Course Description
This course explores research and case of serial killers, which includes profiling, behavioral, types, and methods.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to
- Differentiate between mass, spree, and serial murder
- Examine the typologies of murder and serial murder
- Explore the issues of sexual homicide
- Examine the history of the phenomenon of serial killing
- Explain the history of serial killers, including the occult and cults
- Describe human nature and the fascination for serial killers
- Define profiling and the reality of use
- Examine forensic science advances in assisting profiling strategies
- Explore the various types of profiling
- Examine profiling assistance available from the FBI
- Explain biological theories of serial murder
- Examine environmental issues and discuss if biology and environment can be examined in respective isolation
- Explore the various issues related to insanity and understand that it is a legal definition
- Explore psychological issues associated with serial murder
- Examine the differences in sociopath and psychopath
- Examine the sociological theories related to serial murder
- Explain stalking and how it relates to serial murder
- Recognize the McDonald Triad and what it infers
- Discuss the importance of fantasy in serial killing
- Explore the statistics and demographics of U.S. serial killers
- Explore the statistics, demographics, and findings from non-U.S. studies on serial murder
- Explore similarities and differences in global study findings on serial killing
- Examine the various subcategories of serial murder profiles among male, female, and team serial killers
- Describe case studies and examples of male, female, and team serial killers for commonalities and differences
- Discuss geographical mobility as it relates to female serial killers
- Discuss the fact vs. myth of team serial killers and the reality of the prevalence of the phenomenon compared to the perception
- Examine profiles gone bad and the care necessary in utilizing profiling techniques
- Explore areas requiring additional research in serial murder
Week 1
Lecture: Phenomenon and Social Reaction
Outcomes
- Differentiate between mass, spree, and serial murder
- Examine the typologies of murder and serial murder
- Explore the issues of sexual homicide
- Examine the history of the phenomenon of serial killing
- Explain the history of serial killers, including the occult and cults
- Describe human nature and the fascination for serial killers
Week 2
Lecture: Profiling
Outcomes
- Define profiling and the reality of use
- Examine forensic science advances in assisting profiling strategies
- Explore the various types of profiling
- Examine profiling assistance available from the FBI
Week 3
Lecture: Biological and Psychological Issues
Outcomes
- Look at biological theories of serial murder
- Examine environmental issues and discuss if biology and environment can be examined in respective isolation
- Explore the various issues related to insanity and understand that it is a legal definition
- Explore psychological issues associated with serial murder
- Examine the differences in sociopath and psychopath
Week 4
Lecture: Sociological Issues
Outcomes
- Examine the sociological theories related to serial murder
- Discuss stalking and how it relates to serial murder
- Recognize the McDonald Triad and what it infers
- Discuss the importance of fantasy in serial killing
Week 5
Lecture: Global Perspectives
Outcomes
- Explore the statistics and demographics of U.S. serial killers
- Explore the statistics, demographics, and findings from non-U.S. studies on serial murder
- Explore similarities and differences in global study findings on serial killing
Week 6
Lecture: Male Serial Killers
Outcomes
- Examine the various subcategories of serial murder profiles among male serial killers
- Review case studies and exemplars of male serial killers for commonalities and differences
Week 7
Lecture: Female and Team Serial Killers
Outcomes
- Examine the various subcategories of serial murder profiles among female serial killers
- Review case studies and exemplars of female serial killers for commonalities and differences
- Discuss geographical mobility as it relates to female serial killers
- Examine the various subcategories of serial murder profiles among team serial killers
- Review case studies and exemplars of team serial killers for commonalities and differences
- Discuss the fact vs. myth of team serial killers and the reality of the prevalence of the phenomenon compared to the perception
Week 8
Lecture: In Conclusion: The Rest of the Story
Outcomes
- Examine profiles gone bad and the care necessary in utilizing profiling techniques
- Explore areas requiring additional research in serial murder
The course description, objectives and learning outcomes are subject to change without notice based on enhancements made to the course. April 2012
