Professional Certificates

This concise, nine-hour certificate program prepares you to enter the computer science field. It also positions you to complete a master’s degree in Information Technology or Software Engineering as well. In this program, you will: develop a thorough understanding of the principles of object-orientation, such as abstraction, delegation, inheritance, and polymorphism; learn basic design patterns; and gain programming experience in mainstream object-oriented languages such as C++ and Java.

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Learning Outcomes & Courses

• Ability to take a problem, break it into parts, specify algorithms, and express a solution in terms of variables, data types, input/output, repetition, choice, arrays, subprograms, classes, and objects
• Learn linear data structures and the performance of their operations as well as how to solve simple computational problems by designing suitable algorithms and efficient data structures
• Depending on your third course selection, you will gain exposure to software engineering, project management, web application development, or mobile device software development

COMP 170 – Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming

COMP 271– Data Structures: Algorithms and Applications

Choose One:

• Software Engineering Option (COMP 313/413 – Intermediate Object-Oriented Development)
• Information Technology Option (CPST 349 – Project Management or COMP 377/466 – IT Project Management)
• Web Option (CPST 342 – Introduction to Web Application Development)
• Mobile Option (CPST 343 – Software Development for Mobile Devices)

The 3-course Cybersecurity Technology Management Certificate provides students with a background in both the technological and managerial skills needed to be an effective cybersecurity professional in today’s IT enterprises. Students learn how to assess organizational preparedness against cyberthreats and how to manage their aftermath, including ensuring continuity of IT functions. Students also develop a strategy for designing and building cloud security architectures. An emphasis on ethical, legal, policy, and regulatory concerns is embedded throughout the program.

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Learning Outcomes & Courses

• Explain the strategic importance of effective, interdisciplinary, and multifunctional enterprise information security governance and information security management program and its execution
• Evaluate the effectiveness and potential application of multiple information security governance structures and information security management programs for variant enterprise scenarios with consideration for strategic, operational, ethical, social, environmental, and risk factors
• Apply foundational knowledge of governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) concepts as they relate to legal, regulatory, and standards-based environments, such as HIPAA, FISMA, NERC, PCI DSS, GLBA, SOX, FERPA, COPPA, and others
• Describe and identify policy frameworks, legal and compliance implications, and best practices
• Define the constituent components of Contingency Planning, including Business Impact Analysis, Incident Response Planning, Disaster Recovery Planning, Business Continuity Planning, and Crisis Management Planning
• Describe the phases associated with the preparation and organization of incident response operations
• Define threat management and its role in incident response
• Develop an incident response plan
• Identify the known threats, risks, vulnerabilities, privacy issues, and regulatory requirements associated with cloud-based IT services
• Understand the concepts and guiding principles for designing and implementing appropriate safeguards and countermeasures for cloud-based IT services
• Design and build secure cloud architectures that assure secure isolation of physical and logical infrastructures

CPST 381 Cybersecurity Governance

CPST 382 Cybersecurity Incident Response Management

CPST 383 Cloud Security Strategy and Architecture

Optional Course: Advanced Topics in Cybersecurity Technology Management

This optional course is included to address up-to-the-minute topics, such as emerging threats, insider threats, latest application delivery processes, and practices.

The 3-course certificate in Data Science introduces students to the key elements of data science: Python programming, SQL & database design, data processing, and analysis and visualization. The certificate provides any professional valuable, widely applicable, and transferable skills. Coursework also explores the topics of data ethics and digital ethics. The certificate is intended to help prepare the student for a dynamic career in data analytic work, whether they seek to grow in their existing career, switch to a career within the data science realm, or explore data science as a field before committing to a degree program or advanced study in the topic. 

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Learning Outcomes & Courses

• Design, implement, test, and debug a program that uses each of the following fundamental programming constructs: basic computation, variables, expressions, I/O, standard conditional and iterative structures (loops), the definition of functions, parameter passing, and recursion
• Apply the relational model to solving real-world problems and implement those models using SQL on standard DBMS platforms and to use a declarative query language (SQL) to elicit information from a database
• Evaluate, clean, and prepare datasets for analysis and report the results of analyses using clear, accessible language and appropriate visualizations
• Introduction to working with data using a standard industry language (Python or R)
• Introduction to ethical considerations relevant to data analysis and reporting

COMP 251 Introduction to Database Systems

CPST 291 Dynamic Programming Languages

CPST 325 Data Processing, Analysis, and Visualization

Optional Course: CPST 265 Special Topics (1-3 credits of directed study)

A student will solve a data science problem for a community non-profit organization under the guidance of a faculty member.

This 3-course certificate provides students with a foundation in communication and marketing principles, with an emphasis on social media and new digital media principles and tools. It introduces students to the principles and tools of communicating in the digital space and includes coursework in communication theory and history, communication literacy, digital media production, digital media ethics, social media communication, online content production, and social media literacy. The certificate benefits those who are seeking to remain current and competitive within careers that are becoming increasingly digital as well as those seeking to pivot into positions involving digital strategy or social media account management.

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Learning Outcomes & Courses

• Look at communication through a critical, historical, and theoretical lens
• Increase communication literacy
• Explore the ways technology affects personal, cultural, and mass communication by examining the historical, societal, and ethical implications of newer and interactive forms of media

COMM 175 Introduction to Communication

COMM 200 Digital Communication & Society

COMM 261 Social Media

User Experience (UX) Design is one of today’s fastest-growing specializations. Applicable to everything from the web or mobile applications to personal computers and other devices, UX Design seeks to craft a meaningful and relevant experience specific to the product. This 3-course certificate provides students with a foundation in the tools and techniques of UX Design to either earn a position in UX Design or advance their careers in the field. Students learn how to conduct field research, objectively evaluate UX Designs, and take UX Design from concept-to-prototype using appropriate tools, including personas, task models, and user journey mapping. The application of UX Design in business strategy is also explored. 

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Learning Outcomes & Courses

• Explain the difference between usability and User Experience
• Evaluate User Experience (UX) Design using objective metrics
• Apply the UX Prototyping process and UX Design Tools
• Apply the UX Design process, including the use of personas, task models, and user journey mapping
• Connect and align business objectives with UX Design goals
• Apply Design Thinking to develop business strategy

CPST 248 User Experience Design Fundamentals: Introduction to UX Design and UX Research

CPST 249 User Experience Design Tools and Techniques

CPST 341 User Experience Design to Drive Business

Optional Course: CPST 265 Special Topics (1-3 credits of directed study)

Students complete a UX Design project community non-profit organization or another client under the guidance of a Faculty member.

This 3-course certificate equips students with the marketable skills needed to design and develop websites and web applications for today’s marketplace. Using WordPress, students learn about the design and accessibility of websites using a JavaScript-based programming stack for web development (HTML/CSS/JavaScript/React or similar JavasScript framework). The certificate prepares students to complete the Graduate Certificate in Web Programming offered through Loyola’s Department of Computer Science.

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Learning Outcomes & Courses

• Become familiar with graphic design principles that relate to web design and learn how to implement theories into practice
• Plan, design, and construct websites to work properly in modern web browsers, conforming to web standards while following best practices
• Develop, implement, and deploy a web application using HTML+CSS+JS (including JS libraries and frameworks such as jQuery and React)
• Use client-side services to interact with web-based server-side APIs

COMM 275 Web Design and Usability

CPST 242 Design for the Web with HTML and CSS

CPST 342 Introduction to Web Application Development

Optional Course: CPST 265 Special Topics (1-3 credits of directed study)

Students will construct a website for a community non-profit organization under the guidance of a Faculty member.

The Litigation Practice Certificate prepares students to work in civil litigation on the state and federal level. Special attention is given to strengthening legal technology skills with electives offering students opportunities to explore different areas of law.

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Learning Outcomes

• Prepare summaries of court decisions, statutes, and administrative regulations
• Develop legal arguments using court decisions, statutes, and administrative regulations
• Locate relevant legal sources from federal and state jurisdictions
• Apply paralegal and attorney code of ethics to situations typically encountered by paralegals
• Demonstrate intermediate competence using typical office software including word processing, spreadsheets, and PDFs
• Assist attorneys in preparing and presenting lawsuits
• Draft court pleadings and maintain case files and databases
• Collect and organize information through investigation and the discovery process
• Help prepare the case for trial and assist attorneys at trial by coordinating the case material

The Corporate Practice Certificate prepares students to work in areas of law important in the transaction of business, such as corporate maintenance, due diligence, contracts, commercial transactions, and regulatory compliance.

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Learning Outcomes

• Prepare summaries of court decisions, statutes, and administrative regulations
• Develop legal arguments using court decisions, statutes, and administrative regulations
• Locate relevant legal sources from federal and state jurisdictions
• Apply paralegal and attorney code of ethics to situations typically encountered by paralegals
• Demonstrate intermediate competence using typical office software including word processing, spreadsheets, and PDFs
• Assist attorneys who work for corporate clients document the organization and operation of business entities
• Retrieve information to conduct due diligence procedures for commercial and real estate transactions
• Draft contract provisions and coordinate the administrative process for contracts
• Help clients in regulated industries demonstrate compliance with government regulations

This certificate combines the requirements of the Litigation Practice and Corporate Practice certificates and is designed for students who wish to earn specialized credentials in both subject areas. Note that this certificate requires completion of a total of 28 semester credits, more than the other certificates.

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Learning Outcomes

• Prepare summaries of court decisions, statutes, and administrative regulations
• Develop legal arguments using court decisions, statutes, and administrative regulations
• Locate relevant legal sources from federal and state jurisdictions
• Apply paralegal and attorney code of ethics to situations typically encountered by paralegals
• Demonstrate intermediate competence using typical office software including word processing, spreadsheets, and PDFs
• Assist attorneys in preparing and presenting lawsuits
• Draft court pleadings and maintain case files and databases
• Collect and organize information through investigation and the discovery process
• Help prepare the case for trial and assist attorneys at trial by coordinating the case material
• Assist attorneys who work for corporate clients document the organization and operation of business entities
• Retrieve information to conduct due diligence procedures for commercial and real estate transactions
• Draft contract provisions and coordinate the administrative process for contracts
• Help clients in regulated industries demonstrate compliance with government regulations

Students who wish to earn a customized certificate may complete a specialized curriculum. This curriculum must be approved by the Director and will include courses in legal research, legal ethics, and technology skills. 

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Learning Outcomes

• Prepare summaries of court decisions, statutes, and administrative regulations
• Develop legal arguments using court decisions, statutes, and administrative regulations
• Locate relevant legal sources from federal and state jurisdictions
• Apply paralegal and attorney code of ethics to situations typically encountered by paralegals
• Demonstrate intermediate competence using typical office software including word processing, spreadsheets, and PDFs

The Public Affairs and Management certificate provides working professionals the necessary skills to advance in administrative or managerial positions in their respective fields. In as little as one year and with some tailoring to your particular career needs, you can develop a set of core skills needed in government or nonprofit work.

Courses available through the MUAPP program cover skill areas relevant to public service, such as: Budgeting and Financial Management, Project Management, Program Evaluation. The program also offers courses related to the political environment of government agencies and the nonprofit environment, including: The Public Policy Process, Urban Politics and Policy, and Political Feasibility Analysis.

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Courses

Certificate courses fit into two categories and students must take at least one course from each category. This guarantees exposure to perspectives to understand the environment in which you work (political/organizational category) alongside exposure to new technical skills (skills category). You will determine your course selection in consultation with an advisor from the MUAPP faculty to reflect your needs based on career stage and goals. While earlier career individuals, for instance, may wish to acquire more skills, mid-career individuals may focus more on the political and managerial environment.

1) Political and Organizational Courses

• Public Policy Process
• Urban Politics and Policy
• Policy Analysis and Design
• Political Feasibility Analysis
• Organizational Theory and Leadership
• Decision-Making in Public Policy

2) Skills-Based Courses

• Project Management
• Cost Benefit Analysis
• Analytical Tools in Public Policy
• Program Evaluation
• Geographic Information Systems
• Public Budgeting and Finance

This 6-class certificate is designed specifically for degree-seeking students who have an interest in expanding their understanding of ethics and social justice. You will develop advanced skills in public speaking, leadership principles, social justice foundations, and organizational development. Students completing this certificate will complete 3 classes counting toward an MA with the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola. 

Courses

The Applied Pastoral Studies certificate program features three tracks:

• Social Justice
  • IPS 610 Social Justice Foundations
  • IPS 620 Diversity and Equity
  • IPS 660 Leadership in Social Justice Organizations
    
    
• Pastoral Studies
  • IPS 416 Christian Origins: New Testament
  • IPS 417 Literature of Ancient Israel
  • IPS 402 The Church and Its Mission
    
    
• Communication & Leadership Skills, Choose Two:
  • COMM 231 Communication & Conflict Management
  • COMM 237 Small Group Communication
  • COMM 313 Corporate and Organizational Communication
  • CPST 360 Development and Change in Organizations
  • CPST 370 Leadership Theories and Organizations
  • CPST 380 Leadership Culture and Ethics
  • CPST 390 Organizational Theory and Practice

The Organizational Development and Leadership Certificate is designed for students looking to learn more about the theories, research, and practical applications of organizational development in the workplace. Students explore how organizations work and acquire skills to assess, diagnose, and address structural and cultural problems. Students also study human behavior in the workplace, which offers valuable knowledge and skills for conflict management, motivation and morale, and employee development.

Courses

• COMM 231 Conflict Management and Communication
• COMM 277 Organizational Communication
• CPST 360 Development and Change in Organizations
• CPST 370 Leadership Theories and Organizations
• CPST 380 Leadership Culture and Ethics
• CPST 390 Organizational Theory and Practice

The Organizational Psychology Certificate provides training on social psychology, personality studies, and industrial psychology. This certificate is designed for those pursuing careers involving worker productivity, assessment, training, and human resources.

Courses

• PSYC 275 Social Psychology
• PSYC 279 Judgment and Decision-Making
• PSYC 338 Psychology of Personality
• CPST 320 Program Evaluation
• CPST 322 Strategic Communication Tools
• PSYC 362 Industrial/Organizational Psychology