Program Presentation
The Master in Criminalistics, with its three specializations, trains experts in obtaining physical evidence related to criminal processes so that they can develop expert criminalistic reports and are able to provide them to a trial, conducting a defense with the security of having done a good job.
Criminalistics brings together a set of disciplines whose common objective is, through a scientific methodology, materializing evidences for judicial purposes. Therefore, its main objective is to provide evidence to the Justice to clarify the crimes and find out the responsibility of individuals. Today, evidence carry the weight of the decisions made in a Court, and such evidence needs to be obtained by scientific means. In this sense, the technician in Criminology is who is responsible for this type of work.
More private laboratories of Criminology and specialists are offering their services, for this sector is experiencing a growing demand. The police forces of different countries have qualified specialists, but the private, business and research sphere are increasing the use of private technical services in Criminology. It is remarkably important to say that this specialist is not a criminologist.. The criminalistic is a scientist, a laboratory professional who is an expert in various techniques to identify the author of the facts, and basing on the material existing evidence, determining its causes, the media commission and its consequences.
The training provided by this master's degree allows you to obtain a university degree with a professional approach. The master's degree aims to provide a much connected training with the professional context. The study plan responds to this intention with the didactic approach of the subjects, and with the teaching staff and tutors in charge, who have a consolidated experience in the field.
Career opportunities are those specific to the professional who works in the Justice field, making expert reports on a proposal from a party or by judicial appointment, advising jurists or working in private laboratories.
Students who successfully complete this Master will be qualified to:
- Put into practice the applied, advanced and specialized knowledge in a body of concepts, procedures, techniques and attitudes that allow to work in criminalistics.
- Determine whether a weapon seized by the police can be used effectively.
- Determine if a projectile has been triggered by a particular weapon or if two shells have been fired by the same gun.
- Determine if an imitation firearm has undergone modifications as to make it shoot.
- Achieve the identification of suspects through their fingerprints.
- Determine the authenticity of a handwritten document or signature.
- Determine the authenticity of various types of documents such as passports, identity cards, Eurochecks, bank notes, etc.
- Clarify the causes of a fire.
- Clarify various offenses, such as murder or theft.
Who is the programme for?
The Master in Criminalistics trains the student in the professional sector of Forensic Science and provides a rigorous and comprehensive training to be able to develop expert and counseling tasks.
The program is aimed at graduates with higher university qualification.
This Master may be of great use to lawyers, criminologists, procurators, detectives, private security managers, police officer, etc.
Diploma
Successful completion of the Program will enable you to be awarded the degree in Master in Criminalistics.
After successfully completing the Program, the student will receive the degree as awarded by the University where they have enrolled.
Program Structure
The academic program length of the Master in Criminalistics is 90 credits. Regarding time distribution:
- Since it is an on-line Program, it does not have a specific starting date, so that the student can register at any time, provided that there is enough place.
- The maximum time available to complete this Master’s Degree is 24 months. In this period of time, the student must have completed all assessments relating to the subjects, as well as the Master’s Degree Final Project or Master’s Degree Thesis.
| MODULES | CREDITSa | HOURS |
|---|---|---|
| Block 1 : Criminalistics (compulsory) | 38 | 950 |
| Block 2 : Specialization in Criminal Investigation (elective) | 39 | 975 |
| Block 3 : Specialization in Armament (elective) | 39 | 975 |
| Block 4 : Specialization in Ballistics (elective) | 39 | 975 |
| Block 5 : Scientific Research Methods and Master’s Degree Final Project | 13 | 325 |
| TOTAL | 90 | 2250 |
a. One (1) ECTS credit (European Credit Transfer System) corresponds to 25 hours (10 class hours + 15 study hours). If students attending the program are enrolled in a university not belonging to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), the relationship between credits and hours may vary.
Objectives
General Objective
The mission of the Master in Criminology is to train students to work as Judicial Expert and be appointed by the courts and tribunals as an expert in criminalistics and judicial expert to act as such, with capacity to collect evidence, state them in expert reports and defend them in judicial processes, integrating resources and methods and techniques to reach a combined global opinion.
Specific Objective
- Mastering the forensic documentology and, specifically, the issues where a possible plagiarism can be discussed, knowing the principles of the intellectual and industrial property rights, and establish an opinion on printed documents, trademarks and patents.
- Training in dermatoglyphics and ballistics, applying the engineering and advanced techniques of forensic science.
- Training for technical eye inspections.
- Using the capabilities of the technology laboratories to identify fingerprints, comparison of shells or pods, studies of trajectories, etc.
- Mastering the techniques of calligraphic analysis of signatures or doubtful handwritten manuscripts.
- Identifying and master the techniques of criminal investigation.
- Determining the type of firearms involved in judicial processes and developing the expert analysis on the ability of the same to get effective shots.
Career Opportunities
Professionals who successfully complete the Master in Criminalistics will be able to carry out their tasks in positions such as:
- Judicial Expert in Criminalistics
- Judicial expert in Ballistics and/or Armament
- Judicial Handwriting Expert.
- Judicial expert in Documentation
- Criminal Lawyers’ Consultancy
Study Plan
The Master in Criminalistics is composed of a core block (Criminology, with eight subjects), specializations (eight subjects each) and a Final Project.
The Master has three specializations to choose from, according to the profile and interests of the professionals who have enrolled:
- Specialization no 1: Criminal Investigation
- Specialization no 2: Armament
- Specialization no 3: Ballistics
These itineraries are integrated into the structure of the MASTER, together with the rest of modules that make up the program and which are chronologically set in the following way:
- BLOCK 1 : CRIMINALISTICS (mandatory)
| CRIMINALISTICS (mandatory) | |
|---|---|
| # | SUBJECTS |
| 1 | Criminalistics: Identification techniques. |
| 2 | Criminology Applied to the Criminal Investigation |
| 3 | Visual Inspection Techniques |
| 4 | Gemology |
| 5 | Documentology |
| 6 | Graphology |
| 7 | Graphonomics: Space and Shape |
| 8 | Pressure, Movement and Strokes in Graphonomics |
- BLOCK 2 : SPECIALIZATION IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION (elective)
| SPECIALIZATION IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION (elective) | |
|---|---|
| # | SUBJECTS |
| 1 | Homicide Investigation |
| 2 | Criminal Investigation |
| 3 | Police Ballistics |
| 4 | Basic Concepts of Fire Investigation |
| 5 | Fire Investigation Techniques and Forest Fires |
| 6 | Fire and Building Construction |
| 7 | Explosives |
| 8 | Legal Medicine |
- BLOCK 3 : Specialty in weaponry (optional)
| Specialty in weaponry (optional) | |
|---|---|
| # | SUBJECTS |
| 1 | Armament |
| 2 | Ancient Weapons |
| 3 | Long Weapons |
| 4 | Small Weapons |
| 5 | Weapons Of War |
| 6 | Shooting |
| 7 | Police Ballistics |
| 8 | Forensic Ballistics |
- BLOCK 4 : SPECIALIZATION IN BALLISTICS (elective)
| SPECIALIZATION IN BALLISTICS (elective) | |
|---|---|
| # | SUBJECTS |
| 1 | Armament |
| 2 | General Ballistics |
| 3 | Exterior Ballistics |
| 4 | Interior Ballistics |
| 5 | Forensic Ballistics |
| 6 | Police Ballistics |
| 7 | Wound Ballistics |
| 8 | Cartridges |
- BLOCK 5 : SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH METHODS AND MASTER’S DEGREE FINAL PROJECT (mandatory)
| SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH METHODS AND MASTER’S DEGREE FINAL PROJECT (mandatory) | |
|---|---|
| # | SUBJECTS |
| 1 | Scientific Research Methodology |
| 2 | Master’s Degree Final Project |
Note: The contents of the academic program may be subject to slight modifications, depending on the updates or the improvements made.
Management
Academic Administration
- B.D. Luis Jiménez Romero. Managing director of the Escuela de Criminología de Cataluña since 1995. From 1980 to 1992 he served as a civil servant of the Spanish State specialized in safety, explosive ordnance disposal and criminal investigation. Since 1994, he is a freelance forensic psychologist with experience in developing expert reports on accountability, credibility of the witness, procedural capacity, civilian capabilities, assessment of victims, etc. He holds a Higher Diploma in Criminology and Private Research, Universidad Europea Miguel de Cervantes and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, National Distance University Education.
Teaching staff and Authors
- Dr. Miguel Ángel Soria Verde. PhD in Psychology, University of Barcelona. Teacher of Legal and Criminal Psychology and Advanced Criminology Advanced at the Psychology and Law Faculties of the University of Barcelona. Director of the Master’s Degree in Criminal Investigation (UB), as well as of the Master’s Degree in Legal and Forensic Psychology (UAB). Since 1990 he has participated as an expert forensic in murder cases, rapes and child sexual abuse. He has published more than 70 articles and chapters, and a dozen of books on the subject. Researcher in violent crimes (familicides, serial rape and child pornography).
- Dr. Tomás Salás Darrocha. PhD in Law, University of Barcelona and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science issued by the same university.. With a long and proud history in the judiciary, he is a practicing Judge-at the Criminal Courts of Barcelona, as well, he is Former Chief of the Technical Cabinet of the Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC), among other responsibilities.
- Dr. Laura Natalia Perez. PhD (Cum Laude) and Master's Degree in Cognitive Science and Language at the University of Barcelona, Spain. Academic Director of the Master’s Degree in Clinical and Health Psychology and teacher at the International Iberoamerican University in Mexico. Psychologist and coach, founder of Human Flourishing. Research Experience at the University of Barcelona, Spain. Experience as a psychologist at the Hospital San Juan de Dios and La inmaculada, Colombia.
- Dr. Eduardo Silva. PhD in Projects by the International Iberoamerican University. Master’s Degree in International Business Administration from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Lawyer and Notary by the Rafael Landívar University. Lawyer of the Legal Department of the Iberoamerican University Foundation. Executive Director of the Iberoamerican University Foundation, at headquarters in Guatemala.
- Dr. (c) Paul Eisendecher. Lawyer, Master's Degree in Public Law, Master's Degree in Mediation and Conflict Resolution, PhD in law, University of Chile, with more than 15 years of work experience and academic background in the areas of corporate, administrative and environmental law. He has served as an assistant professor of Environmental and Administrative Law, Mining Law and Water Law, at the Universidad Austral de Chile, and as a teacher of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in a number of Chilean universities. He was a trail attorney for more than 10 years, and he is currently the Director of the Iberoamerican University Foundation in Chile and Paraguay.
- Dr. Mariacarla Martí González. Doctorate in Education from the University of Zaragoza. Master in Art Education from the University of Arts, Cuba. Bachelor in Psychology and Pedagogy in Arts. Certified in the Methodology of Community-based Corrective Processes. Has worked as professor in Psychology from the University of Arts and was a guest researcher in the University of Zaragoza. Author of several books in support of teaching in the area of Group Psychology and in the analysis and intervention of social and community processes. Professor of Group Psychology and Social Psychology in the European University of the Atlantic and a member of the university’s Psychopedagogical Advisory Cabinet. Her research line has centered on Group Psychology, genders and social transformation processes.
- M. Alejandra Sandoval Villalobos. Director and Teacher of the FUNIBER’s Specialization in Graphology and Neuro-writing. Graduated in Pedagogy and Psychology. Teaching at Elementay School, psychopedagogyst (US). Graphoanalyst. Judicial expert calligrapher, Master's Degree in Graphystics, and Forensic Graphology and Graphopathology, Graphopsychologist in Family and Professional Guidance, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
- M. Alba Hernández Santana. Teacher and Final Project’s Director at the Iberoamerican University Foundation, lecturer at the International Iberoamerican University. Master’s Degree in Social Psychology and Degree in Psychology, University of La Havana, Cuba. Expert in conflict resolution, with more than 20 years of experience in research and organizational consulting.
- M. Sonia Juliana Pérez Pérez. Teacher and Final Project’s Director at the Iberoamerican University Foundation, lecturer at the International Iberoamerican University. Master’s Degree in Music Therapy, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Degree in Anthropology, University of the Andes, Colombia; Degree in Psychology, UNAD Florida Online University.
- B.D. David Martínez Bautista. General Secretary of the Escuela de Criminología de Cataluña since 1995. From that date he also acts as Judicial Expert in Ballistics and Armament and in Fire Investigation. In academics, he holds a PhD (in process) in Pharmacy History, Complutense Univeristy of Madrid, Graduated in Pharmacy at the same University, Higher Diploma in Criminology and Private Research, Expertus in Palaentologia , Geological Museum of Barcelona.
- B.D. Nuria Alba Quintero. Practicing lawyer (civilian and criminal) with extensive experience in both the private and public fields, she is also teaching at the Escuela de Criminología de Ctaluña. Bachelor’s Degree in Law, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
FUNIBER Training Scholarships
The Iberoamerican University Foundation (FUNIBER) allocates periodically an extraordinary economic item for FUNIBER Training Scholarships.
To apply, please fill out the information request form that appears in the web of FUNIBER or contact directly the Foundation’s headquarters in your country that will inform you if you need to provide some additional information.
Once the documentation is received, the Evaluation Committee will determine your application's eligibility for the FUNIBER Training Scholarship.