CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN
College Admissions and
Career Planning
Help Others Build Their Career
extension.berkeley.edu
Sue Chapman, Certificate Program in College Admissions and Career Planning Graduate
The need for an educated workforce—often tied to a
student earning a college degree—continues to rise. That
demand will have to be met by high school graduates
successfully navigating the college admissions process
and eventually joining the job market. With the Certificate
Program in College Admissions and Career Planning, you gain
the in-depth knowledge and technical skills necessary to join
this field and make a positive impact on a student’s journey into
higher education.
Experienced instructors offer insight to all areas, including
admissions requirements for public, private, local, national and
international institutions; financial aid options and planning;
techniques to advise special populations; counseling skills;
self-appraisal instruments and interpretation; planning for college
admissions tests, essays and recommendation letters; and uses
of technology in college and career planning.
The curriculum—overseen by an advisory board of professionals
in the field and approved by the University of California, Berkeley,
Graduate School of Education—gives special attention to
training in the college admissions process while emphasizing
the connection to the working world, including field site
observations and a comprehensive practicum. With training
from Extension, you are prepared to help others while advancing
your own career in advising.
5 Required Courses, 15 Semester Units, 216 Hours of Instruction Career Planning for College Admissions EDUC X369.5 (4 semester units) Understand how career assessments and internship/job search tools can help students and clients of all ages explore and choose college majors and career options.
College Admissions Advising A EDUC X369.3 (4 semester units) Learn about needs assessment, financial planning and researching higher-education options.
College Admissions Advising B EDUC X369.4 (4 semester units) Grasp the intricacies of college selection process, admissions testing, the college application and essay, financial aid and admissions considerations. Counseling Techniques for Educators EDUC X365.6 (2 semester units) Gain familiarity with counseling approaches that counselors, teachers, administrators and others can use in K–12 and university settings. Practicum in College Admission Advising EDUC X361.9 (1 semester unit) Deepen your knowledge and skills by completing 40 hours of involvement at a high school or nonprofit organization, working with high school students who are exploring the transition to college.
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN
College Admissions and
Career Planning
extension.berkeley.edu/cert/college.html
I already have a background in counseling.
With the Professional Program in College Admission Counseling, you can add to your existing counseling experience by learning about all areas of the college advising process, including admissions requirements for public, private, local, national and international institutions; financial aid options and planning; techniques to advise special populations; self-appraisal instruments and interpretation; planning for college admissions tests, essays and recommendation letters; and uses of technology in college and career planning. Learn more at extension.berkeley.edu/spos/admission.html.
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN
College Admissions and
Career Planning
Prerequisites for Admission
Participants in the Certificate Program in College Admissions and Career Planning must have earned at least a bachelor’s degree (B.A.) or equivalent at an accredited institution.
For students whose native language is not English, it is recommended that you achieve a minimum level of English proficiency. For example, if you achieved a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 80, a minimum IELTS score of 6.5, or have previously taken and successfully completed courses taught in English, you may be more confident in your ability to succeed in a UC Berkeley Extension course. You do not need to submit test scores.
Curriculum Requirements
The curriculum comprises 5 required courses for a total of 15 semester units (216 hours of instruction). Candidates must pay a nonrefundable certificate registration fee.
All coursework must be completed within five years of registering for the certificate. Because requirements may be updated based on new developments in the field of study, we recommend completing the curriculum in a timely fashion.
You may start the Certificate Program in College Admissions and Career Planning at any time and can enroll in courses and register at extension.berkeley.edu/cert/college.html.
Completion Requirements
You must take all courses for a letter grade. To receive the certificate, you must maintain an overall minimum 3.0 grade point average (GPA), with a grade of C or better in each course.
“ As someone who changed careers and had no prior experience in education, the Certificate Program in College Admissions and Career Planning was a real credibility builder for me. Within a few years, I secured the broad experience necessary to develop a college counseling program from the ground up. The certificate helped me get my foot in the door and to bring so much more to the table in serving students.”
—Sue Chapman, Certificate Program in College Admissions
“ I had 20 years of experience in education and college admissions. The certificate exceeded my expectations. Every class session covered the latest trends, introduced me to new resources and enhanced my skills so I could confidently launch my own college advising practice. In less than 18 months after completing the certificate, my practice, Hillhouse College and Career Advising, is flourishing. The certificate is well worth the investment.”
—Lisa Hillhouse
“ As a stay-at-home mom with three teens, I decided it was time for me to get back in the work force. I am a former teacher and feel that college advising was a perfect fit. The Saturday and evening classes were fun, and I learned from ‘the pros’ who had spent years advising in the public and private sectors. Today, I have a growing independent practice, Advantage Advising, and credit the certificate in giving me the resources, knowledge and expertise I needed.”
—Anne Fuller
“I am a high school counselor at Mills High School (Millbrae, Calif.) and need to support the college research and application process, and it’s unfortunate that most school counseling programs do not thoroughly cover college and financial aid. I decided to pursue the UC Berkeley Extension certificate. Not long after I started the certificate, other counselors at the high school looked to me as an expert on college admissions. I was able to use what I learned to revamp our entire college counseling program.”
—Rachel Mack
“My instructors were fantastic. They work in the field and learning from them and their experiences are unmatchable. What I enjoyed the most is the instructors want you to succeed so that you are ready to enter the field, collaborate with them and continue a network with your fellow students.”
—Alexandra Furgiuele
You’ll Receive a High-Quality, Standardized Education
The Certificate Program in College Admissions and Career Planning meets the advising standards designed by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and utilizes information from the following professional organizations in the field:
• California Association of School Counselors (CASC) • Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) • Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA)* • National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) • Western Association for College Admission Counseling (WACAC)
*This certificate meets the IECA requirements for associate membership.
What Certificate Program in College Admissions
and Career Planning Graduates Say
extension.berkeley.edu/cert/college.html
©2015 by the Regents of the University of California EDU 315BR282 8/15
How to Register for This Professional Certificate
Before you complete the third course in the curriculum, you should register for the Certificate Program in College Admissions and Career Planning at extension.berkeley.edu/cert/register.html. Click on the More Information button next to the certificate title to begin the registration process.
Complete your student account profile if you are a new student, and pay the nonrefundable certificate registration fee.
Once you register for the certificate, send an official transcript showing evidence of a bachelor’s degree to:
UC Berkeley Extension
Department of Education—CACP 1995 University Ave., Suite 110 Berkeley, CA 94704-7000
All non-U.S. transcripts must be accompanied by a foreign transcript evaluation. The most basic evaluation is sufficient; there is no need for the class-by-class report.
You may enroll in individual courses without registering for the Certificate Program in College Admissions and Career Planning.
Value of a UC Berkeley Extension
Professional Certificate
As the continuing education arm of the University of California, Berkeley, UC Berkeley Extension is a respected provider of adult and professional education. A UC Berkeley Extension professional certificate is approved by a UC Berkeley academic advisory board and widely recognized as proof of the successful completion of a high-caliber, in-depth course of study.
Learn More
For additional information about the Certificate Program in College
Admissions and Career Planning, visit extension.berkeley.edu/cert/college.html, email extension-education@berkeley.edu or call (510) 642-1171.
