ECTS credits ECTS credits: 6
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Student's work ECTS: 95 Hours of tutorials: 5 Expository Class: 35 Interactive Classroom: 15 Total: 150
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary Degree Subject RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: Electronics and Computing
Areas: Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence
Center Faculty of Law
Call: First Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable | 1st year (Yes)
The main objective of this subject is to introduce students to the fundamentals of information and communication technologies, paying attention to their current state and future trends, for criminological practice. Special emphasis will be placed on the selection and proper use of existing computer tools in all areas of criminology; as well as the ability to detect and anticipate its obsolescence, and where appropriate learn the fundamentals and use some of the latest information tools and technologies.
Criminology is a multidisciplinary discipline that studies personal, social and political factors that must be learned in their entirety as a guarantee of a coherent criminal policy. In this context, students will learn to handle both specific computer tools closer to their professional field and others of a more general nature.
Module 1. Introduction to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for criminological practice
1.1 Computer networks, Internet and Social Networks
1.2 Cybersecurity and Computer Forensics
1.3 ICT and Criminology: Forensic Science
1.4 Ethical and Professional Aspects in ICT
1.5 Intellectual Property, Patents and Software Licenses
1.6 Types of Software and selection of Computer Tools
1.7 Privacy and Data Protection
1.8 Information Retrieval and Search Engines
Module 2. Fundamentals of Programming
2.1 Introduction to Programming Languages
2.2 Data Types and Instructions
2.3 Algorithms and Procedures
2.4 Modular Programming
Module 3. Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Criminology
3.1 Introduction to AI
3.2 Intelligent Data Analysis
3.3 Machine Learning
Notes or specific material will be provided in the virtual classroom to follow the subject. Given the heterogeneity of the topics to be dealt with in the subject, references to bibliographic resources and other types of content (tutorials, multimedia, etc.) will be provided with each of the topics for the most specific aspects of the subject.
The following references are of a complementary type, they deal with general aspects related to forensic science and ICT (references 1-3) or with technological and AI aspects (references 4-5).
1. James, S.H.; Nordby, J.J.; Bell, S. Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques (4th Edition). (2014). Taylor & Francis. ISBN: 978-1-4398-5386-3
2. Houck, M.M.; Siegel, J.A. Fundamentals of Forensic Science (Second Edition). (2010). Elsevier. ISBN: 978-0-12-374989-5
3. Casey, E. Digital Evidence and Computer Crime. Forensic Science, Computers and the Internet (Third Edition). (2011). Elsevier. ISBN: 978-0-12-374268-1
4. Tanenbaum, A.S. Computer Networks (Fourth Ed). Pearson Prentice-Hall International. (2003). ISBN: 9702601622
5. Russell, S., Norvig, P. Artificial Intelligence (A modern approach), Second Edition. Prentice-Hall International. (2004). ISBN: 9789688806821
Contribute to achieving the competences included in the report of the Degree in Criminology of the USC, especially:
CG1 - ability to collaborate with others and relate, both with professionals from the various facets of criminological activity, and within interdisciplinary and multicultural teams
CG2 - ability to reflect critically and constructively, but also to argue and express oneself in an organized and reasoned way
CG3 - ability to identify and explain complex social problems in the field of Criminology and to apply the appropriate strategies to solve them, working with a systemic perspective that makes their analytical and synthetic consideration possible
CG5 - ability to use the knowledge that makes up Criminology as a scientific discipline, but also to identify and develop a set of quantitative and qualitative research strategies, both in basic and applied fields
CG6 - ability to gather, interpret and synthesize data and information (particularly through the computer network), within their area of study
CG8 - capacity for analysis and synthesis, to acquire a global vision of problems and to apply knowledge to practice
CT1 - autonomous learning
CT2 - adaptation to new situations
CE19 - ability to analyze, assess and communicate empirical information about the crime, the offender, the victim and the means of social control, through the analysis of both the different social communication media and the police statistics in which it is reflected, as well as victimization surveys
CE25 - know the information collection procedures
CE27 - know the fundamentals of data processing and become familiar with univariate and bivariate statistics
The teaching methodology will be based on the individual work of the students, on the discussion with the teachers in class and on individual tutorials.
For each theme or thematic module of the expository classes, the teacher will prepare the contents, explain the objectives of the theme to the students in class, suggest a bibliography, provide them with additional work material, etc. In the expository classes, the skills CG1, CG3, CG5, CG6, CE19, CE25, CE27 will be worked on. In addition, the teaching staff will propose to the students a set of activities to carry out, individually or in groups (work, presentations, readings, etc.). Students must submit a selection of them for evaluation. These activities will allow the development of the following competencies: CG1, CG2, CG3, CG5, CG6, CG8, CT1, CT2, CE25 .
The interactive classes will be held in the Computer Room of the Law School, using various software tools for each of the thematic modules. The students will work in individual positions with the constant support of the teaching staff. The scripts of the practices are self-explanatory, allowing them to be carried out during personal work hours. The realization of the practices will allow to develop the competences CG1, CG3, CG6, CG8, CT1, CT2, CE19, CE25.
Teaching will be supported by the USC virtual platform in the following way: repository of documentation related to the subject (texts, presentations, etc.) and virtual tutoring of students (e-mail and forums).
The evaluation of the learning considers both an exam of the theoretical part (40%) and the evaluation of the deliveries associated with the interactive sessions (40%), the delivery of a personal work and its oral presentation (15%), but also the continuous assessment of each student throughout the course (5%).
It will be an essential requirement to pass all parts (exam, interactive deliveries, personal work, continuous evaluation), considering the following criteria:
1. Exam (40%): the theoretical part of the subject will be evaluated in a single exam to be taken on the official date, which will consist of questions related to all the topics of the program. The exam grade will be the weighted average of the modules of the subject, which will only be calculated in the case of having a grade equal to or greater than 4 in each module. The weighting of the modules is 30% for Module 1, 50% for Module 2, and 20% for Module 3. Modules with a grade lower than 4 must be repeated in the second opportunity.
2. Interactive deliveries (40%): there will be three mandatory deliveries associated with the interactive sessions related to each theoretical module and their weighting will be the same as that of the theory modules (30% the delivery related to Module 1, 50% the delivery related to Module 2, and 20% the delivery related to Module 3). The average grade will only be calculated in the case of having a grade greater than or equal to 4/10 in all deliveries. Those deliveries with a score of less than 4 points must be repeated on the second opportunity. In addition, face-to-face attendance at least 70% of the interactive classes is mandatory. Otherwise the practical part of the subject will be suspended.
3. Personal work (15%): students must submit a personal work and make an oral presentation of it according to the calendar established at the beginning of the semester. The non-presentation of this work will suppose the suspense of the subject. The grade obtained will be the average of the evaluation of the written work and its oral presentation. The average will only be made if a grade equal to or greater than 4 is obtained in each part. The parts with a grade lower than 4 must be repeated in the second opportunity.
4. Continuous evaluation (5%): The attendance and active participation of each student will be taken into account both in the expository classes and in the presentation of works, discussions, seminars, and in the interactive sessions that are held throughout the course. Attendance at least 70% of the presentation sessions and seminars is compulsory. Otherwise, the continuous evaluation of the subject will be suspended.
The final grade for the subject will be the sum of the four partial grades, except in those situations indicated above. When any part is not passed, in such a case the final grade for the opportunity will be the minimum of the partial grades.
Students who have not participated in any of the evaluation activities will obtain the grade of not presented.
Students who have official exemption from class attendance must take, in any case, the final written exam, as well as all deliveries of practices and personal work that are established as mandatory throughout the course and, where appropriate, make the related oral presentation. In this modality, the tutoring and the deliveries will be virtual and the presentations can be made remotely.
In the second opportunity, the students must pass the pending evaluation activities of the first opportunity, in accordance with the previous criteria. For the rest of the activities, the grades obtained during the course will be kept. In any case, the obligatory oral presentation of the personal work must be carried out and passed during the course.
For cases of fraudulent completion of exercises or tests, the provisions of the Regulations for evaluating the academic performance of students and reviewing grades will apply. The total or partial copy of any practice or theory exercise will automatically mean a grade of 0.0 in the subject and opportunity.
Classroom work time: 55 total hours, divided into 35h (expository classes, seminars, oral presentation of papers and associated discussion), 15h (interactive classes in the laboratory), 1h (tutorials) and 4h (controls)
Personal work time: 95 hours (total), divided into 65 hours (autonomous study of theory and practice) and 30 hours (work, projects and other activities).
It is recommended that students solve, verify and validate all the proposed exercises and practices (not only the assessable ones).
Complementary means to teaching: virtual course on the platform provided by the USC, prepared and constantly updated by the teaching staff of the subject.
The predominant language of classes will be Spanish.
Jose Maria Alonso Moral
Coordinador/a- Department
- Electronics and Computing
- Area
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence
- Phone
- 881816432
- josemaria.alonso.moral [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
| Wednesday | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 09:00-11:00 | Grupo clases expositivas | Spanish | Computer Room Five |
| Thursday | |||
| 09:00-11:00 | Grupo clases expositivas | Spanish | Computer Room Five |
| 01.13.2025 10:00-12:00 | Grupo clases expositivas | Computer Room Five |
| 06.16.2025 10:00-12:00 | Grupo clases expositivas | Computer Room Five |