Program Overview

Certificate Program in Privacy Law

The Certificate Program in Privacy Law is designed to unlock dynamic career opportunities in privacy law without the commitment of a three-year law degree.

Program Type and Degree

• Certificate/Non-degree
• J.D. Certificate

College and Program Location

• Chicago-Kent College of Law
• On Campus

Expand Your Legal Knowledge and Become a Privacy Pro with Illinois Tech’s Certificate Program in Privacy Law

Privacy and the laws surrounding it are changing quickly, so a need for professionals who understand how to navigate this vital and rapidly expanding area will only continue to rise. Illinois Tech’s Certificate in Privacy Law will train you to respond to real-life situations, helping you stand out by being able to make a tangible impact in the world of data protection. You can also choose your path in this flexible, hybrid program that can be fully completed in just one year.

Program Overview

Whether you have a law degree or not, Illinois Tech’s Certificate in Privacy Law, offered by our American Bar Association-accredited Chicago-Kent College of Law, will help you develop the legal expertise to become a privacy professional without the commitment of a full law degree. With an emphasis on real-world instruction, you’ll learn how to draft privacy policy, conduct risk assessments, and respond to data breaches. Plus, the flexible, hybrid nature of the certificate program allows you to complete it while working full-time—and in just one year.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of our privacy law certificate are prepared for a variety of roles, including:

• Privacy Officer
• Privacy Analyst
• Privacy Compliance Official

Curriculum

Here are some courses that are among our Certificate in Privacy Law students’ favorites:

• Law of Privacy: This course examines privacy through a patchwork of privacy acts and freedom of information requirements that have been developed through tort doctrine in the courts and as articulated through the Constitution of the United States and those of the various states. All aspects of privacy are considered, including wiretapping; government-required personal and business information; personal, family, and reproductive autonomy; the “right to be let alone;” and the right of publicity.
• Privacy Rights in Employment: This seminar focuses on matters affecting the privacy rights of employees in the private sector. Topics addressed include drug and alcohol testing, defamation, invasion of privacy (and its various forms), and the confidentiality of employee communications, including email, employer’s rights of search and seizure, and employee surveillance and monitoring. Legislative developments and case law in each area will be the subject of discussion in each course meeting.
• GDPR Practicum: The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has become the model for many countries’ privacy/data protection laws. This course provides a basic, practical understanding of the requirements and the practice of the GDPR through the content of the GDPR itself, a few cases interpreting the GDPR, and a case study. The case study, as the facts develop throughout the course, calls for the drafting of documents that are often used when personal data is processed in the EU. An important goal of the course is to provide practical experience in implementing the requirements of the GDPR.

Admission Requirements

You must complete the Illinois Tech graduate application, regardless of which graduate program you wish to pursue. Each college and individual programs may have additional requirements to apply.

Tuition and Fees

Learn more about the university’s general tuition and fees.

Featured Faculty

Elizabeth De Armond

Professor of Legal Research and Writing Director of the Legal Research & Writing Program

Richard Warner

Professor of Law

Program Testimonial

"The privacy program helped me get the certifications that I needed and that employers looked for like the GDPR class I took. I was able to get the European certification which employers really like so it was very helpful."

Jennifer Dickey (LAW ‘24)