Advanced Certificate in Transnational Organized Crime Studies

Advanced Certificate in Transnational Organized Crime Studies (ACTOCS)

The Advanced Certificate in Transnational and Cyber Organized Crime Studies (ACTOCS) offers advanced instruction on the nature, dynamics, causes, and control of those crime phenomena that pose a challenge to more than one country and call for international cooperation. It examines the nature and etiology of established as well as emerging transnational and cyber organized criminal groups and criminal activities. The focus is on illegal cross-border activities including drug trafficking, arms smuggling, wildlife crime and human trafficking; transnational predatory crimes such as serial burglary; kidnapping, extortion, and financial fraud; and networks of offenders involved in these crimes and their mobility, This advanced certificate critically examines factors that facilitate and shape transnational crimes, including technology, and identifies the clearnet and darknet spaces where cyber organized criminal groups operate, as well as examines structures, tactics, and methods of operation of members of these groups.

To enhance cross-border cybersecurity and improve prevention strategies, the certificate critically analyzes transnational and cyber organized crimes from various theoretical perspectives. It also delves into the complex process of preventing and responding to transnational and cyber organized crime. It introduces students to the legal and institutional frameworks and measures used to facilitate international cooperation, including mutual legal assistance, extradition, informal and formal law enforcement cooperation, and joint investigation. Relevant procedural issues that arise in cases of transnational and cyber organized crime, such as jurisdiction, the use of special investigative techniques, tracing and freezing of illicit assets, and confiscation of criminal proceeds are also explored.

Curriculum

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:

Demonstrate knowledge of how criminal structures and illegal activities transcend international boarders
Demonstrate knowledge if international legal and institutional frameworks for responding to transnational organized crime
Think critically about potential solutions for transnational crime and develop theoretically grounded and evidence-based policy solutions that integrate interdisciplinary knowledge
Be able to classify and analyze transnational organized crime phenomena
Be able to critically assess the validity and reliability of data on transnational crime
Demonstrate knowledge of private sector, public private and civil society responses to transnational crime and identify best practices in this field
Gain knowledge about less common form, as well as emerging new forms of transnational crime

Students in this program will explore social media, encrypted communications, the darknet, and other digital platforms in the trafficking ecosystem and how law enforcement, NGOs, and tech companies utilize technology for prevention and intervention.

This advanced certificate program is appropriate for students who wish to engage in research, join law enforcement agencies at national or international levels, or seek employment at public or private international organizations.

This is a stand-alone certificate at the graduate level. A student may pursue the advanced certificate independent of a master's degree or while pursuing a John Jay master's degree. Students who successfully complete the program are awarded a New York State Educational Department certificate.

Modality

ACTOCS can be completed fully on campus or fully online. The ACTOCS follows the same rule structure (seen below) as the International Crime and Justice Masters of Arts program in scheduling. You may schedule a meeting with our academic or career advisor to determine what schedule best works for you.

On-campus:

Spring and fall semesters are 15 weeks long.
On-campus classes are 15 weeks: 14 weeks of classes and one exam week.
Due to the difficulty of graduate courses, on-campus students are recommended to take no more than 9 credits per semester. They may take 12 credits if authorized by the Program Director, and up to 15 credits with special authorization from the Program Director and the Dean of Academic Programs.
On-campus students are allowed to take five online classes throughout their time in the program.

Online:

Online classes divide the 15-week semester into two sections that consist of 8-week-1 and 8-week-2.
Example: 8-week-1 would run from January 26 to March 22, and 8-week-2 would run from March 29 to May 23.
Online students are NOT allowed to take on-campus classes unless they permanently switch their learning modality to on campus and complete their Immunization documenation with the Admissions Department.
Students are allowed only two 8-week-1 and two 8-week-2 courses per semester; no authorization will be given to circumvent this regulation.
Summer classes may be offered in 8-week-1 and 8-week-2, 5-week-1 and 5-week-2, or 3-week-1 sections, depending on availability.
- Students may take one class per 8-week-1 and one per 8-week-2 session; one class per 5-week-1 and one per 5-week-2 session; one 3-week.
Winter classes are three weeks long. Students are allowed only one course per winter term.

Application Information

Students pursuing the standalone ACTOCS certificate must apply through Graduate Admissions: https://www.jjay.cuny.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions

Students admitted to the Master of Arts Degree Program in International Crime and Justice may complete the ACTOCS certificate as part of their program requirements (ICJ706 and three ACTOCS electives).

Required Course (3 credits)

ICJ 706 Transnational and Cyber Organized Crime

Electives (9 credits)

Current List of Approved ACTOCS Electives (updated February 3, 2025)

Criminal Justice Courses

Certificates

Add or Remove ACTOCS Application Form

To add or remove the ACTOCS Certificate Application Form to John Jay Express or Office of the Registrar

Link

Completion Form

Advanced Certificate Completion Application

This application is only applicable to students who are enrolled in a graduate advanced certificate program. After meeting all program requirements, complete and submit this form to the Office of the Registrar via email at: registraraudit@jjay.cuny.edu in order to receive an official advanced certificate from the New York State Education Department.

Fill out here

Contact Us

EMAIL

jarsovska @jjay.cuny.edu

rbarberet@jjay.cuny.edu

VISIT

Graduate Admissions L.64.20

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Program Coordinator of the Advanced Certificate in Transnational Organized Crime Studies (ACTOCS)

Rosemary Barberet, PhD
Professor
Department of Sociology
Office: Haaren Hall 520.15
Phone: 212-237-8676
Email: rbarberet@jjay.cuny.edu
Faculty Website: https://www.jjay.cuny.edu/faculty/rosemary-barberet