Trade Compliance Certificate

Gain the expertise to navigate the legal and regulatory framework governing international trade and foreign direct investment with this graduate certificate. Trade compliance spans the intersection of international law, business, and policy, ensuring corporations meet the requirements of global trade. While traditionally focused on customs, today's trade compliance includes issues like anti-corruption enforcement, sanctions, and technology restrictions. The specialized subfield of "strategic trade" addresses national security concerns, focusing on the control of sensitive items such as dual-use technologies.

Graduates of this program will develop the skills to interpret trade laws, assess risks, implement compliance programs, and manage audits. They will also gain an understanding of the broader international business and policy environment, linking trade compliance to areas such as trade policy analysis and international production. This program prepares students to excel in the ever-evolving field of global trade compliance.

• Completion Requirements: 5 courses (15 credits) listed below
• Duration: 1 to 1.5 years on average
• Semester of Entry: fall and spring

Schar School certificate students take the same classes as our master's students, choosing from a wide selection of specialized electives taught by renowned faculty who bring real-world experience to the classroom. Students typically earn the certificate in one to one-and-a-half years on average, but with evening classes and a flexible part-time schedule, you can pursue the program at a pace that works for you. The certificate program is comprised of five courses (15 credits), which includes the following:

Required Courses (2 courses | 6 credits)

Students are required to take the following:

GCP 504: Microeconomics and Trade Policy (1-4 credits) Students take 3 credits.
GCP 740: Trade and Regulatory Compliance (3 credits)

Elective Courses (3 courses | 9 credits)

Select three elective courses of your choosing related to trade compliance. Courses should be chosen in consultation with an advisor and approved in advance by the program director. Possible elective courses include:

BIOD 709: Nonproliferation and Arms Control (3 credits)
GCP 603: Global Trade Relations (3 credits)
GCP 770: International Contract Negotiation (3 credits)
POGO 732: Strategic Trade Controls (3 credits)
PUBP 763: Illicit Trade (3 credit)
PUBP 765: Human Smuggling and Trafficking (3 credits)

Earn your master's degree faster by starting with a certificate program. Students can apply up to 12 credits from a certificate program toward a Schar School master's degree upon acceptance into a master's program.

Have questions about this certificate program? Contact the graduate admissions office.