesson 11 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
Review 2 Articles: How David Berkowitz Became ?Son Of Sam? And Terrorized Late 1970s New York City; David Berkowitz Confessed to Being the 'Son of Sam.' But Did He Really Act Alone?
Complete Assignment: Son of Sam
Complete: Lesson 11 Exam

Harold Shipman

This lesson explores the crimes, investigations, and other facts about Harold Shipman. 34 Total Points

Lesson 12 Video A
Lesson 12 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
Review 2 Articles: Harold Shipman Biography; Shipman's motive may have been 'addiction to killing'
Complete Assignment: Harold Shipman
Complete: Lesson 12 Exam

Dennis Rader "BTK"

This lesson explores the crimes, investigations, and other facts about Dennis Rader. 35 Total Points

Lesson 13 Video A
Lesson 13 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
Review 2 Articles: Dennis Rader Biography; Who is Dennis Rader aka the BTK serial killer?
Complete Assignment: Using the Format from Lesson #1, Please tell us about Dennis Rader.
Complete: Lesson 13 Exam

Richard Ramirez "The Night Stalker"

This lesson explores the crimes, investigations, and other facts about Richard Ramirez. 10 Total Points

Lesson 14 Video A
Lesson 14 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
Review 2 Articles: The Twisted Tale Of Richard Ramirez, The ?Night Stalker? Serial Killer Of 1980s Los Angeles; Richard Ramirez Crime Museum
Complete: Lesson 14 Exam

Gary Ridgway

This lesson explores the crimes, investigations, and other facts about Gary Ridgway. 10 Total Points

Lesson 15 Video A
Lesson 15 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
Review 2 Articles: Gary Ridgway Biography; How Gary Ridgway, ?The Green River Killer,? Was Captured With Nearly 20-Year-Old DNA Evidence
Complete: Lesson 15 Exam

Jeffrey Dahmer

This lesson explores the crimes, investigations, and other facts about Jeffrey Dahmer. 11 Total Points

Lesson 16 Video A
Lesson 16 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
Review 2 Articles: Jeffrey Dahmer Biography; Top 10 Creepy Facts About Jeffrey Dahmer
Complete: Lesson 16 Exam

Andrei Romanovich Chikatilo "The Butcher of Rostov"

This lesson explores the crimes, investigations, and other facts about Andrei Romanovich Chikatilo. 10 Total Points

Lesson 17 Video A
Lesson 17 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
Review 2 Articles: Andrei Chikatilo Biography; 1994: Andrei Chikatilo, the Butcher of Rostov
Complete: Lesson 17 Exam

Wayne Williams

This lesson explores the crimes, investigations, and other facts about Wayne Williams. 10 Total Points

Lesson 18 Video A
Lesson 18 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
Review 2 Articles: Wayne Williams And The Mystery Of The Atlanta Child Murders; Unsolved Atlanta child murders are back under the microscope
Complete: Lesson 18 Exam

Aileen Wuornos

This lesson explores the crimes, investigations, and other facts about Aileen Wuornos. 10 Total Points

Lesson 19 Video A
Lesson 19 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
Review 2 Articles: Aileen Wuornos Biography; How Serial Killer Aileen Wuornos Became a Cult Hero
Complete: Lesson 19 Exam

Israel Keyes

This lesson explores the crimes, investigations, and other facts about Israel Keyes. 90 Total Points

Lesson 20 Video A
Lesson 20 Video B : Lesson Discussion Video
Review Article: Profile of Serial Killer Israel Keyes
Take Poll: End of Course Poll
Take Survey: Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course)
Complete: Lesson 20 Exam
Complete: Final Exam

580

Total Course Points

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