University of California Santa Cruz Silicon Valley Extension

United States of America

University of California, Santa Cruz, Silicon Valley Extension located in Santa Clara and right in the heart of Silicon Valley, was established in 1987 as the professional training division of University of California Santa Cruz -Silicon Valley Campus. UCSC Silicon Valley Extension courses are accredited by University of California and Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

UCSC Silicon Valley Extension focuses on providing professional education in Biosciences, Business & Management, Education, and Engineering & Technology. It offers some unique career-oriented certificates for international students including Business, Linux Programming and Administration, Database and Data Analytics, Software Engineering, Project and Program Management, Marketing, Human Resources, Biotechnology, and TESOL.

University of California, Santa Cruz had over 18,000 total students studying during 2016-2017 academic year in which 16,328 were undergraduates and 1,735 graduate students were enrolled maintaining an 18:1 student to faculty ratio.

Being located in the Silicon Valley as the center of pioneering technology, students will have access to a valuable work experience through applying to an internship related to their field of study. Students will also have the opportunity to work up to 12 months after the graduation. Obtaining a certificate is more time efficient and far less expensive than a degree and can lead the graduates to their desired career less than a year.

Notable Alumni (UCSC): Dana Priest (journalist), Maya Rudolph (actress), Cary Fukunaga (film director), Héctor Tobar (Author), Jayne Ann Krentz (writer), Steven Hawley (Astronaut), Gillian Welch (singer-songwriter).