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    1. UNG
    2. Academics
    3. Degrees & Programs
    4. Graduate Programs

    Compliance & Ethics Graduate Certificate

    UNG's Mike Cottrell College of Business offers the Compliance & Ethics Certificate. The graduate Certificate in Compliance & Ethics prepares students to assume a leadership role in the field of compliance and ethics in government agencies, corporations, and nonprofit organizations. The program is taught at an advanced level but is suitable for individuals who have some experience in compliance or who have previous experience in occupations that required some knowledge of compliance areas (e.g., IT, HR, healthcare, law) and are seeking to make a career change. Graduates of the certificate program will be prepared to sit for one or more of the major compliance certification exams.

    Students will complete a total of 15 credit hours of graduate-level courses to meet the requirements of the certificate program.

    Request Information Apply

    Program Quick Facts

    • Online program
    • All majors may apply
    • Complete for certificate only or as electives in either the MBA or MAcc program
    • Program offered summer semester
    • Full-tuition scholarships available
    Accreditation logo for the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

    Program Application Deadline

    If program capacity is met prior to established admission deadlines, we will stop accepting applications for admission and cancel remaining incomplete applicants. Completing your application earlier is better.

    Summer Deadline

    • May 1

    How to Apply to the Compliance & Ethics Graduate Certificate Program

    • Certificate Non-Degree

      Requirements:

      Note: Current UNG graduate students need to complete the application form and not the online application.
      • Baccalaureate or a master’s degree from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog).
      • If a certificate program applicant holds a master’s degree, only the transcript documenting the master’s is required.

      Optional, recommended items to include in application:

      • Professional resume
      • Statement of Purpose: A six-hundred-word personal statement describing the specific interest in the Compliance Certificate, how you will use this Certificate in your career, and any background in the field of Compliance. If no background in Compliance, then include why you are interested in this field.
      • Statement of Interest in Scholarship: There are full scholarships available for graduate students who commit to completing the certificate in one summer. This scholarship covers the 15 hours of credit required to complete the certificate. If you would like to be considered for this scholarship – please acknowledge in a statement of interest that you are able to complete all required 15 credit hours in the summer term.

      Applications will be reviewed as a group after the April 3 priority deadline. Applications received after the priority deadline will be reviewed in the order received. Applications will be considered until the program is full. Preference will be given to applicants who provide the optional application items. To be considered for a scholarship, optional items must be included.

      Applying to UNG

      • Step 1Application and Application Fee
      • Step 2Official Transcripts
      • Step 3Verification of Lawful Presence in the U.S.

      Submit the Graduate Admissions online application.
      • Non-refundable application fee of $40.
      • Pay with a credit/debit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express) or electronic check (U.S. banks only) when completing the online application.
      • Include check or money order payable to UNG when submitting a paper application.

      Please allow three business days after submitting your application for processing. You will receive an email from grads@ung.edu after your application has been reviewed for accuracy and updated with submitted documents. Please do not check your application status prior to receiving an email from this office as your online application checklist will not accurately reflect the required items for your program of interest.

      Submit one set of official transcripts from each institution attended for all course work, undergraduate and graduate level.

      • Transfer credit posted on records of other institutions is not accepted in lieu of transcripts from original institutions. Please request a transcript from each institution attended.
      • Transcripts that have been opened, scanned or forwarded by email are not official and will not be accepted.
      • Official paper transcripts are accepted if submitted from the issuing institution and mailed to University of North Georgia Admissions Imaging Center, P.O. Box 1358, Gainesville, GA 30503-1358. Student paper transcripts are accepted only when issued to the student in a sealed envelope and submitted to Graduate Admissions unopened.
      • Official electronic transcripts are accepted if submitted from the issuing institution to grads@ung.edu. Depending on the transcript service you are using, grads@ung.edu may not be an available option. You may then select any admissions or undergraduate admissions @ung.edu address. Electronic transcripts forwarded via email from the student are not accepted.
      • International transcripts must have a course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). Evaluations must be sent directly from the agency to the Admissions office. Refer to the evaluator website for a full list of NACES or AICE members. Official evaluations must include certification that the applicant's course work and degrees earned are equivalent to course work and degrees earned from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) and include a cumulative grade point average. Evaluations should be submitted from the evaluation service to Graduate Admissions. Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) with a minimum grade point average of 2.75. 
      • Graduate Admissions will retrieve transcripts of coursework completed in-residence at UNG. You do not need to order official transcripts from UNG.

      Board of Regents’ policy requires all applicants accepted for admission or readmission to UNG seeking in-state for tuition classification provide validation of residency and lawful presence in both the state of Georgia and the United States.

      Learn More

    • Appeal of Graduate Admission

      A candidate whose application is denied has the right to appeal the decision. A written letter of appeal must include strong evidence to support the basis for your appeal. The appeal should consist of information beyond what was previously submitted in your admissions file and detail your ability to be successful in graduate studies.

      Email your letter of appeal as a pdf attachment to grads@ung.edu.

    • All International
      International applicants who must be issued an F-1 visa by UNG to enter the United States to attend school may not apply for completely part-time (less than nine hours) or online programs. This program is only offered as an online program and therefore does not permit F-1 visa student admission.

    Start Your Application Learn More About Graduate Admissions

    Compliance & Ethics Graduate Certificate Curriculum

    Graduate certificates are for those who are not-seeking an additional degree but may be interested in additional education in the field of security and compliance. The Compliance & Ethics graduate certificate program is a 15-credit-hour program

    Program Courses (15 credit hours)

    • CSCI 6010 - Cybersecurity Foundations

      This course is designed to help students understand the critical role of cybersecurity in business and society today. The technical content of the course provides a broad overview of essential concepts and methods for assessing and assuring security in information systems and networks. In addition, the course examines the importance of security policy and management, information security as it relates to business risk and compliance, social issues such as individual privacy, and the role of public policy and international law.

      Hours:
      1

      View Course in Catalog

    • COMP 6100 - Fundamentals of Ethics & Compliance

      In this course, students will learn about the history of ethics and compliance programs with a focus on building effective programs. Topics covered include an introduction to strategic goals, risk management, incident management, resources, civil liberties, and privacy. Students will develop an understanding of how the effectiveness of compliance programs is impacted by program implementation, governance and training. As applicable, the course will cover state, federal and international regulations. This course also introduces students to the legal, policy, oversight, and compliance community (LPOC) at a macro-level, focusing on the intersection of the entities involved in this community. Students will learn about compliance regimes, the set of actions organizations are required to follow in order to be compliant. Topics covered include Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), Federal Sentencing Guidelines, codes of conduct, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accounting Act (HIPAA).

      Prerequisite/Corequisite:
      Prerequisite: Must be enrolled in a graduate program (degree or certificate)

      Hours:
      4

      View Course in Catalog

    • COMP 6200 - Compliance Program Design and Management

      This course will introduce students to the design, implementation, and assessment of a compliance program. Students will explore different compliance frameworks for examining the components of an effective compliance program. Topics covered will include, but are not limited to, regulatory environments, risk appetite, and behavioral factors that must be considered to build, maintain, and promote an organizational culture of ethics and compliance.

      Prerequisite/Corequisite:
      Prerequisite: Must be enrolled in a graduate program (degree or certificate)

      Hours:
      3

      View Course in Catalog

    • COMP 6300 - Data Management and Information Technology

      In this course, the student will gain familiarity with network instruments and measurements used for managing compliance programs within the framework of information technology. The student will be introduced to data management as it pertains to compliance and the instruments used to measure and store the related data. The course also includes a dive into information security, focusing on the data protection controls for a variety of sets of protected data (e.g., HIPAA, financial data), as well as the ethical and legal considerations of data management. Governance will also be discussed at the federal, state and company levels. As the course progresses, the student will use an example system to experience the practical application of each course module. The course concludes with a discussion of current events and emerging issues related to data management and information technology compliance.

      Prerequisite/Corequisite:
      Prerequisite: Must be enrolled in a graduate program (degree or certificate)

      Hours:
      4

      View Course in Catalog

    • COMP 6400 - Advanced Management of Compliance Risk

      Compliance risk has been defined as the "the risk of legal or regulatory sanctions, damage to the current or projected financial condition, damage to business resilience, or damage to reputation resulting from nonconformance with compliance obligations."  This course introduces students to best practices, governance strategies, and tools (such as Bayesian networks) for the identification, evaluation of the probability and impact, and the cost-effective monitoring, control, and minimization of compliance-related risks at an advanced level. Topics covered will include the liability from compliance failures of third parties and ethical lapses. The course also will introduce students to the concept of risk mitigation plans.

       

      Prerequisite/Corequisite:
      Prerequisite: Must be enrolled in a graduate program (degree or certificate)

      Hours:
      3

      View Course in Catalog

    • Mike Cottrell College of Business
    • Catalog
    • Cost

    Questions?

    For questions about the program, contact:
    Carolyn Pelkey, MCCB Graduate Programs Coordinator
    mccbgradprograms@ung.edu
    For questions about the application process, contact:
    Graduate Admissions
    grads@ung.edu 
    706-864-1543
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