Why do tens of thousands of Silicon Valley and Central Coast residents call UCSC Extension their home for continuing education? One look through this site will give you hundreds of excellent reasons for their choice. It's our courses. It's also the payoff: Increased earning potential, greater self-confidence, or the pure enjoyment of learning something new.

Reputation is everything. Think about the name UCSC Extension. We're an extension of the world-renowned University of California. Our standards are high and our reputation is stellar. We're respected for our quality of instruction and our ability to mirror the times.

Become even more valuable to your company. Employers know that earning a UCSC Extension Certificate demonstrates a strong career commitment and a mastery of knowledge. In fact, our programs are so well respected that students are often promoted before they've completed their certificate.

Learn in real time. We never stop updating and refining our courses and certificates. They reflect the latest thinking, the smartest practices and the most useful industry tools so that you complete the program with tomorrow's knowledge today. Some certificates can be completed within nine months to a year, and individual courses generally take between four and eight weeks. With flexible options such as evening and weekend seminars, UCSC Extension fits into your life and gets you up to speed quickly.

Our instructors are real-world professionals. UCSC Extension instructors are highly successful professionals who teach from their personal experiences on the front lines. They will challenge you to reach for more.

Network, network, network. It's often said that success comes not with what you know, but whom you know. We happen to think it's both. Extension courses not only offer a solid foundation of knowledge, but provide the unique benefit of built-in networking opportunities. With students and instructors hailing from Silicon Valley's most innovative companies, Extension classes can make your address book the envy of other professionals.

We're ready when and where you need us. UCSC Extension's On-Site Training Department can deliver one course or an entire program for a team or the full staff, and we can work around your schedules and deadlines.

Accreditation. As part of UCSC, Extension is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Colleges and Universities (WASC).

Academic Standards. All Extension courses are thoroughly reviewed for academic content, merit and instructor qualifications by appropriate academic departments on the UCSC campus.

Academic and Professional Credit. Extension does not grant degrees, but some Extension courses carry credit that may be applied toward a degree, toward licensing, or other professional requirements. However, University of California students who want such credit should consult with their advisor, department and school before taking courses for this purpose.

Students enrolled in other colleges and universities should consult with that institution to verify acceptance of credit prior to enrolling in a UCSC Extension course. Students desiring to use Extension course credits toward a graduate degree or a teaching credential should consult with their graduate advisor before taking such courses.

In the end, it all comes down to results. You need continuing education that works for you. We take our mission seriously. We want you to have an educational experience that counts.