Certificate in Intellectual Property

The School of Public Policy offers a Certificate in Intellectual Property (IP). This interdisciplinary certificate will be beneficial to students who are interested in

  • careers as patent agents (computing, engineering, or science majors only), or
  • law school to become intellectual property lawyers, or
  • business who need to recognize the value of a company's intellectual property, or
  • developing policy related to intellectual property and innovation.

In addition, the certificate will be helpful to anyone who simply wants to understand the laws and policies governing intellectual property.

While earning the certificate, students will have the opportunity to learn about the protections and the limits on those protections of intellectual property: including patents, copyrights, trademarks and other forms of intellectual property. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, the certificate in IP will teach students about law, business strategies, and public policies affecting intellectual property.

Students who wish to earn this certificate must complete 12 semester hours of approved course work.

All students are required to take PUBP 4640 Technology Law, Policy, and Management, which is our core course (though not a prerequisite for the other courses).

Our electives currently include:

  • HTS 3085 Law, Technology, and Politics
  • LMC 3414 Intellectual Property: Policy and Law
  • PUBP 3610 Pre-Law Seminar
  • MGT 3663 Technology Strategy
  • PUBP 4410 Science, Technology, and Public Policy
  • PUBP 4650 Internet Law
  • PUBP 4803 Special Topic: Advanced Science and Technology Policy
  • PUBP 4833 Special Topic: Intellectual Property Transactions
  • ME 2803 Special Topic: Patent Preparation and Process

The IP Certificate Program imposes certain additional requirements toward completion of the credential. For example, all courses must be taken for a letter grade and completed with a “C” or better. No more than 3 semester hours of Special Problems credit as designated by the program director may be applied toward the certificate. Courses required by name and number in a student’s major degree program may not be applied toward the certificate.

Beyond these examples, the IP Certificate Program generally follows Georgia Tech and School of Public Policy academic guidelines. To ensure eligibility for the certificate, students should discuss their planned course selection with the program director, Chad Slieper, prior to registration.

For more information, contact Chad Slieper or Alan Marco.