Specialization in Weaponry

Program Presentation

The Specialization in Weaponry program trains specialists in obtaining evidence related to criminal proceedings to develop criminalistic expert reports and be able to provide them in a trial, making their defense with the certainty of having done a good job.

It is, therefore, a matter of providing evidence to the justice system in order to clarify the crimes and ascertain the responsibility of individuals. Decisions in a Tribunal are based on the evidence provided, which basically has to be obtained by scientific means. In this sense, a Weaponry technician is in charge of this type of work.

Each country's police forces and corps have qualified specialists, but the private, business, and research sectors are increasingly using the services of private technicians specialized in weaponry.

The training provided by this Specialization allows to obtain a university degree with a professional approach. The program aims to offer training that is closely connected to the context of professional practice. Its design responds to this objective from the didactic approach of the subjects, as well as thanks to the professors and tutors in charge, who have a consolidated trajectory in the field.

The professional opportunities are those specific to the professional working in the world of Justice, making expert reports at the proposal of a party or by judicial appointment, advising lawyers, or working in private forensic laboratories.

The professional who successfully completes the Specialization will be qualified to:

Determine whether a weapon apprehended by the Police is fit for effective use.
Determine whether an imitation gun has undergone modifications to make it fire.
Determine the technical characteristics of a weapon seized by the police.
Determine the effects that certain munitions can produce on the body on which they impact.

Who is the programme for?

The Specialization in Weaponry program trains students in this professional sector and provides them with a rigorous and comprehensive training to be able to develop their expertise and consultancy tasks.

This Specialization can be very useful for lawyers, criminologists, prosecutors, detectives, private security chiefs or directors, police officers, etc.

Diploma

Successful completion of the Program will lead to a Specialization in Weaponry.

Upon successful completion of the Program, the student will receive the degree issued by the university where they have enrolled.

Program Structure

The Specialization in Weaponry program includes eight subjects, totaling 39 credits.

Asignaturas	Credits^a
Weaponry	5
Antique Weapons	5
Long Guns	5
Handguns	5
War Weapons	5
Shooting	3
Police Ballistics	5
Forensic Ballistics	6
TOTAL	39

a. The equivalence in credits may vary according to the university where the student has enrolled. One (1) ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credit is equivalent to 10 hours of supervised and directed activities and 15 hours of independent work. If the student is enrolled in a university that does not belong to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), the relation between credits - hours may vary.

Duration

The Specialization in Weaponry Program has 39 credits.

The duration of the Specialization in Weaponry program varies between 9 and 12 months, depending on the student's commitment. During this period, the student must have successfully passed all the corresponding evaluations as well as the Final Project, if any.

Objectives

General Objective

Know the different types of weaponry and their functionality.

Specific Objectives

Know how firearms work.
Know the characteristics of weapons of war.
Know the theory of projectile motion.
Know the characteristics of historical weapons.

Career Opportunities

Judicial expert in weaponry.
Counsel to attorneys in criminal cases.
As a weapons specialist in police units.

Study Plan

The Specialization in Weaponry program is detailed in the following table:

#	SUBJECTS
1	Weaponry
2	Antique Weapons
3	Long Guns
4	Handguns
5	War Weapons
6	Shooting
7	Police Ballistics
8	Forensic Ballistics

Description of the Subjects

SUBJECTS

Weaponry
The main objective of this subject is to teach the student the types of weapons, their operation, and cartridges in order to be able to apply them in the corresponding weapons regulations and their possible use in a ballistics and armament laboratory. Some of the topics covered are:

FIREARMS

Muzzleloader. Breech-loading weapon. Forged barrel. Firearms accessories.

COLD WEAPONS

Swords. Pocket knives. Knives. Hunting bayonets.

BASIC INTRODUCTION TO BALLISTICS

Ammunition. Identification of the projectile. Cartridge case. Projectile. Gunpowder. Percussion cap. Caliber. Identification codes.

INTRODUCTION TO FIREARMS REGULATIONS

Generalities of firearms regulations. Classification of regulated weapons. Banned weapons. War weapons.

ILLICIT TRAFFICKING OF SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS

TRANSFER CONTROL OF SENSITIVE TECHNOLOGIES

Nuclear Suppliers Groups (NSG). Australia Group (AG). Missile technology control regime. Nuclear, biological, chemical, and aerospace technology.

ASSAULT RIFLES

History of the assault rifle. Modern assault rifles.

SUBMACHINE GUNS
Antique Weapons
The main objective of this subject is to teach the student the history of ancient weapons to be able to apply it to the corresponding weapons regulations and their possible use in a ballistics and weaponry laboratory. Some of the topics included are:

THE 13TH AND 14TH CENTURIES

Gunpowder. Primitive artillery. Bombards. Hand cannon. Culverin.

THE 15TH CENTURY

Matchlock. Hand cannon. Petronel. Key-operated weapons. Arquebus.

TECHNICAL ASPECTS

The Hundred Years' War. The end of the Middle Ages. Direct fire weapons. Matchlock or firelock. Wheellock.

THE BEGINNING OF THE 16TH CENTURY

Arquebuses. New weapons. Harquebuses. Breechloader. Pistol. Flintlock.

THE 16TH CENTURY. 1550-1600

Cartridges. Weapons conditions. Weapons manufacturing. New weapons. Paper cartridge. Weapons of the end of the century.

FLINTLOCK

Snaphance. Miquelet lock. Modern locks.

THE BEGINNING OF THE 17TH CENTURY

Period weapons. Handling of the musket. Hunting with firearms. New weapons. Repetition.

SECOND HALF OF THE 17TH CENTURY

Period weapons. Advances. Handling of weapons.

THE XVIIITH CENTURY

The end of the musket. New weapons and advances.
Long guns
The main objective of this subject is to teach the student everything related to long guns in order to be able to apply it in the corresponding arms regulations and its possible use in a ballistics and weaponry laboratory. Some of the topics included are:

THE PERCUSSION SYSTEM OF LONG GUNS

Forsyth lock. Pauly's cartridge. Fulminate capsule. Percussion in Spain. Hall's breechloader Chambers rifle.

THE BEGINNING OF CARTRIDGES

Cartridges. Rifles. Lefaucheux shotgun. Dreyse rifle. Other weapons.

BREECHLOADER

The Dreyse rifle and cartridge and other advances. New initiators. Houllier's cartridge. Half of the century. Towards breech-loading.

REPEATING FIREARMS

The Henry rifle. Spencer carbine. Daw shotgun. Gatling gun. Chassepot rifle. Winchester 66. The Berdan system.

THE BOLT-ACTION RIFLE

Murata rifle. Mauser-Milanovic rifle. Civilian weapons. Mauser 71/84. The Lebel rifle and other developments. Military rifles from the end of the century.

THE GREAT WAR

Year 1902: The Madsen machine gun. Year 1903: the Springfield rifle. Year 1905. Year 1906: the .30-06 Springfield. Year 1907-1912: the era of machine guns. Year 1914-1917: light automatic weapons. First submachine guns.

THE INTERWAR PERIOD

Automatic weapons. Machine guns. Machine gun rifles. Submachine guns. New machine guns. New submachine guns.

THE WORLD WAR

Submachine guns. Assault rifle. New developments. New assault rifles. The 7.62 NATO. Automatic weapons. The INGRAM submachine gun. Modern assault rifles.
Handguns
The main objective of this subject is to teach the student the different types of handguns from their beginnings to the most modern ones in order to be able to apply such knowledge in ballistics and weaponry laboratories. Some of the topics included are:

MUZZLELOADER PISTOLS

Wheellock. Flintlock pistol. Percussion caplock. Military pistols. Civilian pistols.

MUZZLELOADING REVOLVERS

Pepper-box revolver. Muzzleloading revolvers in Spain. Colt revolvers. Other revolvers.

TRANSITIONAL PISTOLS

System pistols. Lefaucheux pistols. Rotating pistols. Cartridge handguns. Remington system pistols. Garrucha pistols. Gallery pistols. Velo-dog pistols. Pepperbox for spike cartridges. Sharp-type pistols.

METALLIC CARTRIDGE REVOLVERS

Lefaucheux revolvers. Galand and Spirlet revolvers. Smith revolvers. Merwin revolvers. Colt revolvers. Gas extraction revolvers. Bulldog revolvers. Puppy Revolvers. Velo-Dog revolvers. Automatic revolvers. Ordnance revolvers. Nagant Revolvers. Swing-out revolvers.

SEMIAUTOMATIC PISTOLS

Schwarzlose pistol. Borchardt pistol. Mauser 96 pistol. Luger pistol. 1901 Mannlicher pistol. Charola pistol. 1900 Browning pistol. Spanish pistols.

REVOLVERS

Arminius revolvers. Astra revolvers. Colt revolvers. Dan Wesson revolvers. Ruger revolvers.

MODERN PISTOLS

Glock pistol. Beretta pistols. FN pistol. Colt pistol. CZ pistol. HK pistols. IMI pistols. Ruger pistol. Sig Sauer pistols. Smith & Wesson pistols. Tanfoglio guns. Walther pistol.

MACHINE PISTOLS

The Spanish Mauser. Astra pistol. Eibar pistols. The Star pistol. Other machine pistols. Glock pistol. Beretta pistol. Pistols or submachine guns.

OTHER PISTOLS

Inert firearms. Detonating weapons. Weapons that fire gases. Weapons that fire projectiles. Compressed air weapons.
War weapons
The main objective of this subject is to teach the student everything related to war weapons in order to be able to apply it in the corresponding arms regulations and its possible use in a ballistics and weaponry laboratory. Some of the topics included are:

THE BREECHLOADING RIFLES

Dreyse rifle. Sharp's carbine. Rolling Block rifle. Springfield-Allin rifle. Chassepot rifle. Berdan rifle. Mauser-Norris rifle. Martini-Henry rifle. 1871 Mauser rifle. 1874 Gras rifle. 1880 Mauser rifle.

THE REPEATING RIFLES

1881 Jarmann rifle. 1886 Lebel rifle. 1890 Berthier carbine. 1886 Guedes rifle. 1888 Commission rifle. 1889 Lee-Metford rifle. 1889 Schmidt-Rubin rifle. 1889 Krag-Jorgensen rifle. 1891 Mosin-Nagant rifle. 1891 Parravicino-Carcano rifle. 1895 Mannlicher rifle.

MAUSER RIFLES

Spanish M1892 Mauser rifle. Spanish Mauser rifle model 1893. Spanish Mauser carbine model 1893. Mauser karabiner model 1943. Mauser karabiner model 1944. Mauser karabiner model FR-7. Mauser FR-8 carabiner.

SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLES

Mondragon rifle. Fedorov rifle. Pedersen rifle. Garand rifle. Johnson rifle. SKS carbine. US M1 carbine. Tokarev rifle. Ljungman rifle. MAS-49 rifle. Vz. 52 rifle. M-14 rifle.

ASSAULT RIFLES: GERMAN DEVELOPMENTS AND FIRST GENERATION ASSAULT RIFLES

StG 44 rifle. FG 42 rifle. The G-3 family. G11 rifle. The Kalashnikovs. The beginning of first generation rifles. FAL. M-16.

SECOND GENERATION ASSAULT RIFLES

Enfield rifle. FAMAS rifle. Steyr AUG rifle. SG 550/551 rifle.

MACHINE GUN RIFLES

MACHINE GUNS

Gatling machine gun. Nordenfelt machine gun. Gardner machine gun. Maxim machine gun. Vickers machine gun. Browning machine guns. MG 13 machine gun. MG-34 machine gun. MG-42 machine gun. Ameli machine gun. Fiat machine guns. Goryunov machine gun. Hotchkiss machine gun. Lewis machine gun. M60 machine gun. MAG machine gun.

ROCKET LAUNCHERS, BAZOOKAS, AND GRENADE LAUNCHERS

HAND GRENADES, RIFLE GRENADES, AND MORTARS
Shooting
In this subject, we will study the general considerations of shooting, highlighting technique, development of training plans, as well as the differences between the various shooting modalities. Among the topics addressed are:

SHOOTING AND ITS FUNDAMENTALS

Aiming equipment. Relationship between point and elevation. Marksmanship. Shooting errors. Scope centering. Firing technique. Study of marksmanship. Sight and aim. Optical phenomena that can influence the shot.

SHOT ANATOMY. ALIGNMENT, POSITION, AND EXECUTION OF THE SHOT

Position, posture, and alignment. Aiming and stopping the gun. Firing the gun. Breathing influence.

PISTOL GRIPS

Types and shapes. Alignment with the target to achieve a good grip. Weapon deviations. Grip arrangements.

PHYSICAL PREPARATION OF THE SHOOTER

Basic physical preparation. Specific shooting preparation. Conditioned reflexes. Shooter's equipment. The shooter's ear.

TRAINING

Development of a training plan.

COMBAT SHOOTING

Characteristics of combat shooting. Ways to hold a weapon. Instinctive shooting. Bulletproof vests.

THE DIFFERENT SHOOTING MODALITIES

Free pistol. Pneumatic pistol. Rapid fire pistol. Standard pistol and sport pistol. Center fire or large-caliber handgun. Practical shooting ranges.
Police Ballistics
Police ballistics is a branch of general ballistics that is specifically dedicated to the study of weapons and cartridges from the police point of view, divided into interior, exterior, and effects ballistics. A central task of police ballistics is the study of the so-called caliber of a weapon. Therefore, this subject is focused on training in general and police ballistics, weapons, cartridges, and calibers, applicable to modern ballistics laboratories, necessary for research. Some of the topics included are:

INTRODUCTION TO POLICE BALLISTICS

Basic classification of ballistics. Introduction to the concept of weapons. Technical concept of weapon. Firearms. Modern percussion systems. Introduction to firearms safety. Safety rules in the shooting gallery.

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION OF WEAPONS

Weapons classification based on gunpowder. Classification of weapons according to their use. Definition of firearms by the CIP.

CRIMINALISTICS CLASSIFICATION OF PORTABLE FIREARMS

By the length of the weapon. By its charging and ignition procedure. By its autonomy. By its percussion. By the number of cannons. By its caliber. By its bore. By the purpose of use or employment.

THE BARREL OF FIREARMS

Rifling characteristics. The polygonal canyon. Weapon and cartridge measurements. Identification data and name. Smoothbore firearms.

THE CARTRIDGE

Metallic cartridge. Semi-metallic cartridge. Projectiles for smoothbore weapons. Special cartridges.

INTRODUCTION TO GENERAL BALLISTICS

Interior ballistics. External ballistics. Effects or terminal ballistics. Identifying ballistics. Current problems of ballistics.
Forensic Ballistics
In this subject, we will study the parts of the cartridge, the operation of the weapons, the firing process, the ballistic indications, and all the necessary tests to discover which weapon has fired, the caliber, the firing distance, as well as the injuries produced in a human body. Some of the topics covered are:

APPROACH TO FORENSIC BALLISTICS

Generalities of the ocular inspection in crimes with firearms. Preliminary examination. Witness statements.

INJURIES BY FIREARMS

Classifications of firearms. Elements that make up a shot. Morphology of firearm wounds. Medical-legal problems in firearm injuries. Explosions. Types of blast injuries.

OCULAR INSPECTION AND ANALYTICAL FORENSIC BALLISTICS

Identifying and comparative ballistics. Repetitive and accidental marks related to forensic ballistics. Marks on the bullet. Control bullets collection systems. Methods of bullet comparison in forensic ballistics. Additional markings and objects attached to the fired bullets. Study of bullet deformation in relation to technical police investigation. Forensic ballistic study on marks on the cartridge case. Identification of gunpowder traces in the visual inspection. Different systems for the collection of gunshot residues for transfer to the laboratory. Techniques for the investigation of gunpowder traces in the laboratory. Analytical procedures to identify antimony and barium. Other microchemical methods to detect substances derived from a gunshot. Searching Method for metallic residues in the interior of a firearm.

INDICATIONS AND RESOURCES FOR THE PREPARATION OF A FORENSIC BALLISTICS REPORT

Sequences in safety measures in the handling of a firearm. Micro-comparative study. Basic safety equipment. Laser trajectory finder kit. Reconstruction of the numbering of an erased gun. Sample report. Most frequent types of forensic ballistics studies.

NOTIONS OF CALIBER AND CARTRIDGE IN FORENSIC BALLISTICS. COMPILATION OF USEFUL PARAMETERS

Shotgun caliber. Caliber of smoothbore weapons. The caliber of rifled-bore weapons. Evolution of cartridges. Cartridge case. Initiating systems. Initiating explosives. Bullet. Crimping and bullet manufacturing process. Hunting bullets. Handgun bullets. Lead bullets. Compressed air pellets. Gunpowder.

Management

Academic Management

Msc. Luis Jiménez Romero.
General Director of the School of Criminology of Catalonia since 1995. From 1980 to 1992, he worked as a Spanish government official specialized in security, explosives deactivation, and criminal investigation. Since 1994, he has also been a freelance forensic psychologist, with experience in preparing expert reports on imputability, credibility of testimony, procedural capacity, civil capacities, victim assessment, etc. Academically, he holds a Diploma in Criminology and Private Investigation from the Universidad Europea Miguel de Cervantes and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia.

Professors and Authors

Dr. Miguel Ángel Soria Verde. Doctor in Psychology from the Universidad de Barcelona. Professor of Legal, Criminal Psychology, and Advanced Criminology at the Faculties of Psychology and Law of the Universidad de Barcelona. Director of the Master in Criminal Investigation (UB), as well as the Master in Legal and Forensic Psychology (UAB). Since 1990, he has been involved as a forensic expert in homicide, rape, and child sexual abuse cases. He has published more than 70 articles and chapters and a dozen books on the subject. Violent crime investigator (family homicides, child pornography, and serial rapes).
Dr. Tomás Salás Darrocha. Doctor in Law from the Universidad de Barcelona and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the same university. With a long and prestigious career in the judiciary, he is a practicing Magistrate-Judge in the Criminal Courts of Barcelona and was head of the technical office of the Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC), among other positions.
Dr. Eduardo Silva. Doctor in Projects by the Universidad Internacional Iberoamericana. Master's Degree in International Business Management from the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona. Lawyer and Notary Public from the Universidad Rafael Landívar. Lawyer in the Legal Department of the Fundación Universitaria Iberoamericana. Executive Director of the Fundación Universitaria Iberoamericana, Guatemala.
Mg. Alba Hernández Santana. Professor and director of final projects at the Fundación Universitaria Iberoamericana, lecturer at the Universidad Internacional Iberoamericana. Master's Degree in Social Psychology and Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from the Universidad de La Habana. Expert in conflict resolution, with more than 20 years of experience in organizational research and consulting.
Mg. Sonia Juliana Pérez Pérez. Professor and director of final projects at the Fundación Universitaria Iberoamericana, lecturer at the Universidad Internacional Iberoamericana. Master's Degree in Music Therapy from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Bachelor's Degree in Andropology from the Universidad de Los Andes, Colombia; Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia, Colombia.
Lic. David Martínez Bautista. General Secretary of the School of Criminology of Catalonia since 1995. Since then, he has also worked as a Judicial Expert in Ballistics and Weapons and Fire Investigation. Academically, he is a doctoral student in History of Pharmacy from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, has a Bachelor's in Pharmacy from the same university, a Higher Diploma in Criminology and Private Investigation and "Expertus in Paleontology" from the Geological Museum of the Diocesan Seminary of Barcelona.
Lic. Nuria Alba Quintero. Practicing lawyer (civil and criminal) with extensive experience in both the private and public spheres, she also teaches at the School of Criminology of Catalonia. Law degree from the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona.