College of Law > Academics > Certification & Non-Degree Programs > Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Law Online Certificate

Online Certificate in Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Law

​​​​​​​​

certificate header 

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:  

  • Acquire foundational knowledge at the intersection of law and technology   
  • Learn to identify and solve critical issues in data privacy and cybersecurity law  
  • Develop effective communication skills for interdisciplinary collaboration  
  • Learn to implement innovative strategies to address complex challenges in the field  

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  ​

Law
The College of Law and College of Computing and Digital Media 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 to align with the quarter system, with the exception of LAW 341: Internet Law, a 15 weeklong elective course typically held in person.   Classes are cross listed between the two colleges to allow for ease of registration and administration. 
 
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 in Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Law. The only exception to the application of credits is NET 405: Network Fundamentals, which cannot be counted towards CDM’s MS in Cybersecurity. 

Required Courses

Course Title Semester Hours
LAW 924DATA PRIVACY LAW: US & EU2
LAW 925CYBERSECURITY LAW: LITIGATION AND NEGOTIATION2
LAW 920INFORMATION SECURITY MANAGEMENT2
LAW 926APPLIED CYBERSECURITY MANAGEMENT2
Choose one of the following courses:2
LAW 923
LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
LAW 928
HUMAN-CENTERED CYBERSECURITY

Elective Courses

Course Title Semester Hours
Choose at least one of the following:
LAW 341INTERNET LAW3
LAW 921DISASTER RECOVERY THEORY STRATEGIES2
LAW 927IT AUDITING2
LAW 930NETWORK FUNDAMENTALS2

Content displayed from this DePaul University catalog page.

​​​​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)


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, Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media 

Description

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 Center for Intellectual Property & Information Technology also serve as program advisors. 

Tuition & Fees 

The 2024-2025 program tuition is $11,616, and courses will start running​ Winter 2025.

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

Apply Now