Graduate Academic Certificate Programs

Graduate Academic Certificate Programs

UCSF offers two types of graduate academic certificate programs – stand-alone programs offering an official certificate with the seal of the University of California and programs that do not result in an official certificate.

  • Senate Regulation (SR)-735 authorizes Graduate Divisions to grant activities of completion of graduate curriculum, also known as Graduate Academic Certificates (GACs). SR-735 requires that certificate programs, except those offered by University Extension, be approve by both the Divisional Graduate Council and CCGA. A GAC is defined as a certificate program that:
    • does not require its students to be enrolled in another graduate program.
    • is not offered solely through a UC Extension program.
    • has an independent admissions process that requires at least a Bachelors' degree for admission; 
    • carries a minimum of 3 quarters (or 2 semesters) of full-time resident study.
    • certificate program proposals that meet the above criteria and are approved by CCGA according to SR-735 will be recognized as the only GACs that bear the official seal of the University of California. UC campuses may offer certificates without the official seal that do not conform to SR-735 requirements (e.g., are offered in conjuction with other types of professional or academic degrees and are not considered stand-alone programs).

The University of California Certificate of Graduate Curriculum as described in Senate Regulation SR-735, recognizing distinct scholarship unrelated to a degree program (stand-alone):

  • SR-735 requires Certificate programs to be approved by the divisional Graduate Council, Divisional Council and by the Coordinating Committee on Graduate Affairs (CCGA)
  • Graduate Academic Certificates are distinct from the certificate offered by the University Extension because they require students to take graduate courses from regularly appointed faculty (see additional SR-735 requirements in the Appendix)
  • Upon completion, student receives an official Certificate with the seal of the University of California

The Graduate Division may issue a certificate of completion of a graduate curriculum to a student provided that:

  • The student has completed a minimum of three quarters (or two semesters) in full-time resident study at the University of California with a grade-point average of at least 3.0. (Am 9 Mar 83)
  • The student has during this residence taken regular upper division (100) and/or graduate (200) courses under regularly appointed faculty
  • The student entered the program with a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, or with a higher degree
  • At the time of entry, the student was acceptable for admission to the Graduate Division
  • The student has completed a program approved by the Divisional Graduate Council and the Coordinating Committee on Graduate Affairs in accordance with their regular reviewing procedures for approval of higher degrees
  • The student’s studies are not covered by a diploma or other certificate

Program Fee Approval Process

In 2020, per UCOP recommendation, the UCSF Chancellor implemented a requirement that annual fee levels for stand-alone Senate Regulation (SR)-735 certificate programs become part of the Miscellaneous Student Fee Advisory Committee purview, consistent with Presidential Delegation of Authority DA 2559, whereby Chancellors are authorized to establish and set fee levels for Miscellaneous Student Fees. For more information on how to establish a new graduate academic certificate program, visit the UCSF Academic Senate website.

Current UCSF SR-735 Graduate Academic Certificate Programs

Advanced Training in Clinical Research

Certificate in Health Data Science

Supplemental Studies in Advanced Practice in Nursing

Equity in Brain Health Certificate

Inter-professional Health Post Baccalaureate Certificate (Instructional Fee is set by per UC Berkeley Extension MOU)