General Frequently Asked Question
What type of program is right for me?
Here's a program glossary to help you decide.
What is a professional certificate?
- A recognized credential for career advancement.
- A fast-track path to learn about specific career fields like business, technology, bioscience, education, or design.
- The curriculum typically requires 6-11 courses and 140+ hours of coursework.
- Designed by industry experts, UC Santa Cruz professors, and Extension staff.
- Most coursework is university-accredited and recorded on a permanent transcript.
- Examples include professional certificates in Artificial Intelligence Application Development, Clinical Trials Design and Management, Educational Therapy, and Silicon Chip Design & Semiconductor Engineering.
- People who complete the required courses and grade requirements for a certificate within four years qualify for a certificate and a digital badge.
What is a specialization?
- Similar to professional certificates, these short programs offer a more focus in on a specific high-demand skill set.
- Examples include the AI Business Practices, Lean-Agile Project Management, Linux Development, and Mobile Application Development.
- People who complete the required courses and grade requirements in a specialization within three years qualify for a specialization and a digital badge.
What is Open Campus?
- Also known as "concurrent enrollment."
- Allows students to enroll in individual UC Santa Cruz courses on a space-available basis without formal admission.
- Students apply to specific courses through UCSC Extension, and approval is at the discretion of the academic department.
- Courses are available in fall, winter, and spring semesters through Open Campus.
- Interested in a summer course at UC Santa Cruz? Please enroll directly through Summer Session.
- Offered online as well as in-person on the Santa Cruz campus.
What is a series course?
- Series courses are offered independently of any program.
- Many series courses may be applied to a certificate, specialization or postbacc program if it meets program requirements.
- Many series courses qualify for continuing education credit or professional development units needed for recertification.
- Some series courses include certificates of completion.
What is an international special program?
Details coming soon.
What is the Pre-College Summer Enrichment program?
Details coming soon.
What is the Premed-Postbaccalaureate program?
Details coming soon.
What is a partner program?
Details coming soon.
What is a certificate course?
UCSC Silicon Valley Extension partners with several high-quality education partners to provide courses and workshops in high-demand industries. These providers often provide a certificate of completion to people who successfully complete their online course.