Online Class: Serial Killers 101

no certificate
with CEU Certificate*
-
20Lessons
-
34Exams &
Assignments -
540Students
have taken this course -
12Hours
average time -
1.2CEUs
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

Course Lessons
What Makes a Serial Killer?
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
Lesson 2 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
Lesson 3 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)
Lesson 4 Video
Review 2 Articles: Albert DeSalvo Biography; Boston Strangler Case Solved 50 Years Later
Complete Assignment: Albert Desalvo
Complete: Lesson 4 Exam
Edmund Kemper
Lesson 5 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
Lesson 6 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
Lesson 7 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
Lesson 8 Video
Review 3 Articles: John Wayne Gacy Biography; Crime Museum; The Killer Clown
Complete Assignment: John Wayne Gacy
Complete: Lesson 8 Exam
Ted Bundy
Lesson 9 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
Lesson 10 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
Lesson 11 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
Lesson 12 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"
Lesson 13 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"
Lesson 14 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
Lesson 15 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
Lesson 16 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"
Lesson 17 Video
Review 2 Articles: Andrei Chikatilo Biography; 1994: Andrei Chikatilo, the Butcher of Rostov
Complete: Lesson 17 Exam
Wayne Williams
Lesson 18 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
Lesson 19 Video
Review 2 Articles: Aileen Wuornos Biography; How Serial Killer Aileen Wuornos Became a Cult Hero
Complete: Lesson 19 Exam
Israel Keyes
Lesson 20 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
Additional Course Information

- Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
- Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
- Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
- View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
- Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media

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Time to complete | 24 Months |
No. of courses | 500+ |