HONR 395 - Serial Killers

Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Laboratory (or Other) Hours: 0

Prerequisite(s): ENGL 100 or the equivalent
Corequisite(s): None
Restriction(s): Restricted to students who are in the Honors Program or eligible for the Honors program with a GPA of 3.3

This course focuses on the study of serial killers / mass murderers, and their victims. The course provides an overview of current thinking of the phenomenon of mass and serial murder, including exploring cultural, biological, psychological and sociological frameworks for such murders in the USA and other countries. Myths versus facts concerning these murders will be examined, and differences between serial murders and mass murders explored. The course will analyze modus operandi and signatures of serial murderers, and emphasize investigative techniques to identify and apprehend such killers. Early warning signs, preventive strategies, and victimization are also examined, along with the roles of police agencies and the media, in order to develop strategies to avoid serial and mass murder.

Student Learning Outcomes of the Course:

1. Understand the methods social scientists use to explore social phenomena, including observation, hypothesis development, measurement and data collection, experimentation, evaluation of evidence, and employment of mathematical and interpretive analysis.

2. Demonstrate knowledge of major concepts, models and issues of at least one discipline in the social sciences.

3. Identify mass and serial murderers, their profiles, methods, motivations and victims.

4. Analyze serial and mass murder cases in the context of criminal behavior in the U.S. and in other countries.

5. Apply investigative techniques to factual scenarios/serial and mass murder cases.

6. Synthesize data pertaining to serial and mass murder into case studies, assignments and/or writing projects.