Embedded Systems
Building the internet of things
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certificate Description
Build your knowledge of universal connectivity
The UCSC Silicon Valley Extension Embedded Systems professional certificate program prepares students with the core design skills needed to work at some of the top companies in the Valley.
Our hardware professional students learn to design function-specific computer and communication systems, including:
- mobile devices,
- the Internet of Things,
- networking equipment,
- industrial controllers, and
- consumer and automotive electronics.
Learn on industry-standard hardware
Students get invaluable hands-on experience with quick prototyping using FGPAs from Xilinx. Learn to design and test hardware and software innovations of the future as you prepare for high-paying jobs in the industry.
Embedded Systems certificate program objectives
- Design, debug, and synthesize digital logic for ASICs, PGAs, and IP cores
- Understand the basics of embedded software and hardware design
- Decode IO technologies, including PCI Express, Ethernet, and Fibre Channel
- Design and implement prototypes using FPGA
Program Overview
Estimated Cost: Starts at $3,810. (You pay only for courses you enroll in.) | International Tuition Cost
Program Requirements: 5–6 courses (14 quarter units). Take 3 required courses (8 quarter units) and 2–3 elective credit courses (6 quarter units). End with Certificate Review.
Minimum Hours of Instruction: Minimum 140 hours of instruction.
Estimated Duration: A full-time student can complete the certificate in 9–12 months.
Special Programs:
Courses
1. Required Course(s):
2. Electives: Embedded Software
3. Electives: Embedded Hardware
5. Completion Review:
Meet Our Instructors
Certificate Inquiry Form
Recommended Course Sequence
We suggest students begin with Embedded System Hardware Architectures, Introduction.
The remaining courses may be taken in any order provided prerequisites are met.
Electives are offered in two areas of study.
- Embedded Hardware
- Embedded Software
Substitutions
Shared credits
Some Engineering and Technology courses may be listed in more than one program. However, only one course may be shared between two E&T certificate programs unless otherwise noted.
To receive your certificate
Requisite Knowledge
Technical aptitude
You need a degree in a technical field or equivalent knowledge acquired through training and experience in system design and development. We recommended you have experience in C programming.
Please review course descriptions
Make sure you have taken the necessary prerequisites or meet the requirements through job experience or previous education before registering for a course.
Advisory Board
Certificate Program Chair
SAM HUYNH, Ph.D., is a principal member of the technical staff and a senior manager at AMD. He has over 22 years of experience in the field of VLSI design including memory, IO, physical design implementation, and full chip integration. He has three patents and 10 publications. He has served as chair of the VLSI and Embedded Systems programs since 2020.
Certificate Program Advisory Board
ALFREDO ALBA, MS
Senior Technical Staff Member, Intelligence Augmentation Department, IBM Almaden Research Center
ABDO BABUKR, MSEE
Consultant, Embedded Computing, Wave Spectrum, Inc.
SAM HUYNH, Ph.D.
Principal member of technical staff and a senior manager, AMD
Chair and Instructor, Embedded Systems Certificate Program, UCSC Silicon Valley Extension
Y.C. WANG, BSEE
Director, Global Academic Program at Digi-Key Electronics
Instructor, Embedded Systems Certificate Program, UCSC Silicon Valley Extension
Establish Candidacy
Who should establish candidacy?
- People who are pursuing a certificate (and have enrolled in a course in the program).
- People who want to lock in the current requirements of a certificate or specialization.
4 Simple Steps to a Certificate or Specialization
- Complete a course in your selected program.
- Establish candidacy. Click on the Establish Candidacy button on your program page.
- Take all required courses for certificate completion.
- Once your grades are posted on your final course, enroll in the certificate review fee.
A Benefit of Establishing Candidacy
Program requirements may change. Once you commit to a program by establish your candidacy, you will not have to change your plans to meet new requirements. They are locked in for you. Timeline: 4 years to get it done (or 3 for a specialization) You must complete all the necessary units in a certificate within a four-year window. The clock begins on the first day of your first course in the certificate program. For example, if you started a course on Sept. 5, 2023, you would have to finish by Sept. 4, 2027.
Note: Establishing candidacy does not trigger the beginning of the four-year window. It begins the first day of the first course in your chosen certificate program. The Certificate Completion Review process does not have to occur within the four-year timeframe.
Exceptions to the four-year requirement
- If you Established candidacy prior to Jan. 1, 2024, you will have five years to complete a program.
- Students participating in a special program, such as workforce, international, or our curriculum partner programs, such as the Legal Studies courses (CLS by Barbri) and sales and business courses (Ziplines Education) have shorter completion requirements.
Grade Requirements
Please note that only letter grades of C or higher may be applied to a certificate, and in some programs, students may have more stringent requirements. Students in most employer- and government-sponsored payment programs, such as workforce development, as well as international students on F-1 visas, need to maintain a B average to meet their requirements. Personal Financial Planning students have additional grade requirements for individual courses to attain a certificate.
See Grading and Credits Policy for further information.