Bachelor's Degree in
Criminalistics and Forensic Sciences

The Bachelor's Degree in Criminalistics and Forensic Sciences opens doors in labor fields such as:

Public Sector

• Assistant Expert.
• Proficient
• Head of Office at the Institute of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Sciences.
• Curriculum improvement for members of the Public Force, especially members of the information and research area.
• Public Prosecutor's Office and Judiciary, among others.

Private Sector

• Independent private expert.
• Private expert for law firm.
• Expert specialized in traffic incidents with insurance companies.
• Security companies, among others.

All applicants must submit the following documentation duly scanned from the original and sent to the promoter to be uploaded to the respective platform: 

• High school diploma or its equivalent.
• High school credits or grades or their equivalent.
• Identity document, ID card or passport in the case of foreigners and residing in Panama during their studies. (If the student is a minor, the youth ID card and the identity document of his guardian.)
• A current passport-size photo  
• Fill out the admission form in electronic format with the promoter. 

If you are a foreigner, documents such as your high school diploma or its equivalent, high school credits or grades or its equivalent must be apostilled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your respective country. In the event that the country does not have a consulate, it must carry out the procedure with the official authorities that validate it).

Given the profile of the “NEOCIBERHUMANIST” Curricular Educational Model of the University, the student must: 

• Permanence at the University will depend, solely and exclusively on the student, on their motivation, ability and vision to obtain the chosen academic degree.
• In order to pass each subject, the participant must obtain a minimum grade of 71 on a scale of 1 to 100, which is equivalent to item C. 
• Respect and comply with the regulations established by the statutes that regulate the relationships between the Metropolitan University of Education, Science and Technology and the students of the institution, taking into account principles and values of the human being.
• Keep payments up to date.
• Attend at least 80% of scheduled meetings in face-to-face and semi face-to-face mode. In case of prolonged absence, you must duly present the argumentation that justifies it. 
• For studies under the virtual modality, attendance is regulated by constant interaction in all activities planned on the platform, including synchronous and asynchronous meetings, as well as the development of the student's autonomous work.
• The student is responsible for the construction of their knowledge, willingness to work and collaborative learning, study in a team on their own, investigate, be self-taught and contribute to self-knowledge and self-motivation. 
• For those students who lose academic continuity (i.e. defer or withdraw) and wish to continue their studies or did not fulfill their degree requirement, they must apply for reinstatement to the current program approved by CTDA and must comply with the validation and homologation regulations.  
• The term of permanence at the University will be in accordance with the number of quarters that make up the academic program.
• The student in cases of force majeure or fortuitous event must submit to the contingency plans or document that takes its place. 

TO OBTAIN THE TECHNICIAN TITLE YOU REQUIRE:

• Take and pass all the subjects of the study plan with a minimum grade of 71 points equivalent to a C. 
• Maintain a cumulative academic index of not less than one (1.0) on a scale of one to three (1 to 3).
• Take and pass a continuing training activity (seminar, diploma, conference, among others), which is linked to a specific area of your training.
• Carry out field practice, with a minimum duration of 160 hours.
• Prepare, present, support and approve the field practice report.   
• Be in good standing with the institution (financial, academic, and library).

TO OBTAIN THE BACHELOR'S DEGREE, THE FOLLOWING IS REQUIRED:

• Take and pass all the subjects of the study plan with a minimum grade of 71 points equivalent to a C. 
• For the purposes of the professional practical subject (II), the student must also prepare, present, support and approve the corresponding report. 
• Maintain a cumulative academic index of not less than one (1.0) on a scale of one to three (1 to 3).
• Take a certification exam of a second language recognized by UNESCO, in accordance with internal regulations.
• Complete and approve one of the following requirements: 
  • A knowledge test.
  • Prepare, support and approve a project (degree work) in their area of knowledge.
  • Postgraduate subjects.
• Be in good standing with the institution (financial, academic, and library).

The Metropolitan University of Education, Science and Technology, in response to the needs of the country and in order to guarantee the administration of justice, from a scientific basis, in accordance with the new trends and demands of society, creates the degree in Criminalistics and Forensic Science, as part of the Faculty of Law and Forensic Sciences, becoming the first Institution to train professionals in the various areas that comprise criminology.  

Through criminalistics, the administration of justice is nourished by all the technical-scientific elements that do not complete the legal world, thus allowing, through its channel, to identify with greater certainty the truth of a certain event with ethical principles, human and technological.

Knowing: 

• Organizes and develops information collection processes for subsequent investigative analysis.
• Learn the basic principles of anatomy and its branches, as well as the principles of construction of the human body, orientation and nomenclature of anatomy.
• Understands the scientific methodology in the development of research work applied to forensic sciences.  
• It includes the main currents of research applied to forensic sciences. 
• Master the applications of forensic biology in the investigation of clues in biological evidence such as blood and seminal stains, hair, food, liquor, and insects.
• Manages the scientific methodology for research and suitability for conducting diagnostic studies and criminal statistics.  
• Understands the most relevant aspects of constitutional law, its norms and laws that govern the country.
• Understands the meaning and scope of the versions and planning of the Criminalistic investigation.
• It includes fundamental human rights, the norms that regulate them and the way to demand them and take action in the case of violations.
• Understands the development of the sociology of crime and the criminal policy of the state, through the study of the origin of different types of crime.
• Learn about the types of photography and their application in the forensic field. 
• Has the basic knowledge to carry out corpse surveys, as well as establishing the time and place in which the criminal act occurred. 
• Learn about the system for identifying people through fingerprints or fingerprints.
• Master the different tests used to determine who fired the gun.
• Learn more about the application of planimetry in the different stages of the investigation, and the role of the expert within these.
• It includes the type of materials and equipment used for investigation at a crime scene.
• Has knowledge of document analysis and their use as evidence against the commission of a crime. 
• Know theoretically and practically the methods used in scientific police and fingerprinting and their practice in investigation.
• Learn about the global approach to human structure and gesticulation and the body as a whole.

Doing

• Apply the general characteristics of anatomy to the study of the various organs. 
• Describes the components and foundations of the research process.
• Adapts the main currents of psychological research to understand the mental process of criminals.
• Interprets the results of forensic biology opinions or expert reports.
• Identify the constitutional norms that govern our country.
• Determines the general concepts of criminology, as well as the disciplines that constitute it. 
• It points out the elements that allow us to demonstrate the effectiveness and validity of human rights and to know their real value when they are applied.
• It details the criminogenic factors and the existing forms of crime.
• Recognize the characteristics of judicial photographs and their application in criminal proceedings. 
• Assesses the need and importance of the intervention of Forensic Medicine in the legal process. 
• Interprets the drawings that present fingerprints (fingertips) in order to definitively determine personal identity.
• Apply knowledge, methods and techniques in order to investigate the phenomena, forms and mechanisms of events originating with short, long and portable firearms.
• It determines the appropriate scientific technical interventions, both in the field of verification of the facts and in the identification of the alleged perpetrator.  
• Apply the drawing techniques already learned, according to the type of case and know the requirements of expert opinions.
• Carry out visual inspections at the crime scene, systematically.
• Apply the concepts and techniques to study and interpret personality through writing.
• Analyzes and compares footprints (applicable mainly in newborns) and how to issue opinions.
• Learn about the toxicity of chemical agents for the prevention, diagnosis, analysis and investigation of poisoning. 
• Explains the role of ethics and legislation in the practice of criminology.
• Manage the dental numbering system and know the main dental pathologies.
• Conduct a detailed study of each particular means of evidence against its regulations and practical exercise.
• Organize the work plan according to the general characteristics of the place, whether it is an open, closed or mixed space.
• Identifies alterations and forgeries in checks, negotiable documents, rubber stamps and other documents imitated by laser, ink jet (bubble printer) and paleographic printing systems. 
• Examines and analyzes tissue samples and evidence, chemicals, physical materials, and ballistic evidence, using recording, measurement, and testing. 
• Ensure the transparency of the procedure, as well as the guarantees established in favor of justice.  
• Recognizes the methods and techniques in the investigation of accidents caused by explosions or fires, in order to locate sources, craters and other evidence, to determine their origins, forms of production and manifestations of accidents.
• Determines the postmortem interval (diagnostic chronothanate) through the use of entomological evidence.
• Recognizes the different pharmacological groups that make up the therapy of psychiatric and neurological diseases.

Living:

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams in the search for clues and evidence to establish the causes of a criminal act.  
• Participate in the design of criminalistic policies in public and private organizations.  
• Advises on criminal situations and events and on methods and techniques for identifying the people involved and the elements involved in the crime.
• It carries out studies and investigations regarding criminal situations and events using methods and techniques for identifying the people involved and the elements involved. 
• Conducts studies, investigations and advice related to crime prevention.
• Demonstrates honesty in personal and professional actions.
• Show tolerance and respect for people's opinions and behaviors.
• He has a comprehensive perception of the human being and an attitude of service towards society and institutions. 
• It promotes the conservation of the rule of law, respect for justice and its administration, promoting a culture of tolerance and compliance with social and citizen values.

Being:

• Demonstrates responsibility in the exercise of his profession.
• He is able to manage work teams in the specialty, provide solutions to various problems related to the criminal phenomenon and implement techniques specific to the scientific method.  
• Presents positive attitudes for the permanent and systematic acquisition of scientific and technological knowledge. 
• Has the capacity for objective and systematic analysis regarding the disciplinary area.  
• Uses critical and self-critical skills to make decisions specific to their discipline. 
• It declares an attitude of respect for human dignity, fidelity to the truth and to the ethical and legal principles of professional action. 

Undertaking

• It generates heterogeneous projects with respect to crime, its increase, its incidence and its repercussions.
• Generates quality project management models based on the efficiency and effectiveness of the resources to be used to reduce crime.
• It promotes the transformation of their environment, through the development of proactive attitudes that - from doing, with knowledge and awareness - enable them to set goals and formulate proposals in their performance in any of the areas, whether in government or private.
• Presents initiatives for innovation and project development in response to the needs of society at the public and private level.  
• Participate in training projects.