The opportunities provided through digital and communication technologies have not only influenced the way we live in a ‘digital society’, but also the way we violate norms, commit crimes, fall victims to crimes and participate in justice processes. Although cybercrime can be very technical in nature, this minor is primarily criminological in content and approach, and takes a modern perspective on crime and its human factor. The main objective of the minor is to demonstrate how criminal activity has been changing over the recent decades, how these new ways of violating norms change the traditionally-perceived profiles of offenders and victims, and explore the range of interventions applied in cybercrime prevention. The course is structured as follows: (1) introduction to cybercrime, (2) cyber offending, (3) online victimisation, (4) policing cybercrime, (5) cybercrime prevention, (6) cybercrime investigations, (7) workshop aimed at enhancing students’ digital skills (crime script analysis, Dark Web, social media analysis, data visualisation, AI & cybercrime, social engineering experiment). The minor is offered as a joint undertaking with THUAS Centre of Expertise Cybersecurity, Research Group Cybercrime and Cybersecurity.

1. Students can identify and discuss the features of different types of cybercrime. (Bloom’s taxonomy - Comprehension)
2. Students can describe different profiles of cyber offenders and victims. (Bloom’s taxonomy - Comprehension)
3. Students can illustrate the current interventions to curtail cybercrime. (Bloom’s taxonomy - Comprehension)
4. Students can construct a digital portfolio on cybercrime. (Bloom’s taxonomy – Application)
5. 5. Students can construct a research report on (Bloom’s taxonomy - Application)
6. 6. Students can develop a creative method to raise awareness about cybercrime and propose solutions to curtail it. (Bloom’s taxonomy - Application)

Proficiency in written and spoken English and a propaedeutic degree.

A motivation letter is required, please answer the following questions in your letter:

1. What is your motivation for undertaking this minor?
2. What is an area of specific interest for you within this minor?
3. Which additional reading or research, work or other personal interests, have informed your decision to apply for this particular minor?
4. How will this particular minor assist you to achieve a personal, academic and professional aspiration?
5. What has been so far your average performance grade?
6. Have you already obtained your propaedeutic degree?
7. What type of qualifications have you obtained that confirm your proficiency in written and spoken English?

Van der Wagen, W., Oerlemans, J.J. and Kranenbarg, W.M. (2022). Essentials in cybercrime. A criminological overview for education and practice. The Hague: Eleven. 

Week 1 – Topics: Introduction to the minor, Cybercrime in a digital society, Types of cybercrime and their criminalization, The application of crime theories in cybercrime (exercise). 

Week 2 – Topics: Digital investigations (part I), Digital investigations (part II), Digital investigations (part III), (Cyber) Crime script analysis (exercise). 

Week 3 – Topics: Prevalence and trends in cybercrime offending, Typologies and background characteristics of cyber offenders, The role and structure of online markets in cybercrime, Online escape room (exercise). 

Week 4 - Risk and protective factors of cybercrime victimization, The extent and developments of cybercrime victimisation in the Netherlands,  

Victimhood of cybercrime in small and medium-sized enterprises,  Sexual abuse in a digital society. 

Week 5 – Topics: Policing cybercrime – an international perspective (part I), Policing cybercrime – an international perspective (EUROPOL), Policing cybercrime in the Netherlands, Study visit to the Dutch High-Tech Crime Police Unit. 

Week 6 – Topics: A walk-trough of cybercrime interventions, 

The application of situational crime prevention in cybercrime, Hacktivism: motivations, engagement processes and organizational aspects, The role of campaigns in cybercrime prevention. 

Week 7 – Topics: Enhancing digital skills training (incl. social media protection toolkit, Darknet, data analytics and visualization). The final outcome of the training will be to produce (in groups of 5) a digital evidence portfolio/report for the police/court/probation. 

Assessment: 

1. Written exam (40%), minimum pass rate 5.5 

1. Research report & digital portfolio (30%), minimum pass rate 5.5 

1. Creative assignment (30%), minimum pass rate 5.5 

1. Class participation/attendance (P/F) 

The minor can be of interest to students with the following background: (1) safety and security, (2) criminology, (3) law, (4) cybersecurity, (5) public management.