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• Master of Criminology

Master of Criminology (274AB)

Masters (Coursework) Year: 2023 Delivered: On Campus (Parkville)

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About this course

Coordinator

Dr Dave McDonald

[email protected]

The Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Currently enrolled students:

• Contact Stop 1
• General information: https://ask.unimelb.edu.au

Future students:

• Further information: http://graduate.arts.unimelb.edu.au/
• Contact: 'make an enquiry' on http://graduate.arts.unimelb.edu.au/degrees/2-master-of-criminology

The Master of Criminology provides an advanced understanding of crime, harm and best-practice justice innovation.

How to respond to crime and injustice are core issues in any society, sitting at the heart of government, legal and social policy and practice. Focused on how to better recognise and address the complex causes of crime and criminalisation in society, the Master of Criminology gives graduates the knowledge and professional skills to engage with criminal justice governance and social and legal justice across a wide range of professional areas.

The Master of Criminology provides students and working professionals with the opportunity to develop a comprehensive understanding of the range of social, political, legal and economic issues associated with offending, victimisation, the prevention of crime and the pursuit of justice and to apply this knowledge in practice. Grounded in an interdisciplinary framework and drawing on contemporary research and theory, the Master of Criminology places crime and criminality in a broader context of social and historical inequality and considers the strengths, limitations, impact and effects of social, legal, government and policy responses to crime across time and throughout the world.

Taught by leading experts in Australia’s oldest continuing Criminology program, the Master of Criminology is underpinned by strong research, theory, methods and links to industry.

Links to further information

http://arts.unimelb.edu.au/ssps

Last updated: 12 September 2024

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Idaho college killings suspect is criminology PhD student

Authorities in Pennsylvania arrested a suspect in the killings of four University of Idaho students who were found stabbed to death in their beds more than a month ago, Moscow Police Chief James Fry said Friday. (Dec. 30)

Here’s the latest for Friday December 30th: Congress releases Trump’s tax returns; Authorities make an arrest in University of Idaho killings; Southwest Airlines return to normal flight schedule; Pele fans pay tribute in his hometown

Police removed boxes of personal belonging from a rental home near the University of Idaho campus where four students were killed November 13th. (Nov. 6)

This photo provided by Monroe County (Pa.) Correctional Facility shows Bryan Kohberger. Arrest paperwork filed by Pennsylvania State Police in Monroe County Court, Friday, Dec. 30, 2022, said Kohberger, 28, was being held for extradition in a criminal homicide investigation in the killings of four University of Idaho students, based on an active arrest warrant for first degree murder issued by the Moscow Police Department and Latah County Prosecutor’s Office. (Monroe County (Pa.) Correctional Facility via AP)

FILE - A flyer seeking information about the killings of four University of Idaho students who were found dead is displayed on a table along with buttons and bracelets on Nov. 30, 2022, during a vigil in memory of the victims in Moscow, Idaho. A suspect in the killings of four University of Idaho students was arrested in eastern Pennsylvania, a law enforcement official said Friday, Dec. 30. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

FILE - A Moscow police officer stands guard in his vehicle, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022, at the home where four University of Idaho students were found dead on Nov. 13, in Moscow, Idaho. A suspect in the killings of four University of Idaho students was arrested in eastern Pennsylvania, a law enforcement official said Friday, Dec. 30. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren,File)

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A 28-year-old criminal justice graduate student was arrested in eastern Pennsylvania on Friday as a suspect in the mysterious stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students last month, authorities said.

DNA evidence played a key role in identifying Bryan Christopher Kohberger as a suspect in the killings, and officials were able to match his DNA to genetic material recovered during the investigation, a law enforcement official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation.

The students — Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin — were stabbed to death at a rental home near campus in Moscow, Idaho, sometime in the early morning hours of Nov. 13.

Moscow Police Chief James Fry said Kohberger attends Washington State University, which is only a few miles across the state line from Moscow.

Investigators are still looking for a weapon, Fry said at a press conference. He was emotional as he announced the arrest, calling the victims by their first names.

The killings initially confounded law enforcement and shook the small farming community of about 25,000 people, which hadn’t had a murder for five years. But tips began pouring in after law enforcement asked the public for help finding a white Hyundai Elantra sedan seen near the home around the time of the killings.

In addition to the DNA evidence, authorities also learned Kohberger had a white Hyundai Elantra , the official who spoke anonymously said. In recent days, federal investigators had been watching Kohberger and arrested him early Friday morning at a home in Chestnuthill Township, Pennsylvania.

Federal and state investigators are now combing through his background, financial records and electronic communications as they work to identify a motive and build the case, the official said. The investigators are also interviewing people who knew Kohberger, including those at Washington State University, the official said.

During the press conference, Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson said investigators believe Kohberger broke into the students’ home “with the intent to commit murder.” He is being held without bond in Pennsylvania, and will be held without bond in Idaho once he is returned, Thompson said. The affidavit for four charges of first-degree murder in Idaho will remain sealed until he is returned, as required by state law.

Kohberger is also charged with felony burglary in Idaho, Thompson said. An extradition hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.

Kohberger just completed his first semester as a PhD student in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Washington State University. He is also a teaching assistant for the university’s criminal justice and criminology program, according to WSU’s online directory . University police assisted Idaho law enforcement in executing search warrants at Kohberger’s campus apartment and office, the university said. WSU officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Kohberger’s work as a teaching assistant.

“This horrific act has shaken everyone in the Palouse region,” said WSU provost Elizabeth Chilton in a prepared statement, referring to the scenic rolling hills surrounding both universities. “We will long feel the loss of these young people in the Moscow-Pullman community and hope the announcement today will be a step toward healing.”

WSU and UI are partners in several academic programs, and students sometimes attend classes and seminars or work at the neighboring schools. That doesn’t appear to be the case with Kohberger: University of Idaho President Scott Green wrote in a memo to students and employees on Friday evening that the Idaho school had no record of him.

Kohberger graduated from Northampton Community College in Pennsylvania with an associate of arts degree in psychology in 2018, said college spokesperson Mia Rossi-Marino. DeSales University in Pennsylvania said that he received a bachelor’s degree in 2020 and completed graduate studies in June 2022.

Goncalves, 21, of Rathdrum, Idaho; Mogen, 21, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Kernodle, 20, of Post Falls, Idaho; and Chapin, 20, of Conway, Washington, were members of the university’s Greek system and close friends. Mogen, Goncalves and Kernodle lived in the three-story rental home with two other roommates. Kernodle and Chapin were dating and he was visiting the house that night.

Autopsies showed all four were likely asleep when they were attacked. Some had defensive wounds and each was stabbed multiple times. There was no sign of sexual assault, police said.

Police said Thursday the rental home would be cleared of “potential biohazards and other harmful substances” to collect evidence starting Friday morning.

Shanon Gray, an attorney representing Goncalves’s father, Steve Goncalves, said law enforcement officials called the family last night to let them know about the arrest, but gave no additional information about how or why they believe he might be connected to the murders.

Ben Roberts, a graduate student in the criminology and criminal justice department at WSU, described Kohberger as confident and outgoing, but said it seemed like “he was always looking for a way to fit in.”

“I had honestly just pegged him as being super awkward.” Roberts said.

Roberts started the program in August — along with Kohberger, he said — and had several courses with him. He described Kohberger as wanting to appear academic.

“One thing he would always do, almost without fail, was find the most complicated way to explain something,” he said. “He had to make sure you knew that he knew it.”

Ethan Chapin’s family emailed a statement after the press conference. “We are relieved this chapter is over because it provides a form of closure. However, it doesn’t alter the outcome or alleviate the pain,” the family wrote. “We miss Ethan, and our family is forever changed.”

The case enticed online sleuths who speculated about potential suspects and motives. Safety concerns also had the university hiring an additional security firm to escort students across campus and the Idaho State Police sending troopers to help patrol the city’s streets.

Kohberger was arrested in eastern Pennsylvania in the Pocono Mountains. No lawyer for Kohberger was listed in court documents and phone calls to the county public defender’s office went answered Friday.

Boone reported from Boise, Idaho, and Balsamo reported from Washington. News Researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York, and reporters Mark Scolforo and Brooke Schultz in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Michael Kunzelman in Silver Spring, Maryland, and Martha Bellisle in Seattle also contributed.

Criminology

Major structure, your course structure.

The Bachelor of Arts requires the successful completion of 24 subjects (300-points), including at least one major . Most students study eight subjects each year (usually four subjects in each semester) for three years full-time, or the part-time equivalent.

Most Arts majors require 100 points of study (usually eight subjects) for attainment. This means out of your 300-point program, you have the opportunity to achieve two majors in your course.

Completing your major

If you are taking Criminology as a major, you must complete:

• Two level 1 (usually first year) subjects, comprising of either:
• Arts Discovery and one level 1 elective subject (for a single major) OR two level 1 elective subjects (for a double major)
• One level 2 core subject (usually second year)
• 25 points (usually two subjects) of level 2 elective subjects (with a maximum of 12.5 points in non-core elective subjects)
• One level 3 (usually third year) capstone subject
• 25 points (usually two subjects) of level 3 elective subjects (with a maximum of 12.5 points in non-core elective subjects)

If you are taking Criminology as a minor, you must complete:

• One level 1 elective subject (usually first year)
• Arts Discovery (if not already counted towards a major)
• 12.5 points (usually one subject) of level 2 core subjects
• 12.5 points (usually one subject) of level 2 elective subjects
• 25 points (usually two subjects) of level 3 elective subjects

Breadth studies

Breadth is a unique feature of the Melbourne curriculum. It gives you the chance to explore subjects outside of arts, developing new perspectives and learning to collaborate with others who have different strengths and interests — just as you will in your future career.

Some of our students use breadth to explore creative interests or topics they have always been curious about. Others used breadth to improve their career prospects by complementing their major with a language, communication skills or business expertise.

Aida Zepcan

Aida Zepcan is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Criminology and Sociology

Studying Criminology and Sociology has provided me with an interdisciplinary skill set that has made me think critically about dominant discourses, and both domestic and global systems of domination and resistance.

One of my favourite subjects in the Criminology major has been Crime and Culture . This subject looks at how crime is represented within popular culture, television and films. Within the Criminology major I was fortunate enough to study a breadth of criminological subjects, some tackling troubling topics such as terrorism, youth crime, and indigenous overrepresentation within Australian prisons. Crime and Culture allowed me to analyse in depth some of my favourite crime dramas and films while also unpacking how these films and television shows change or strengthen society’s idea of what crime is.

I believe that the criminal justice system in Australia fails to accept multilayered identities and responds to crime through a very narrow lens. The criminal justice system in Australia has neglected the experiences and often confounding disadvantages faced by the Indigenous population – disadvantages that stem from colonisation – which continue to propel rates of recidivism among these populations.

Studying Criminology has also allowed me to delve deep into the psychologies of criminals while also learning about the criminological theories that underpin justice responses on both a national and international level.

I am currently applying for my Masters, which I plan to undertake overseas in ethnic nationalism and intercultural conflict – a topic very close to my heart, being a child of refugee parents.

I believe that an academic understanding of the processes of migration and cultural conflicts is vital for the development of adequate policies and interventions surrounding refugees and immigration, and I hope that one day I can use my own studies to propel positive change within these fields.

Explore this major

Explore the subjects you could choose as part of this major.

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Indigenous graduate research program coordinator.

Job no:  0053787 Location:  Parkville Role type:  Part-time; Continuing (0.6 FTE) Faculty:  Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences Department: Poche Centre for Indigenous Health Salary:  Level B – $119,231 - $141,581 p.a. (pro rata) plus 17% super

• Lead academic support for Indigenous PhD students, fostering Indigenous leadership in health through tailored programs.
• Play a pivotal role in Indigenous doctoral advancement by driving innovative academic initiatives and global engagement.
• Salary packaging, subsidised health and wellbeing services, fitness and cultural clubs, Myki discounts, and a 25% discount on graduate courses to our staff and their immediate families!

About the Role The Graduate Research Program Coordinator at the University of Melbourne Poche Centre for Indigenous Health leads academic initiatives supporting Indigenous PhD students within the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. This role develops bespoke academic support, delivers program activities, and coordinates major initiatives such as the Indigenous graduate research symposium and Tanderrum Visiting Scholars Program, fostering Indigenous leadership and advancement in higher education.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Provide high level support and strategic advice to the Director of the Poche Centre to lead the Faculty’s Indigenous graduate research initiatives.
• Deliver bespoke academic support to Indigenous PhD students in the Faculty through strong relationships and engagement. 
• Collaborate with other University of Melbourne faculties and Institutes on matters relating to Indigenous graduate research students, eg Murrup Barak and the Indigenous Knowledges Institute.
• Operate with autonomy and demonstrate flexibility in being able to adapt to changing priorities and demands.

Who We Are Looking For The successful candidate will have strong leadership, organisational, and teamwork skills, with a proven ability to foster an inclusive and supportive environment. They will possess excellent interpersonal and written communication skills, balancing multiple priorities in a high-pressure setting, and demonstrate a deep understanding of the needs of Indigenous graduate researchers.

You will also have:

• A PhD in a relevant field of study, or close to attainment, and relevant experience.
• Demonstrated experience in academic program planning and development which will increase the academic opportunities and support for Indigenous graduate research students
• Demonstrated knowledge of the distinct needs and experiences of Indigenous graduate researchers and the broader higher education context.

For further information regarding responsibilities and requirements, please refer to the attached PD.

This role requires that the successful candidate must undergo and maintain an up-to-date Working with Children Check. This is essential to guarantee a secure environment for all individuals at the University. In the case the selected candidate doesn't have a valid Working with Children Check, they will be able to apply for the WWCC as part of the initial onboarding procedures.

Please note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position . This role requires current valid work rights for Australia.

Your New Team –Melbourne Poche Centre for Indigenous health The Melbourne Poche Centre for Indigenous Health has set a strong foundation toward establishing a new generation of Indigenous health leaders and researchers. Based at the University of Melbourne, a global leader in higher education, we offer Indigenous-led programs that build Indigenous health leadership capital and create academic pathways for PhD and post-doctoral achievement and research impact.

What We Offer You! In addition, we offer the opportunity to be part of a vibrant community and enjoy a range of benefits, including generous leave provisions, salary packaging, health and well-being services and discounts on graduate courses. For more information, check out  our benefits  page!

About the University of Melbourne We’re tightly connected with the community, both at home and abroad. We take pride in our people, who all contribute to our mission to benefit society through the transformative impact of education and research. Discover more via  our website  and stay connected with our stories and people on  LinkedIn .   

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Idaho Murder Suspect Had Been a Student of the Criminal Mind

The arrest of a graduate student in the murder of four University of Idaho students eased fears but raised a troubling new question: What was the motive?

By Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs Rachel Sun Mike Baker and Serge F. Kovaleski

MOSCOW, Idaho — About two weeks before four University of Idaho students were found stabbed to death in a home near campus, Bryan Kohberger was sitting in a criminology class at a college just a short drive away, leaning into a conversation about forensics, D.N.A. and other evidence prosecutors use to win convictions.

The 28-year-old graduate student seemed highly engaged in the discussion, a former classmate recalled. It was a subject that had long captivated Mr. Kohberger, who had researched the mind-sets of criminals, studied under a professor in Pennsylvania known for her expertise on serial killers and, for the last few months, pursued a Ph.D. in criminology at Washington State University, about 10 miles from the Idaho crime scene.

Less than two months later, Mr. Kohberger would be the subject of a criminal inquiry, arrested on Friday and charged with the murder of the four Idaho students.

Investigators have yet to outline a motive, but the details emerging about Mr. Kohberger’s deep interest in the psychology of criminals have opened another layer of mystery in a case that has traumatized the college town of Moscow, Idaho, and spawned countless theories from people around the country who followed the case in captivated horror.

Mr. Kohberger was taken into custody on Friday at his parents’ home in Effort, Pa., and was ordered to appear at an extradition hearing on Tuesday. Jason LaBar, the public defender in Monroe County who is representing him, said Mr. Kohberger had been following the case with interest but was “shocked” to be arrested.

“He looks forward to being exonerated, is what he said,” Mr. LaBar said. Mr. Kohberger, he added, would not oppose the effort to return him to Idaho to face the charges. On Sunday, Mr. LaBar issued a statement from Mr. Kohberger’s parents and two sisters saying that they “love and support our son and brother” and had cooperated with the police in an effort to “promote his presumption of innocence.” They also offered prayers for the victims.

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Man charged in the University of Idaho murders studied criminology at a nearby university

The Pennsylvania man charged in the killing of four University of Idaho students was a doctoral student at nearby Washington State University studying in the criminal justice and criminology department.

Bryan Christopher Kohberger, 28, was booked into custody on an arrest warrant out of Moscow, Idaho, charging him with first-degree murder , court records show. He was being held at the Monroe County Correctional Facility, according to court records.

Kohberger was arrested by the Pennsylvania State Police in Chestnuthill Township seven weeks after four students were stabbed to death in their beds — an event that stunned residents in tiny Moscow, perplexed police and prompted a nationwide manhunt.

A Pennsylvania judge in Monroe County, north of Allentown, on Friday ordered that Kohberger be extradited to Idaho next month, court records showed.

Killed in the Nov. 13 attack were Ethan Chapin, 20, of Conway, Washington; Madison Mogen, 21, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Xana Kernodle, 20, of Avondale, Arizona; and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, of Rathdrum, Idaho.

A motive has not been disclosed.

More in-depth coverage of the Idaho student slayings

• Scene of slayings was 'somber' as police grappled with the public response
• Investigators untangling the Idaho student slayings face a 'daunting task': the DNA
• ' Four beautiful kids ': Community remembers slain University of Idaho students at vigil
• How internet sleuthing in University of Idaho slayings can be 'extremely dangerous'

"We are still putting together the pieces," Moscow Police Chief James Fry said at a news conference after the arrest was announced.

The chief public defender of Monroe County, Jason A. LaBar, said in an interview Saturday that his client is "eager to be exonerated."

LaBar is representing the Kohberger in the Idaho extradition request, which is not being challenged, he said. LaBar, who is not part of Kohberger's murder defense, said he spoke with his client for about an hour Friday following his arrest.

"He was very aware, but calm, and really shocked by his arrest," LaBar said, adding of the man's parents, "They are also shocked. They said it's out of character for Brian. They just really taken aback."

LaBar said Kohberger "believes he would have been in Pullman at the time" of the killings, referring to the Washington city where he studies, about 9 miles from Moscow.

Moscow police and the Latah County Prosecutor's Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the attorney's statements.

County prosecutor Bill Thompson said at a news conference Friday that a narrative supporting murder charges is contained in court documents sealed under state law but likely to become available when the defendant arrives in Idaho.

"We are limited on what we are allowed by the courts to say outside of the courtroom," he said.

Kohberger, who most recently was living in an apartment in Pullman, appeared to have a keen interest in crime. He was listed as a Ph.D. student in the department of criminal justice and criminology at Washington State University, which is 10 miles west and just across the state line from the University of Idaho.

Shortly after Kohberger's arrest was announced, WSU took down a graduate student page listing his name.

Fellow WSU criminal justice grad student Ben Roberts said Kohberger came off as confident and outgoing but also seemed like “he was always looking for a way to fit in.”

“It’s pretty out of left field,” Roberts told The Associated Press. “I had honestly just pegged him as being super awkward.”

Kohberger graduated from nearby DeSales University in 2020 with a degree in psychology and earned a master of arts in criminal justice from DeSales in the spring, DeSales University said in a statement Friday.

"Kohberger received a bachelor’s degree in 2020 and completed his graduate studies in June 2022," the statement said. "As a Catholic, Salesian community, we are devastated by this senseless tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims’ families during this difficult time."

Seven months ago, a person with the name Bryan Kohberger took part in a research project that required him to reach out directly to people who had been arrested. At the time, the person identified himself a "student investigator" at DeSales University and was using a school-issued email address.

"My name is Bryan, and I am inviting you to participate in a research project that seeks to understand how emotions and psychological traits influence decision-making when committing a crime," Kohberger wrote in a post that appeared seven months ago on a Reddit community for former prisoners. "In particular, this study seeks to understand the story behind your most recent criminal offense, with an emphasis on your thoughts and feelings throughout your experience."

Earlier, a Bryan Kohberger worked as a security guard in the nearby Pleasant Valley School District where he was credited in 2018 with helping save the life of a hall monitor who was having an asthma attack, The Pocono Record reported.

Senior Breaking News Reporter

Brandy Zadrozny is a senior reporter for NBC News. She covers misinformation, extremism and the internet.

Kate Martin is an enterprise reporter for NBC News, based in North Carolina. 

Corky Siemaszko is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital.

22 Best universities for Criminology and Criminal Justice in Russia

Updated: February 29, 2024

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• Environmental Science
• Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
• Mathematics

Below is a list of best universities in Russia ranked based on their research performance in Criminology and Criminal Justice. A graph of 3.62K citations received by 4.07K academic papers made by 22 universities in Russia was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. National Research University Higher School of Economics

For Criminology and Criminal Justice

2. Moscow State Institute of International Relations

3. Moscow State University

4. Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration

5. St. Petersburg State University

6. Baikal State University

7. RUDN University

8. Kuban State University

9. Ural State Law Academy

10. Saratov State Academy of Law

11. kazan federal university.

12. Far Eastern Federal University

13. Samara National Research University

14. Omsk State University

15. Tomsk State University

16. Volgograd State University

17. Chechen State University

18. Chelyabinsk State University

19. University of Tyumen

20. Bashkir State University

21. Tambov State University

22. Lobachevsky State University of Nizhni Novgorod

The best cities to study Criminology and Criminal Justice in Russia based on the number of universities and their ranks are Moscow , Saint Petersburg , Irkutsk , and Krasnodar .

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Russia

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EXCLUSIVE: Idaho quadruple 'killer's' criminology professor reveals he was 'a brilliant student' and one of smartest she's ever had and says she's 'shocked as sh*t' he's been arrested for murders

• Bryan Kohberger was arrested on Friday following a month-long investigation into the murders of four University of Idaho students
• Kohberger's former professor at DeSales University, Michelle Bolger, said she's in absolute shock after hearing what her former student has been accused of
• Bolger said he was 'a brilliant student' and one of smartest that she'd ever had
• DeSales is a small private Catholic University in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley
• After Kohberger's online class with Bolger, he became a graduate student at Washington State in Pullman, just 15 miles across border from Moscow, Idaho

By Alan Butterfield For Dailymail.Com In Allentown, Pa

Published: 19:54 BST, 1 January 2023 | Updated: 18:20 BST, 2 January 2023

View comments

A former university professor of accused quadruple murder suspect, Bryan Kohberger has told DailyMail.com he was among the smartest students she's ever had.

In an exclusive interview, DeSales University Professor Michelle Bolger said she's in absolute shock after hearing what her former student has been accused of.

'He's a brilliant student,' she told DailyMail.com exclusively from her house in in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania .

'I'm shocked as s**t at what he's been accused of. I don't believe it, but I get it,' she said.

Kohberger is currently in jail awaiting extradition to Idaho where he has been charged with the murders of students Kailee Golcalves, 21, Maddie Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20.

All four were stabbed in their beds in the early morning of November 13.

DeSales University Professor Michelle Bolger said she's in absolute shock after hearing that her former student Bryan Kohberger is the accused Idaho quadruple murder suspect

Bryan Kohlberger, 28, was arrested at on Friday following a more than month-long investigation into the murders of four University of Idaho students on November 13

Kohberger is currently in jail awaiting extradition to Idaho where he has been charged with the murders of students Kailee Golcalves, 21, Maddie Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. All four were stabbed in their beds in the early morning of November 13

Police had been hunting for the killer for seven weeks amid growing criticism that they were getting nowhere. But on Friday they finally arrest Kohberger at his parents' home in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, 2,500 miles from the scene of the crime.

They impounded his white Hyundai Elantra. That model was seen near the murder house in Moscow, Idaho, on the night of the killings and police had considered it their best lead in the hunt for the killer.

Bolger, 33, who has been an Associate Professor at DeSales for the past eight years, said she taught Kohberger, 28, last year in an online class and helped him with his master's thesis project.

'He was an online student in the criminal justice master's degree program and graduated in June 2022,' said Bolger.

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DeSales is a small private Catholic University in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, about 60 miles north of Philadelphia.

The US News and World Report ranks DeSales online Criminal Justice Program as #27 in the country.

The program has a mock crime scene house where, 'it gives our students hands-on, practical experience in investigating criminal activity,' said Joe Walsh, Instructor of Computer Science and Criminal Justice and Director of the Master of Arts Criminal Justice (MACJ) Program.

The total cost of the 30-hour Master's degree program is approximately $24,000.

Bolger said she never met Kohberger in the flesh but knew him from his work online.

'I never saw him in person, I couldn't tell you how tall he was or how much he weighed, my only interaction with him was via email and Zoom,' Bolger told DailyMail.com. 'I didn't know anything about him, whether he was married, had a girlfriend, etc.'

 Bolger, 33, who has been an Associate Professor at DeSales for the past eight years, said she taught Kohberger, 28, last year in an online class and helped him with his master's thesis

Bolger said she never met Kohberger in the flesh but knew him from his work online

DeSales is a small private Catholic University in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, about 60 miles north of Philadelphia

But she said she never saw a 'dark side' to the then 27-year-old graduate student. 'This news is upsetting; I haven't slept at all since hearing about Bryan.

'He' seemed normal to me, but then again, I only knew him from teaching him online. I didn't know anything personal about him. I believe he worked full-time like most of our graduate students do.'

She said she only taught him one class but called him a 'great writer and a 'brilliant student.'

'He was always perfectly professional when I had any interactions with him. In my 10 years of teaching, I've only recommended two students to a PhD program and he was one of them. He was one of my best students – ever. Everyone is in shock over this.'

She said that she believed that Kohberger wanted to pursue a career in academia after graduating from Washington State University.

Bolger says she was one of his professors who helped him with his proposal for a graduate thesis including what many have termed an unusual research questionnaire.

After leaving DeSales in 2022, Kohberger enrolled as a graduate student at Washington State in Pullman, just 15 miles across the state border from Moscow 

'I was one of the professors who helped Bryan with his proposal on his graduate thesis, his capstone project. He did put out a routine questionnaire for his thesis. It looks weird, I understand from the public view. But in criminology it's normal.'

'It's a criminology theory called script theory, it's a normal theory on how and why criminals commit their crime, etc.'

Bolger said, Bryan didn't even end up using any of the data he gleaned from the questionnaire, 'you aren't going to find it anywhere.'

Instead, she said, because he ran out of time, 'his graduate thesis was a narrative one based on the information.'

She then said she went on maternity leave and another professor took her place; she never had any professional interaction with him after that.

Kohberger is currently being held in Monroe County Jail in Stroudsberg, Pennsylvania. He is due in court on Tuesday.

His attorney, chief public defender Jason LaBar has said he will not fight extradition as he is eager to be exonerated in Idaho.

'Mr. Kohberger has been accused of very serious crimes, but the American justice system cloaks him in a veil of innocence, LaBar said in a statement.

'He should be presumed innocent until proven otherwise – not tried in the court of public opinion.'

After leaving DeSales in 2022, Kohberger enrolled as a graduate student at Washington State in Pullman, just 15 miles across the state border from Moscow.

Bolger says she was one of his professors who helped him with his proposal for a graduate thesis including what many have termed an unusual research questionnaire 

Kohberger was allegedly stalking the students in the weeks leading up to the murders. Pictured is the home where the murders took place, just over eight miles from where he worked as a PhD student and teaching assistant 

Moscow Police Chief James Fry said on Friday that officers had searched Kohlberger's office

WSU's online directory shows he worked as a teaching assistant for the university's criminal justice and criminology program. He was also a PhD student in the department.

Ben Roberts, a criminology student, told the Fox affiliate that Kohberger was 'confident' and 'outgoing' but still appeared as if 'he was always looking for a way to fit in.'

Speaking about the horrific allegations against Kohberger, Roberts said, 'It's pretty out of left field. I had honestly just pegged him as being super awkward.'

Roberts began studying at WSU in August at the same time as Kohberger.

'One thing he would always do, almost without fail, was find the most complicated way to explain something,' he said.

BK Norton, a student in the WSU Criminal Justice and Criminology Department, said Friday that they didn't know Kohberger well, but didn't like him.

'We interacted in class, but personally I was not a fan of Bryan because of comments he had made about LGBTQ+ individuals,' they said in an email to The Associated Press.

Share or comment on this article: Idaho 'killer' a brilliant student, says his criminology professor

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Judge moves trial of Idaho student killings suspect Bryan Kohberger due to presumed prejudice

By Cheri Mossburg and Eric Levenson, CNN

(CNN) — An Idaho judge ruled Monday to move the upcoming murder trial of Bryan Kohberger, the man charged with killing four University of Idaho students in 2022, due to concerns that the local community in Moscow is prejudiced against him.

“Considering the undisputed evidence presented by the defense, the extreme nature of the news coverage in this case, and the smaller population in Latah County, the defense has met the rather low standard of demonstrating ‘reasonable likelihood’ that prejudicial news coverage will compromise a fair trial in Latah County,” the judge wrote in the order granting the change.

Kohberger’s defense team had requested to move the case out of town, saying in a recent memorandum and August hearing that he can’t receive a fair trial in Latah County because of “inflammatory” publicity. But prosecutors rejected that argument, saying the court could put in place other measures to ensure a fair trial.

Judge John Judge sided with the defense in Monday’s change of venue ruling.

“The court has spent many months carefully considering the legal and logistical concerns with a trial of this length and magnitude, carefully reading each submission, listening to each expert, and evaluating each party’s position,” he wrote. “Based upon the totality of the factors, Defendant’s Motion for Change of Venue is granted.”

The decision does not specify a new trial location. Instead, Judge referred the case to an administrative director of the courts, and the state Supreme Court will assign both a new venue and judge.

Judge accepted the defense’s survey results showing that locals may not be impartial in the case. He also highlighted logistical issues with holding the trial in Latah County, noting there are not enough county sheriff deputies, court clerks or courthouse space to accommodate such a big trial.

“Thus, the interest of justice requires that the trial be moved to a venue with the resources, both in terms of personnel and space, necessary to effectively and efficiently handle a trial of this magnitude and length so that the parties and the Court can focus on the case and not on peripheral issues,” he wrote.

The ruling is part of the long and winding road since four University of Idaho students – Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen – were fatally stabbed in the overnight hours of November 13, 2022, at a home just off the school’s main campus in Moscow.

Kohberger, a Washington State University graduate student in criminology, was arrested in the killings on December 30, 2022, in his home state of Pennsylvania. Investigators connected him to  a white vehicle seen near the killings, DNA recovered from a tan leather knife sheath found in the home and his cell phone location data, according to court documents.

A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf last year, and his attorneys have indicated he intends to present an alibi as part of his defense. Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty.

The progression of the case has been slowed by a series of pre-trial motions and hearings related to the death penalty, a gag order , the use of investigative genetic genealogy and Kohberger’s proposed alibi . Several of the issues have still not been resolved.

The trial is expected to begin in June 2025 and last about three months.

The family of Kaylee Goncalves, which has previously criticized delays in the case , released a statement Monday saying it was “incredibly disappointed” by the ruling.

“If the judge knew Latah County could not handle this trial for safety reasons, not enough court clerks, logistics and lacking space, why did we waste over a year in a county he knew was not going to handle the trial?” the family said. “The points he mentioned didn’t all of a sudden jump up and bite him in the rear.”

“We have always felt that a fair and impartial jury could be found in Latah County and still believe that is where the trial deserves to be held to help the community heal,” the family added.

The defense has asked that the trial be moved to Boise, the capital and largest city in Idaho. Two other recent high-profile Idaho cases – the murder trials of  Lori Vallow  and  Chad Daybell – were similarly moved to Boise.

This story has been updated with additional information.

The-CNN-Wire ™ & © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

CNN’s Veronica Miracle contributed to this report.

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