Wildlife & Environmental Crimes InvestigationsOnline Graduate Certificate

The online graduate certificate in wildlife and environmental crime provides students with the background knowledge and expertise on the current global state of wildlife and environmental crime from a financial crime perspective. The student will gain an awareness of what drives these crimes, how it converges with other crime types and what are broader global implications and social factors that come into play. The certificate will focus on innovating new approaches to combating these crimes and supporting enforcement efforts across the criminal justice chain. A variety of enforcement strategies will be analyzed with a focus on financial investigations, laundering techniques and a review of recent and ongoing cases globally along with critiquing current knowledge, thinking and action taking place by governments, NGOs and the private sector.

Required Courses
  • This course explores ways that financial institutions and financial intelligence units can better comply with international anti-money laundering (AML) and anti-terrorist financing (ATF) regulations. Those organizations that fail to meet the standards set by governments and legislators face monetary penalties, sanctions, and settlements stretching into the billions of dollars. Students must receive a minimum grade of 85% to receive credit.

  • This course examines methods that financial intelligence units can employ to combat wildlife crime. This course also explores ways that the compliance function at financial institutions can better detect and report suspicious transactions to the authorities, so that the exploitation of wildlife can be greatly reduced. Students must receive a minimum grade of 85% to receive credit.

  • This course examines methods that financial intelligence units can employ to combat environmental crime. This course also explores ways that the compliance function at financial institutions can better detect and report suspicious transactions to the authorities, so that the exploitation of environmental resources can be greatly reduced. Students must receive a minimum grade of 85% to receive credit.

  • The course engages students in researching and evaluating current trends in money laundering, detection methods employed to uncover money laundering, and identifying preventive measures. Students will be exposed to international issues in money laundering, as well as the increasing presence of terrorist organizations, organized crime, and drug cartels in money laundering operations.

  • The course examines the patterns and trends associated with wildlife crime and the various enforcement approaches that can be applied. This course also explores how we can apply a range of different penalties, fines and sanctions to act as deterrent mechanisms to those engaging in wildlife crime.

  • The course examines new and emerging legal and financial crime strategies to combat environmental crime. It will focus on a variety of enforcement strategies with a focus on financial investigations and a review of recent and ongoing cases globally. This course will also explore how we can apply a range of different penalties, fines, and sanctions to act as deterrent mechanisms to those engaging in wildlife crime.

Admissions Requirements

As this is a Graduate level certificate, applicants must hold a minimum of a Bachelors degree to apply. While it is encouraged that applicants have a Bachelors degree in a scientific discipline, all disciplines will be considered.

For application – a resume, transcripts of former degree(s), and a brief statement of purpose are required. The GRE and letters of recommendation are not required.

Tuition and Fees

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