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Certificate in Information Privacy

Get smart on the essentials of personal data protection

Information privacy is one of the most important public policy issues of our digital age and an issue of vital importance to Canadians and Canadian organizations. It also is a fast-emerging profession that encompasses how an entity collects, stores, shares and uses personal data. Data-driven organizations need to consider how factors like customer expectations, domestic and global regulations and emerging technologies can impact their operations, management and marketing practices.

Now, more than ever, institutions and individuals need to ensure that  their personal data are used appropriately and according to ethical & legal best practices. Employers are searching for proactive and knowledgeable information privacy professionals to help recommend, implement, manage and scale solutions on an organization’s privacy needs.

Over a five-year period, GTA job postings in information privacy have increased by 142%. For professionals looking to upgrade their skill set or embark on a new career in information privacy, there’s never been a better time to begin.

142% increased demand for Information Privacy experts
182% growth in job postings requiring skills related to privacy

Program Description

In the Certificate in Information Privacy, you will gain fundamental knowledge in information principles, legal concepts, operational methods and emerging technologies that define privacy practice today. You will improve your privacy awareness as well as contribute to better the privacy practices within the organizations you serve or work within. Created in collaboration with Canadian privacy leaders and subject matter experts, this part-time, three-course program is offered in a completely online format to accommodate the schedules and commitments of working professionals.

In only six months of study, you will:

  • Acquire a holistic understanding of the organizational value of privacy and data protection
  • Learn basic tools and methods for safeguarding personal information
  • Comprehend global legal and regulatory requirements for information privacy
  • Interpret the privacy ramifications of new technologies, applications, products and services
  • Learn to identify potential risks, vulnerabilities, harms or misuses of data
  • Identify and coordinate privacy breaches/risk assessments
  • Contribute to the development of an organization’s privacy program

You will learn practical, privacy-enabling tools and methods such as a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA), which assists organizations in identifying and managing the privacy risks arising from new initiatives. You will also learn about Privacy by Design (PbD), a process for embedding privacy-aware features and interfaces in an organization’s product and service development efforts.

And, since privacy protection is a collaborative effort that involves multiple stakeholders, you will gain cross-functional professional skills such as communication, team building and critical thinking. Near the end of the program, you will apply what you have learned towards examining and analyzing real-world privacy breaches.

Our program’s comprehensive curriculum in a condensed format allows you to graduate faster with the skills employers want. By the time you finish, you will have the essential knowledge to stay smart on privacy best practices in today’s rapidly evolving business, technological and consumer environments.

 

Program Format

As of March 16, 2020, all our Continuing Education programs will be delivered 100% online for the foreseeable future. Please see details in the online delivery section.

The Certificate in Information Privacy is delivered in two different formats depending on your term of study.

In the Fall Term (September start), the program is offered in a 100% asynchronous online format. Log in, study, participate in discussions in your online course forum, submit your work, talk to your instructor and log off when you need to. As long as you stay on track with your scheduled course work, you’re free to make the program work around your commitments.

In the Winter Term (January), the program is offered via blended learning, which combines online coursework with one required weekend online session per course (3 weekends over 6 months). In total, there are six (6) live, online sessions that take place over weekends (Saturday and Sunday). The live online sessions are facilitated by expert instructors and allow you to interact with your instructor and peers.

Fall (Sep) – Blended
(Online Coursework +
6 Live Online Sessions)

Winter (Jan) – Online Asynchronous
(No required
live online sessions)

  • Format: Part-Time, Blended
  • Delivery:  Online coursework + 3 weekends of live online class (Sat & Sun)
  • Program Length: 6 months
  • Format: Part-Time, 100% asynchronous online (no required live sessions)
  • Delivery: online coursework that follows a set schedule (no required live online sessions)
  • Program Length: 6 Months

Our flexible online formats are designed to meet the needs of a wide range of students. You will be able to complete the full, 3-course program entirely online over the course of 6 months, and choose the best format that helps you balance your full-time work, family, or other commitments.

Who should take this program?

The Certificate in Information Privacy is for any individual who seeks a potential career path toward information privacy as a discipline. Additionally, it serves individuals who simply want to better understand privacy as a public policy issue.

This program can also enhance the careers of people with an educational background or work experience in:

Information ManagementInformation Management

Information TechnologyInformation Technology

Human ResourcesHuman Resources

MarketingMarketing

… and related fields

 

Certificate in Information Privacy: Interview with Advisory Council Member Peter Kosmala


There are no upcoming dates for this program at present. Please check again later or request further information below.

Register for this Program