Course Description
Financial crime continues to evolve in complexity, scale, and technological sophistication, posing significant challenges to the global economy. This comprehensive course explores the financial crime ecosystem and provides learners with a strong understanding of key offence types. Learners will examine how these crimes intersect and how illicit funds move through financial systems.
The course emphasizes practical investigative methodologies, equipping learners with the skills to plan and structure financial crime investigations; gather and analyze evidence; and apply interview and human intelligence techniques. Learners will also explore the use of digital and open-source intelligence (OSINT), forensic technology, data analytics, and financial tracing techniques to support the effective identification and disruption of criminal activity.
A sector-specific approach ensures learners understand how financial crime risks manifest across financial institutions, public sector procurement, real estate and luxury goods, casino and gaming environments, cryptocurrency and digital assets, DNFBPs, and charities and non-profits.
This fully online course is offered jointly by Dalhousie University and the Canadian Financial Crime Academy. Upon completion, learners will be awarded the Financial Crime Investigation Specialist (FCIS) certification from the CFCA.
Course Outline
- Module 1 - Introduction to Financial Crime and the Financial Crime Ecosystem
- Module 2 - Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing
- Module 3 - Fraud
- Module 4 - Bribery and Corruption
- Module 5 - Sanctions Evasion and Trade-Based Crime
- Module 6 - Cyber-Enabled Financial Crime
- Module 7 - Planning a Financial Crime Investigation
- Module 8 - Gathering and Analyzing Evidence
- Module 9 - Interviewing and Intelligence
- Module 10 - Forensic Technology, Data Analytics, and "Following the Money"
- Module 11 - Sector-Specific Financial Crime Risks (Part 1)
- Module 12 - Sector-Specific Financial Crime Risks (Part 2)
What You Will Learn
Learners who complete this course will:
- Analyze the financial crime ecosystem and key offence types to identify how illicit activity is structured and concealed across sectors.
- Evaluate financial crime risks and typologies within different industries to determine investigative priorities and lines of inquiry.
- Apply structured investigative methodologies to plan, scope, and execute financial crime investigations.
- Differentiate and analyze major financial crime types - including money laundering, fraud, corruption, sanctions evasion, and cyber-enabled crime - to determine appropriate investigative approaches.
- Develop and justify investigative findings and recommendations through clear, professional reporting and analytical reasoning.
Microcredential
This course provides learners with the opportunity to earn a microcredential. A microcredential is evidence of a skill or competency that is employment related. Dalhousie microcredentials are developed in collaboration with employers, industries, and/or organizations that relate to the content. 
A microcredential can be displayed on social media pages, digital resumes, personal webpages, and in email signatures. To earn the microcredential in this course, learners will need to successfully complete a competency-based assessment.
Learn more about this microcredential here.
Notes
Group Training: To discuss group training opportunities, please contact us at openlearning@dal.ca.
The Faculty of Open Learning & Career Development recommends an intermediate level of English language proficiency for the most effective learning and participation in our online and face-to-face courses. A list of minimum recommended scores on some common English tests can be found on our website. If you have questions about your English language proficiency and ability to succeed in this course, please contact openlearning@dal.ca.
Recommended For
- police officers
- customs officers
- financial crime investigators in banks, credit unions, and other regulated entities.
- public safety professionals
- those looking to enter the anti-financial crime profession
Applies Towards the Following Certificates
- Certificate in Police Leadership : Elective
- Certificate in Police Supervisory Skills : Electives
