DePaul University’s College of Law and Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media (CDM) have partnered to meet the fast-growing market need for highly skilled data privacy, risk management and compliance professionals by offering a unique, interdisciplinary Certificate in Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Law.
Open to both legal, technology and other professionals, this innovative program is one of the first in the country to offer foundational training in both technology and law. By completing six courses that are designed and taught by prominent law and computer science faculty, students will:
You can read more about the program in DePaul Magazine: “Law and tech merge in an innovative program at DePaul that provides students with proficiency in both disciplines” (Fall 2023).
Career Opportunities
Professionals in the legal and technology fields have ample opportunities to pivot to areas of data security and privacy if they have the requisite training. There is high demand for both lawyers and non-lawyers with this expertise, as well as specific job positions that depend on it, such as chief information security officer and data protection officer. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a growth rate of 32 percent from 2022 to 2032 for information security analysts, which is much faster than average for all occupations.
Curriculum
The Certificate in Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Law is designed to provide working professionals with knowledge of the foundational law and technology concepts relevant to the fast-growing areas of regulation and innovation.
Students may start the program at the beginning of DePaul’s Autumn, Winter or Spring terms, and only six courses are required to earn the certificate—five required courses (including a capstone course) and one elective course. All courses are held online and are 10 weeks long, with the exception of one of the elective courses (LAW 341: Internet Law, which is 15 weeks long and typically held in person).
Required Courses
| Course | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 920 | Information Security Management | 2 |
| LAW 924 | Data Privacy Law: US & EU | 2 |
| LAW 925 | Cybersecurity Law: Litigation & Negotiation | 2 |
| LAW 926 | Applied Cybersecurity Management | 2 |
| Choose one of the following: | ||
| Human Centered Cybersecurity | 2 |
| Legal Responsibilities in Information Technology | 2 |
Elective Courses (choose at least one of the following)
| Course | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 341 | Internet Law | 3 |
| LAW 921 | Disaster Recovery Theory & Strategies | 2 |
| IS 444 | IT Auditing | 2 |
| NET 405 | Network Fundamentals | 2 |
1-Year Sample Schedule
| Autumn Term | Winter Term | Spring Term |
|---|---|---|
| LAW 923: Legal Responsibilities in Information Technology or CSEC 445: Human Centered Cybersecurity | LAW 925: Cybersecurity Law: Litigation & Negotiation | LAW 920: Information Security Management |
| LAW 924: Data Privacy Law: US & EU | LAW 926: Applied Cybersecurity Management (capstone) | (Elective) |
To view fullcourse descriptions, please visit the programcatalog page.
Students who wish to continue their studies also can apply their earned certificate credits toward CDM’s MS in Cybersecurity or the College of Law’s Masters of Legal Studies.The only exception to the application of credits is NET 405, which cannot be counted towards the MS in CDM.
Core Full-Time Faculty
The program’s core full-time faculty are all experts in law and technology, and they are supported by professional adjunct faculty who are specialists in their respective fields.
Michael Grynberg
Professor, College of Law
Karen Heart
Instructor, Security, Computer Security & Information Systems, JarvisCollege of Computing and Digital Media
Anthony Volini
Professor of Legal Practice, College of Law
Student Advising
Advising services are provided to certificate program students by the College of Law and the School of Continuing and Professional Studies. Faculty and staff from the College of Law’s nationally ranked also serve as program advisors.
Tuition & Fees
The 2024-2025 program tuition is $11,616.
Admission
Admission decisions are made by the Office of Law Admission.
It is the policy of DePaul University that no person shall be the object of discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, parental status, family relationship status, physical or mental disability, military status, genetic information or other status protected by local, state, or federal law in its employment or its educational settings.
Applicants are required to have a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or the foreign equivalent from a university authorized to confer such a degree by the country in which it is located, as well as a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.0.
Applicants must submit the following:
- Completed online application
- Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts
- One-page personal statement discussing your intellectual interests and pursuits; talents or accomplishments; reasons for applying to the certificate program; or any other factors that will assist our Admission Committee’s evaluation of your candidacy
- Résumé (required and should not exceed two pages)
- Letters of recommendation (optional)
- TOEFL, IELTS or DET scores are required if the applicant has an undergraduate degree from an institution where English is not the primary language. Generally, the College of Law requires a TOEFL/IELTS/DET score of 90 on the iBT, 577 on the PBT, 6.5 on the IELTS or 115 on the DuoLingo English Test.
Completed applications should be sent to gradlaw@depaul.edu. Alternatively, applications can be mailed to:
Office of Law Admissions
DePaul University College of Law
25 East Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60604-2287
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