There are three central areas of the course (investigative problem solving, criminal behaviour and research methods). These overlap extensively, with research feeding into both investigative problem solving and criminal behaviour, but each broadly comprises approximately a third of the allocated 'in-class' periods. Practical classes are also available for the research methods component. The course is highly intensive, and for every hour of lecture time, students are expected to engage in about 6 hours of independent study time. This may involve preparing assignments, working on case studies for workshops, reading time, and preparing material for presentations and seminars. The course commonly covers the following issues, though we cannot guarantee that each element within these themes will definitely appear since there is always some fluctuation in emphasis from year to year. Moreover, sometimes other issues are covered depending in part on student interest. For example, in some years terrorism, hypnosis and informant handling have had a higher profile.

Investigative Problem Solving (IPS)

· Detective Decision Making

· Critical Incidents and Stress Debriefing

· Police Interviewing

· Linking Crimes

· Pitfalls and Limitations of 'Offender Profiling'

· Behavioural Investigative Advice

· Developments in Detective Training

· Management and Leadership in Major Investigations

· Expert Testimony in Court

· Crime Analysis

· The Use of Simulation Training

Criminal Behaviour (CB)

· Criminal 'Careers'

· Differentiating criminal actions

· Consistency in criminality

· Property Crimes (e.g., burglary, robbery)

· Violent Crimes (e.g, murder, assault)

· Sex Offending (e.g., child sex abuse, rape)

· The Geography of Crime (e.g., serial offenders, property crimes)

· Case Studies from Senior Investigators

Research Methodology and Data Analysis (RM)

· Refresher course on basic statistics (e.g., descriptives, non parametric and parametric tests, ANOVAS)

· Advanced Multivariate Statistics (e.g., multiple regression, MANOVA)

· Multidimensional Scaling Procedures (e.g, SSA, MSA & POSA)

· Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (e.g, content analysis, case studies, ethnographic approaches)

· Research Design (e.g., questionnaires, interviews, experimental designs)

· Using 'Real world' information for Research (e.g., police statements, crime scene information).

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