Illicit Trade Analysis Certificate

The Certificate in Illicit Trade Analysis at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government operates at the intersection of social science, national security, international trade, and law enforcement. It draws on the expertise of the Schar School’s Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC) and its new Anti-Illicit Trade Institute (AITI). The graduate certificate program supports professional credentials for individuals working in government, the private sector, the legal community, inter-governmental organizations, think tanks, journalists, and nonprofit organizations.

The Certificate in Illicit Trade Analysis is the first state-accredited certificate on this topic in the United States. It will be of interest to professionals pursuing careers in law enforcement and policy-making, as well as members of the business and finance sector working on risk management, commerce and supply chains, and regulation of the financial community.

Consisting of only five courses, this is an affordable and strategic investment in advancing your career by earning a credential from one of the top-ranked policy schools in the U.S., while obtaining critical knowledge on some of the most pressing international issues.

• 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 (1 course | 3 credits)

Students are required to take the following:

PUBP 763: Illicit Trade

Elective Courses (4 courses | 12 credits)

Select four elective courses of your choosing related to illicit trade analysis. Courses should be chosen in consultation with an advisor and approved in advance by the program director.

Possible elective courses include (only four are required to earn the certificate):

GCP 504: Microeconomics and Trade Policy
GCP 603: Global Trade Relations
GCP 740: Trade and Regulatory Compliance
PUBP 716: Transportation Operations and Logistics
PUBP 764: Transnational Crime and Corruption
PUBP 765: Human Smuggling and Trafficking

Special topics (POGO 750) elective course options vary year-to-year, but may include: International Money Laundering, Corruption, and Terrorism; Counterfeiting and Pirated Goods; and other topics relevant to the study of illicit trade analysis.

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.