Objectives
Completion of work placements
In accordance with the provisions of Royal Decree 1027/2011 of 15 July, which establishes the Spanish Qualifications Framework for
Higher Education, the Master’s degree level corresponds to Level 3 of the MECES, which comprises those qualifications designed to
the student to acquire advanced training, of a specialised or multidisciplinary nature, geared towards academic
or professional specialisation, or towards fostering an introduction to research activities. Consequently, the general characteristics of the qualifications for the
this module of the Master’s in Criminology Applied to Security and Crime Prevention are defined by the following learning outcomes:
Prerequisites
No prior requirements have been specified in the programme description
Competences
5.5.1.5.1 BASIC AND GENERAL
CG1 – Adapt the development of new working methodologies to the field of security, within a multidisciplinary context that
encompasses both human and technological elements, in order to carry out preventive activities efficiently.
CG2 – Select the most appropriate working methodology for each problem identified in the field of Forensic Science and
security, by formulating hypotheses and reflecting on the social or ethical responsibility associated with the
possible solution, in order to resolve the issue.
CG3 – Demonstrate organisational and self-organisational skills through effective time management and the planning of
tasks to ensure efficient performance in the professional environment, as is expected of team leaders.
CG4 – Lead teams committed to quality and continuous improvement, with an attitude of responsibility and
ethical commitment that prevents practices constituting an overstepping of professional boundaries
CG5 – Manage, in an appropriate and effective manner to ensure the proper handling of information, the tools and resources
characteristic of the knowledge society, with particular attention to computer equipment and, in general, those specific to ICT.
CG6 – Explain the importance of emotional management and self-regulation in professional performance, as well as empathy
when dealing with colleagues with whom one interacts in professional practice, demonstrating an attitude of respect towards
fundamental rights in particular and individual rights in general.
CG7 – Design strategies for collaboration and cooperation with law enforcement agencies and other institutions and
organisations, in a way that fosters the formation of interdisciplinary professional teams with a view to achieving
safe environments.
5.5.1.5.2 CROSS-CUTTING
No data available
5.5.1.5.3 SPECIFIC
CE1 – Correctly classify offences falling within the scope of criminal and administrative jurisdiction relating to the fields
of Criminology and Security, whilst complying with the relevant procedural rules, in order to contribute to their
resolution.
CE2 – Draft and explain the essential elements of an expert report prepared in relation to various types of offences subject to
consideration in the various jurisdictions, describing for each case the relevant aspects regarding form and
content.
CE3 – Correctly carry out the duties specific to the field of Criminology and Security in the management of
documentation relating to this field, in order to safeguard citizens’ right to privacy to the greatest possible extent
CE4 - Identify the professional rights and duties set out in the regulations governing Private Security and Occupational Risk Prevention
, in order to fulfil one’s own obligations and ensure that they are observed by the staff under one’s supervision, thereby safeguarding the
and health of individuals.
CE5 – To be familiar with and distinguish between the various units and services that make up the National Police and the Civil Guard, as well as their
areas of competence and basic operating procedures, in order to establish the protocol for professional relations with
them, with a view to the optimal integration of public and private security.
CE6. – To apply communication and interpersonal skills that enable the identification of social phenomena both within and outside
the organisation where they occur, whilst maintaining a positive corporate image and in accordance with the provisions of the various
Learning outcomes
Generic learning outcomes (MECES)
This module of the Master’s Degree in Criminology Applied to Security and Crime Prevention is defined by the following learning outcomes:
· Be able to apply and integrate their knowledge, their understanding of this knowledge, its scientific basis and their problem-solving skills in new
and vaguely defined environments, including multidisciplinary contexts of both a research and highly specialised professional nature.
Be able to predict and manage the development of complex situations by developing new and innovative working methodologies adapted to the
specific scientific/research, technological or professional field—generally multidisciplinary—in which they carry out their work.
· Be able to take responsibility for their own professional development and specialisation in one or more fields of study.
Specific learning outcomes
· Analyses and synthesises the work carried out, and communicates effectively through the presentation of written professional reports and oral presentations of the
them.
· Integrates into a multidisciplinary team of professionals, demonstrates the ability to offer constructive criticism and analysis by applying the knowledge and skills
acquired during the course and justifies the importance of motivation for work and high-quality professional development.
· Explains the functioning and challenges faced by institutions related to the practice of professions covered by the Master’s degree, interacts with other safety professionals
as well as with professionals involved in the practice of the profession covered by this degree, and advocates the importance of maintaining synergistic relationships with the social context in which the activity takes place.
· Accesses up-to-date information on career development and potential areas of work, as well as on the tools for managing one’s career; learns in a self-regulated and autonomous manner; evaluates one’s own work; and successfully addresses professional ethical issues, whilst
whilst arguing for the need for ongoing technical development and adherence to the guidelines provided within the context of professional ethics.
Learning outcomes linked to specific competences:
· Lists the various elements and concurrent circumstances that constitute the different offences set out in the Spanish Criminal Code. Furthermore, analyses, distinguishes between and relates criminal offences that infringe upon different legal interests, and classifies them correctly, whilst arguing the importance of the principle of minimal intervention in the criminal justice system.
· Explains the various ways in which criminal proceedings may be initiated and describes the different stages of such proceedings, as well as the various parties involved and their roles. Furthermore,
lists the obligations of witnesses and expert witnesses in legal proceedings, as well as the role they play therein.
· Explains and details the components of an expert report and its legal status as a pre-trial procedure in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure; prepares expert reports and justifies the importance of the level of technical accuracy and objectivity in such reports.
· Correctly outlines the Spanish judicial system, identifies the areas of jurisdiction of its various bodies, and emphasises the importance of the duty to assist the administration of justice and to collaborate with its auxiliary bodies.
· Lists and explains the professional categories within the private security sector and the general and specific requirements for obtaining the various licences; defines the services that security companies and their staff may provide; and details the composition and functions of security departments
. It also explains the importance of collaboration between private security professionals and the police and law enforcement agencies, as well as
co-ordination between heads and directors of private security.
· List and classify offences within the legislative framework of private security and identify the administrative offences specific to this field, whilst
the need to comply with the legislative framework specific to this sector.
It details the security measures in the various establishments subject to these requirements and lists the system registers; it completes the relevant
for private security, with particular reference to logbooks and system catalogues, identifies deficiencies in the installed systems, and explains the importance of accuracy when completing procedures and documents specific to this field.
· Lists and explains the types of equipment to be used by security firms, with particular reference to firearms; analyses the different categories of these
and explains the authorisations governing them.
· Explains how the Personal Data Protection Act affects activities within the fields of Criminology and Private Security, and justifies the importance of compliance with it within the framework of respect for the right to privacy.
· Explain the basic aspects of occupational health and safety regulations as they apply to security environments; carry out occupational risk assessments in
workplaces related to Criminology and Private Security, designs occupational risk management systems, and draws up reports specific to this field
. Furthermore, they argue the importance of adhering to occupational health and safety measures, as well as the need to raise awareness of a culture of prevention
amongst members of the various organisations.
· Lists and explains the personal protective equipment specific to different jobs and roles, as well as the ergonomic principles relating
to them. Furthermore, they correctly identify the protective equipment to be used in the various contexts and circumstances specific to prevention, paying particular attention to risk levels.
· Explains the procedure for reporting accidents and incidents in the workplace, draws up reports on those that have occurred and advocates the need to
do so correctly, in accordance with the relevant procedures, for the benefit of the organisation and its members.
· Outlines the historical development of the security forces and law enforcement agencies and identifies their areas of competence in
all matters relating to criminology and security.
· Explains the principles governing the obligation of the private security sector to collaborate with the police and security forces, and the conditions necessary for the
recognition of law enforcement officers, and classifies the specific actions involved in the various current collaboration programmes, whilst also justifying the importance
of collaboration between these two areas of security, with a view to providing a high-quality service to the public.
· Lists and details the main theories concerning the satisfaction of needs and motivation; identifies possible motivational factors during the study
case studies and argues for the need to analyse the offender’s motivational factors with a view to preventing the commission of offences.
· Identifies the psychological disorders that may contribute to the commission of certain offences, classifies the types of narcotic and psychotropic substances
in accordance with their effects on the central nervous system, and argues the importance of taking these types of disorders into account in the context of criminology and security.
· Lists and explains the different types of victimisation, with particular reference to those that may be a ‘direct or indirect’ cause for the intervention of security professionals, and justifies the importance of not intervening with victims of crime so as not to jeopardise subsequent investigations by the police and security forces.
· Explains and classifies the types of memory interference that may occur in the various testimonies of those involved in a crime; emphasises the importance of
treating the victim of a crime appropriately so as to prevent such interference, and correctly plans and carries out the cognitive interviewing technique. List and explain the different types of terrorism and violent radicalism, and justifies the importance of understanding other cultures and social issues – particularly those leading to criminal behaviour – ‘in holistic terms and from multiple perspectives’, as well as the importance of understanding individual behaviour in relation to that of the same person within a group.
· Explain the process of the emotion of anger using the hostility curve and determine how to manage others’ anger effectively; identify the phase of the
curve at which the individuals involved are situated and manages it appropriately, and argues the importance of managing one’s own and others’ emotions so as not to provoke
or, where applicable, exacerbate situations of conflict.
· List and explain the main theories of social deviance, as well as what stereotypes consist of and how they are formed, and identify the aspects related to learning that may foster deviant behaviour.
· Lists and describes the dimensions of Emotional Intelligence proposed by Goleman; identifies, in both positive and negative terms, elements related to the different components of Emotional Intelligence in various contexts; and explains the importance of observing the elements characteristic of emotional intelligence when leading work teams.
· Explains the various theories of motivation and job satisfaction; selects and correctly applies the most appropriate technique at different times and in different contexts
to achieve an optimal working environment, and argues for the importance of aligning the organisation’s objectives with those of the individuals
to optimise results.
· Lists and explains the various leadership models, with particular reference to Hersey and Blanchard’s situational leadership model, and applies the most suitable one appropriately, taking into account the level of personal and technical maturity.
· Describes the characteristics of professionals with narcissistic, paranoid and borderline personality traits, identifies them through case studies, and manages the
in an appropriate manner, and justifies the importance of managing interactions with such professionals.
· List and explain the different techniques used in the decision-making process, as well as the variables that determine the most appropriate type of procedure
depending on the varying degrees of significance; correctly applies Vroom and Yetton’s decision-making model following an analysis of different
cases, and justifies the importance of analysing different situations before making a decision that could have various negative repercussions on the
work group.
· Explain the concept of conflict, describe and identify its characteristics and stages, as well as the strategies that can be used to resolve it or detect it as early as possible—even before it arises—and argue the importance of maintaining a good working environment.
· Outlines the basic content of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related texts, identifies situations that violate these rights and
justifies the need to restrict the use of material security resources, whilst always adhering to the principles of consistency, appropriateness and proportionality.
· Outlines the ethical principles set out in texts of varying normative standing and relating to criminology and security; analyses
and identify, in a reasoned manner, instances that contravene professional ethics in criminology, and argues the importance of integrity,
, professional attitudes and the direct relationship between professionalism and human dignity in the activities characteristic of Criminology and
Security.
· Outlines and details the various particularly vulnerable groups; identifies scenarios in which crimes against such victims are likely to occur, relating them to the measures that can be taken in professional settings to prevent or mitigate them; and advocates the need to pay special attention when dealing with these groups.
· Explains the various regulations within the framework of gender equality policies and their impact on public and private organisations, and justifies the importance of
equal rights in today’s society, as well as the importance of diversity management, tolerance and non-discrimination.
· Outlines the various theories of time management, as formulated by different authors, and appropriately applies techniques for optimising the organisation
to activities and time management, whilst arguing the importance of this factor in the organisation of personal and professional activities.
· Clearly defines the concepts of an organisation’s vision and mission within the context of strategic planning in the field of security and crime prevention, and argues for the need to define these in order to establish the organisation’s strategic direction.
· Explains the SWOT analysis technique as a strategic planning tool, referring to internal and external analyses; carries out this type of analysis
with particular attention to the matrix and the Balanced Scorecard, and justifies the importance of understanding the internal and external aspects of an organisation
that facilitate or hinder its mission, with the aim of implementing appropriate planning.
· Explain the concept of total quality management and the main certification schemes; design quality management programmes, outlining their various phases,
from planning through to the establishment of monitoring and control tools for its improvement, and argues the importance of quality as
a key element of organisational success.
· Defines the risk analysis procedure in the planning of security activities, carries out such analyses and documents them correctly, with particular reference to primary and contingency measures, and justifies the need to forecast risks when planning activities
in the fields of Criminology and Security.
· Explains the physical and personal security measures available for the protection of people and property; draws up documents in a structured manner that set out the essential elements for the effective implementation of the security arrangements they oversee, as well as evacuation plans for crisis situations; and
the importance of coordination between the various departments involved in an incident until the arrival of the police and security forces.
· Explains the characteristic features of CBRN incidents, with particular reference to the distances defining the different zones and the location of key elements; defines the characteristics of AMOK incidents; draws up preventive plans for containment and protection against terrorist attacks and
response to attacks carried out using both explosives and firearms.
· Explains the basic concepts and essential elements of the various theories of VIP protection, with particular reference to the spherical theory and that of
concentric circles; designs security arrangements and draws up operational plans for the protection of individuals and buildings.
· Describes the essential elements of security at public events; plans, coordinates and directs security arrangements specific to different
in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, and justifies the importance of collaborating with law enforcement agencies when
required in order to provide a comprehensive security service.
· Defines the main elements of legislation relating to Civil Protection and organises and coordinates actions in this context in the event of disasters and public calamities, as well as arguing the need to keep training in this area up to date to contribute to more effective and efficient collaboration.
· Explains the different types of kidnapping and extortion, acts appropriately in the initial stages upon detecting one of these situations, and
justifies the importance of following the instructions of professionals from the State Security Forces and Corps who specialise in this field.
· Explains the various methods of virtual kidnapping and manages such situations appropriately; lists the measures aimed at eliminating or reducing
the risks of falling victim to kidnapping or extortion, correctly applies GPS tracking and location devices in the event of kidnappings, identifies the characteristics that indicate the authenticity of a case of this nature, and emphasises the importance of ensuring security measures are in place in cases of high
risk of kidnapping or extortion, and of ensuring that the person under protection is aware of the need to observe security measures.
· Lists and describes the main characteristics of organisations, with particular reference to the functioning of working groups, and explains the importance of knowing the people who make up the teams they lead.
· Explains the concept of stress and Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome, with particular reference to both processes; applies various stress-reduction techniques
to reduce stress in such a way as to lower arousal levels, and justifies the importance of stress management in optimising organisational outcomes and preventing health problems.
· Lists and describes the various systems for evaluating professional performance, as well as measures of team performance, effectiveness and efficiency; designs
monitoring tools and argues the need for continuous monitoring of results that indicate the extent to which the measures adopted are appropriate.
· Explains the concept of workplace bullying and identifies situations that may be indicative of it or that may foster it, and justifies the need to focus
attention on relationships amongst members of the work group, in order to detect and eradicate this type of behaviour in good time, given the negative repercussions on the victim.
· Explains the factors and circumstances that facilitate or hinder the communication process, as well as how to reduce barriers and improve communication, identifying
successes and mistakes in the management of work teams across different areas of activity, and argues for the need for a work team leader to analyse
the group’s characteristics appropriately in order to implement the most suitable human resources management model.
· List and describe the various physical and electronic security systems; identify vulnerabilities in facilities that can be remedied by means
security devices, and argues the importance of selecting security devices whilst fully respecting privacy and the provisions of the Personal Data Protection Act.
· Explains the factors to be analysed in order to detect security vulnerabilities in private premises and on private land, and correctly assesses the
in the environments under security scrutiny that can be remedied through ICT.
· Describes the main types of offences committed using computer systems and specifies the information required to assist the Security Forces
to solve such cases, detects signs of intrusion and, where appropriate, identifies the type of cybercrime that has been committed following an analysis
of the circumstances, and explains the importance of raising awareness regarding the use of ICT to avoid becoming a victim of crime.
· Lists and explains the security features of paper currency, correctly uses counterfeit detection tools for the purpose of reporting incidents, and detects counterfeit currency using the appropriate means. Defines the components of a signature and the characteristic calligraphic features of handwriting, detects signs of forgery in signatures and handwritten documents, and advocates the need to immediately report any signs of forgery detected in commercial documents to the police.
· Lists and classifies the various ICT-based security measures and their suitability for each circumstance; selects and correctly uses the
electronic security devices in each specific case and justifies the appropriateness of using ICT tools, as well as their correct application in the prevention of criminal offences.
· Explains the regulations governing special devices for investigation, security and electronic surveillance, with particular reference to the operation of drones for surveillance and protection purposes; operates the various ICT-supported security devices correctly; and justifies the
importance of observing safety measures for surveillance devices so that they do not harm people’s health.
Description of course content
· External Placements module: 6 ECTS.
Compulsory (linked to competences CE1, CE2, CE3, CE4, CE5, CE6, CE7, CE8, CE9, CE10, CE11, CE12 and CE13 of the Master’s degree).
Introduction to professional practice within organisations and departments of the Secretary of State for Security, private security firms and/or other bodies related to professions within the scope of the Master’s Degree in Criminology Applied to Security and Crime Prevention
Given the most common types of crime and the exponential development of ICT, remote working is proving increasingly feasible—if not the only option—particularly given the nature of the activities to which students would have access, given the sensitive nature of such work.
Therefore, priority will be given to carrying out external work placements virtually, provided that this does not affect the curriculum and is deemed feasible by both the University and the collaborating organisation. However, in cases where virtual delivery is not possible, placements may be carried out in person. In both cases, this will be duly justified on a case-by-case basis.
Training activities
The aim of the training programme is to provide professional work experience within organisations and departments of the Secretary of State for Security, private security companies
and/or other organisations related to the practice of professions within the scope of the Master’s Degree in Criminology Applied to Security and Crime Prevention. Given the most common types of crime and the exponential development of ICT, remote working is proving increasingly feasible—if not the only option—particularly given the nature of the activities to which students would have access, given their sensitive nature.
Therefore, priority will be given to conducting external work placements virtually, provided this does not affect the curriculum and is deemed feasible by
by the University and by the collaborating organisation. However, in this case, and where the virtual format is not possible, placements may be carried out in person. In both cases, this will be duly justified on a case-by-case basis.
Assessment system and criteria
ASSESSMENT SYSTEM
1. Assessment of performance in the
activities assigned by the
(such as, for example, the drafting
written documents, reports and other
assigned). 50%
2. Assessment of attitudes and values by
the external tutor regarding the
work carried out at their centre, whether
in the online or face-to-face format
(for example, punctuality, commitment,
work ethic, relationships with
colleagues, relationship with their superiors,
etc.). 10%
3. Assessment of the report produced
on the activities carried out
during the work placement
the workplace. 30%
4. Assessment by the academic tutor,
taking into account the comments of the
external tutor and assessing the final report
submitted, the student’s organisational skills
and the level of maturity demonstrated throughout
the entire process of monitoring the
student throughout the
work placement. 10%
