AI is rapidly transforming law, policy, business, and society. Lawyers will be called on to help shape how these technologies are governed. In January 2025, through the TLPC, NCCU Law became the first law school in the country to offer a course in AI Governance that not only provides a strong academic foundation but also prepares students to sit for the AI Governance Professional (AIGP) certification provided by the IAPP.
Building on the AI Governance course and its data privacy and cybersecurity curriculum, NCCU Law has created the first AI Governance Specialization of its kind for students who want to develop focused expertise in the legal, ethical, and policy dimensions of artificial intelligence. This specialization is designed for students who intend to pursue careers in technology law, compliance, policy, or regulation and who want to graduate with both a deep understanding of AI governance and practical, in-demand skills.
Students complete coursework in AI governance, privacy, and cybersecurity, and participate in experiential learning through simulation courses or externships.
AI Governance Course
This course (the first of its kind) introduces students to the legal, policy, and ethical frameworks that shape AI development and deployment. It also prepares them for the AIGP exam by aligning course instruction with industry standards around AI risk, lifecycle governance, regulation, and accountability. Students leave the course with both knowledge and credentialing opportunities that give them a competitive edge.
Privacy Course
Students must complete at least one course in data privacy. NCCU Law has offered a foundational U.S. privacy law course since 2022, which prepares students for the CIPP/US certification exam. In 2024, NCCU Law added a European privacy course focused on global privacy regulation, including the GDPR, and preparedness for the CIPP/E exam. These privacy courses give students a strong grounding in sectoral, state, federal, and international privacy frameworks and prepare them for practice in a wide range of settings.
Cybersecurity Course
Students must complete a Cybersecurity Law course. Offered beginning in fall 2025, this course provides an in-depth look at the laws and policies that govern cybersecurity, including breach liability, regulatory enforcement, and the growing overlap between AI and cybersecurity threats. Students will also gain practical skills in legal risk assessment and incident response.
Experiential Learning
Students must complete either an AI governance simulation or an externship. These experiences allow students to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-world problems, including drafting policies, conducting risk assessments, and supporting governance efforts in public or private sector settings.
Measurable Impact or Outcomes
Some students who enrolled in the inaugural spring 2025 AI Governance course have already earned their AIGP certification. Those students gained not only academic knowledge but also a marketable industry credential, giving them a competitive edge in the job market. Other students who enrolled in the course are on track to earn their certification by December 2025
The AI governance specialization will deepen student engagement with emerging legal fields and help students secure internships and fellowships with major technology firms, government agencies, and nonprofits.
Why This Is Innovative
The AI Governance Specialization at NCCU Law is the first of its kind in legal education, making it a national model for forward-looking legal training. While many institutions are just beginning to explore AI’s impact, NCCU Law has taken a bold step by building a full academic specialization tied to professional certification. The program integrates law, ethics, risk management, and global regulatory frameworks into a practice-oriented curriculum.
This approach is innovative not only in content but also in design. The specialization blends doctrinal coursework with hands-on learning and credentialing opportunities, creating a pipeline of practice-ready lawyers with verified AI governance expertise. It was also intentionally built with access in mind, reflecting NCCU Law’s mission to train diverse lawyers equipped to lead in the most complex and consequential areas of law and policy.