Get ahead of the compliance curve.
Get ahead of the compliance curve.

Corporate Compliance Certificate Program

Pitt Law’s Online Corporate Compliance Certificate program is designed for U.S. and foreign corporate employees who already work in the corporate compliance field, or wish to make a career move to focus on this area of business, making this certificate program perfect for paralegals, lawyers, and other compliance professionals in finance, internal audit, human resources and environmental sustainability.

After earning your Corporate Compliance Certificate, you will know how to establish an effective program to monitor organizational misconduct, audit compliance and ethics risks, evaluate the effectiveness of the ethics and compliance program, and much more. Enhance your career by expanding your knowledge, skills, and professional understanding of corporate compliance with Pitt Law.

Program Benefits

  • Learn on your schedule with asynchronous classes
  • Certificates can be completed in 10 months
  • Learn from experienced, working legal experts who teach and practice corporate compliance
  • Gain access to a valued and diverse network of colleagues and mentors within the Pitt Law and broader Pitt communities
  • Learn how to establish an effective corporate compliance program
  • For non-lawyers, build concentrated expertise to work more knowledgeably with lawyers
Download Program Brochure

This will only take a moment.

By clicking "Get Program Brochure" and submitting this form, I agree to receive text messages, emails and other communication regarding educational programs and opportunities, and to be contacted by University of Pittsburgh and Everspring, its authorized representative. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Reply HELP for help and STOP to cancel. View our privacy policy and disclosures.
Program Brochure

Are you considering a master’s degree in law or a graduate certificate to take your career to the next level? Pitt Law’s Master of Studies in Law online program is designed for professionals seeking to enhance their careers with a versatile alternative to the traditional three-year JD degree. The certificate programs are ideal for those who are not currently looking to pursue a master’s degree.

Complete the form to get a program brochure for Pitt Law’s Online MSL plus your chosen specialization, or your chosen certificate program, delivered to your inbox.

Pitt Law’s Corporate Compliance Certificate Program Students

The Corporate Compliance Certificate is ideal for:

  • U.S. and international professionals who work in a corporate environment and are focused on, or looking to focus on, securities compliance, antitrust issues, and other compliance-related activities
  • U.S. and international non-lawyers, including paralegals and other business professionals who work closely with lawyers day-to-day, including financial, insurance, and legal support professionals
  • U.S. lawyers who wish to expand their knowledge and practice portfolio of corporate compliance
  • Foreign-qualified lawyers seeking a flexibly obtained U.S. credential that does not require residence in the U.S.

Position yourself for leadership in:

  • Corporate compliance and ethics
  • Regulatory affairs
  • Compliance program training
  • Policy development, including Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
  • Auditing and monitoring
  • Financial fraud
  • Environmental and other corporate compliance
Black male executive standing and leading a work meeting

Objectives of the Online Corporate Compliance Certificate Program

The Corporate Compliance Certificate program was developed to meet the growing need for compliance professionals. Busy professionals will build a strong compliance foundation by learning how to:

  • Understand the fundamentals of corporate compliance
  • Design a compliance program from the ground up, as well as related policies and procedures
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of ethics and compliance programs
  • Work with third-party mechanisms to report misconduct and seek advice
  • Audit for compliance and ethics risks
  • Manage other issues around public company disclosures and compliance programs
  • Understand the nuances of the different potential clientele students may work with, such as individuals, for-profit and nonprofit corporations, and hybrid and governmental entities

Corporate Compliance (15 credits)

Introduction to Corporate Compliance (3 credits)

Course Description
This course will provide an introduction to corporate compliance programs for U.S. and foreign lawyers, as well non-lawyers. Learn the basics of a compliance program to build a strong foundation to approach corporate compliance.

Topics covered in this course will include:
  • Importance of a compliance program
  • Importance of ethics, organizational culture (vision and values), and a code of conduct
  • Understanding the key issues of an organization’s compliance policies and procedures
  • Understanding which policies and procedures should be covered in a compliance program
  • Incorporating compliance and ethics standards in contractual arrangements

Ethics and Compliance Programs (3 credits)

Course Description
This course introduces students to creating an ethics and compliance program.

Topics covered will include:
  • Framework: U.S. Department of Justice Sentencing Guidelines and Guidance on corporate compliance programs
  • How to create an effective ethics and compliance program
  • Conducting a risk assessment to determine the greatest risk facing an organization, including understanding its path to market (agents, distributors, licensees, and other intermediaries)
  • Creating a culture of integrity
  • Effective drafting of compliance policies and procedures
  • Effective drafting of a code of conduct
  • Drafting a gifts and entertainment policy
  • Integrating the ethics and compliance program into the organization

Designing, Measuring Effectiveness, and Auditing Compliance Programs (3 credits)

Course Description
This course introduces students to designing and measuring effective audit compliance programs. This will be based on the Department of Justice Sentencing Guidelines.

Topics covered will include:
  • Administering an effective compliance program, such that the goals and objectives are achieved
  • Defining the authority and role of ethics and compliance professionals, including reporting lines and access to an organization’s board of directors or audit committee
  • Creating an annual ethics and compliance work plan
  • Ensuring that the organization has processes in place to assess key areas of risk, including intermediary review and assessment
  • Compliance lines and other telephone or online reporting mechanisms
  • Communication, education and training of a compliance risk program
  • Monitoring for organizational misconducts
  • Monitoring ethics and compliance related activities and risks
  • Conducting a risk-based assessment of the compliance program

Conducting Investigations and Risk Assessments (3 credits)

Course Description
This course introduces students to conducting investigations and risk assessments and teaches them how to conduct an internal investigation.

Topics covered will include:
  • Representing the company, not the interviewee
  • Purpose of the interview
  • Legal and ethical considerations of internal investigations in foreign jurisdictions, i.e., preserving attorney client privilege where it exists
  • Responding to governmental inquiries and investigations and voluntary disclosures to regulatory agencies
  • EU Dawn Raids and other unannounced governmental investigations
  • Conducting periodic risk assessments
  • Use and development of risk assessment methodology

Special Topics in Compliance Seminar (3 credits)

Course Description
This seminar study allows students to take an in-depth look at special topics in corporate compliance.

This includes topics such as:
  • Securities Compliance, including SEC Disclosures
  • Antitrust Compliance
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
  • UK Antibribery Act
  • Joint Ventures
  • Enterprise Risk Management
  • Financial Compliance
  • International Trade and Export Compliance
  • Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Compliance
Max Laun_.jpg

Meet Corporate Compliance Online Program Director Max Laun

University of Pittsburgh alumnus Max Laun served as Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer for Arconic Inc., before retiring in 2020. His major area of legal practice was international mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures, and over the course of his Alcoa career, he led transactions on six continents, including major greenfield investments by the company in Saudi Arabia and Iceland, state privatizations in Hungary, Italy, Spain, Russia, China and Venezuela, and other private transactions in 15+ countries across Europe, Latin America, and Asia.

Professor Laun currently serves on several public service non-profit boards of directors, including the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. (PLAN); the National Legal Aid and Defenders Association (NLADA); on the Pennsylvania PA Continuing Legal Education Board; and on the Advisory Council to Pitt Law’s Center for International Legal Education (CILE).

Earning Your Corporate Compliance Certificate is Just the Beginning

With your certificate, you will have a sure footing in corporate compliance. Certificate students who successfully complete a graduate certificate program with a 3.0 GPA have the option to pursue the Master of Studies in Law degree at Pitt Law.

Pitt Law opens doors for you. Start your journey today.

Fall 2024 Admissions Deadlines

Aug
2
Priority Deadline
August 2
Fall 2024
Aug
12
Final Deadline
August 12
Fall 2024
Aug
19
Start Date
August 19
Fall 2024

University of Pittsburgh has engaged Everspring, a leading provider of education and technology services, to support select aspects of program delivery.