Transdisciplinary Early Learning Science & Child Policy Certificate FAQ Page
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to pursue the Transdisciplinary Early Learning Science & Child Policy Certificate?
The Certificate is available to students who are registered and enrolled in a graduate degree program at UC Berkeley. Students must be in good academic standing with a 3.0 GPA or better.
When is the application deadline?
The Transdisciplinary Early Learning Science & Child Policy Certificate application will be released Summer 2022. The application deadline will be announced at the same time the application is released.
What are the requirements for the Certificate?
Students must complete a minimum of 3 courses and an internship (totaling a minimum of 10 units), each of which must be taken for a letter grade. These are:
- Required core course: Transdisciplinary Early Learning Science & Childhood Policy Core Seminar (3 units, taught each fall)
- Minimum of two elective courses, chosen from the elective list, totaling a minimum of 6 units. Courses not on the electives list will be considered on a case by case basis and require the submission of the Elective Petition Form.
- Internship with Early Childhood Policy focus (1 unit)
When should I begin enrolling in the Certificate courses once I am accepted in the program?
For students in 2-year masters programs, you are encouraged to take the core course and/or at least one elective during your first year to ensure you are able to complete the Certificate requirements before the end of your 2nd year. PhD students are encouraged to enroll in the core seminar first, and if able, in their first elective course within the first 2 years.
I completed and successfully passed one of the approved elective courses listed prior to being admitted to the Certificate Program. Can I count this course towards the Certificate requirements?
Yes. Pending verification of a passing grade, courses taken prior to being admitted may count towards the Certificate Requirement. Please contact the Certificate administrator at edls@berkeley.edu to begin this verification process.
What are the internship requirements for the Certificate?
Students must complete a 150-hour (10-hours per week), one-unit internship placement with an Early Childhood Policy focus. A list of approved agencies will be provided to assist students in finding a placement with this specific focus. The internship requirement also includes a culminating project that is due at the end of the student’s placement. Details of this will be provided to admitted students.
I’m a second year graduate student who recently completed my internship requirement towards my graduate program. Can I count these internship hours towards the Certificate internship requirement?
Yes, it's likely if the internship placement was related to Early Childhood Policy. Depending on the internship focus and internship responsiblilites assigned to you, you may be able to count some or all of these hours. Students will still be responsible for submitting the culminating one-unit project associated with the internship. If your previous placement did not have an early childhood focus, you will have to complete a separate one relevant to this program. Please contact edls@berkeley.edu for more details.
How do I declare the Certificate?
Once admitted to the Certificate, the Certificate administrator will provide you with a Declaration form that you must fill-in and sign by the indicated due date. Once the Declaration form is received, the advisor will officially declare the Certificate on your record.
How long do I have to complete the Certificate program?
Depending on the length of your Graduate Program, most students will complete the Certificate in 1-2 years.
Can I take the courses P/NP?
No. All Certificate courses and approved electives must be taken for a letter grade. Courses taken P/NP will not count towards Certificate requirements.
What do I do once I complete the Certificate?
Once all Certificate requirements are completed, students must submit the Certificate Completion form. This form can be found on the program’s website. Once submitted, completed courses and final grades will be verified and the Certificate will be awarded.
How large is the Certificate cohort?
The cohort is limited to 30 graduate students.
For questions regarding the program, please contact edls@berkeley.edu.