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Graduate Certificates

Our specialty areas bring together faculty and students from across many disciplines. These academic areas of study offer students the opportunity to focus on various substantive topics, reflecting the changing public health problems that need to be addressed by public health practitioners and researchers.

Students in a two-year master’s or a doctoral program may elect to complete an additional specialty area as a minor. Students in a one-year master’s program may also add a specialty area, however we recommend talking to the relevant program coordinator for eligibility requirements.

Graduate Certificate in Food Systems

Current students in any master’s or doctoral degree program at UC Berkeley may elect to complete the Graduate Certificate in Food Systems. The certificate responds to an escalating need to empower new leaders with the capacity to create innovative solutions to pressing food and agriculture challenges. Building on UC Berkeley’s strength as a multi-disciplinary pioneer in food systems studies, the Certificate in Food Systems prepares master’s and doctoral students to think critically about the multi-level, multi-system factors that affect food production, distribution and consumption locally, nationally and globally.

This interdisciplinary program is a collaboration between Berkeley Public Health, the College of Natural Resources and the Goldman School of Public Policy. This program complements a student’s primary fields of study by addressing the ecological, social, health, political, policy, legal and economic dimensions of food and agriculture, as well as providing graduates with the necessary theoretical framework and practical skills that can be applied across diverse and emerging food-system challenges.

  • Eligibility

    Any UC Berkeley graduate student in good academic standing can earn the Certificate in Food Systems. Please visit the Berkeley Food Institute website for more information on how to apply.

  • Requirements

    Core Course

    PBHLTH 290: Transforming Food Systems: From Agroecology to Population Health

    This course takes a solutions-oriented approach to pressing problems in current food systems. We explore strategies used by the disciplines of agroecology, policy, law, public health and business to improve food systems and apply their varied approaches to real-world case studies. (three units, fall)

    Additional Coursework

    Two additional three unit courses from a list of approved classes. Students work with the certificate advisor and their main program advisor to ensure that elective courses complement their primary coursework.

Graduate Certificate in Global Health

This page provides information about Global Health as a graduate certificate. If you are looking for information about the Undergraduate Global Public Health minor or certificate programs, go to the Summer Minor or Certificate program page.

The objective of the Certificate in Global Public Health and Equity (GPHE) is to support and cultivate student’s interests in global public health, and to help develop a strong foundation of competencies and skills in global public health, emphasizing interdisciplinary dimensions that can be applied to students’ careers. The GPHE Certificate provides students with the opportunity to explore global health issues from multiple disciplinary perspectives through both coursework and experiential engagement.

  • Knowledge: Complete required courses to deepen global health knowledge
  • Skills: Students will learn critical perspectives on program implementation & reach.
  • Community & Networking: Connect with graduate students, faculty, and professionals in global health
  • Mentorship/Values: Guided connections with faculty and experts. Students will be exposed to the values of global health that emphasize humility, ethical practices, equity, social justice, human rights, and community inclusiveness.
  • Career Impact: Apply global health perspectives to future roles; learn about opportunities in global public health. Engage in Authentic Engagement.

The Graduate Certificate Area in Global Public Health and Equity is supported by the Center for Global Public Health staff and affiliated faculty.

  • Eligibility

    The Certificate is offered to all UC Berkeley students across campus. Please reach out to us via email if any questions arise: cgph@berkeley.edu.

    Requirements

    • Be currently enrolled in a UC Berkeley graduate program
    • Be in good academic standing: GPA of 3.0 or better
    • Take three courses (totaling 9 units) which must be taken for a letter grade
    • Enroll in a 1 unit Group Study (PBHLTH 298) in their final semester of the Certificate
    • Cannot have more than two Incomplete grades
  • Global Health and Equity Certificate Coursework
    • 9 units required
      • 1 Anchor/Foundational course
      • 1 Public Health elective course
      • 1 Elective course from an adjacent area to public health
    • In addition, 1 unit culminating group study course

    Anchor Course

    Students will need to complete one of the following global health anchor courses:

    • Fall (online): PHW212 Online Foundations of Global Health
      Instructors: Hildy Fong Baker (3 units)
      Introduces the basic principles of global health that aim to improve population health at all levels in communities throughout the world. Introduces and applies essential concepts from public health disciplines to current global health challenges, to provide real-world context. Global health experts share their experiences and lessons learned from implementing global health research and programs.
    • Fall: PH220E Global Health Policy
      Instructor: Stefano Bertozzi (3 units)
      This is a 3-unit course offering an introduction to current topics in international health policy. Taught by Dean Emeritus Prof. Stefano Bertozzi, the class will give students the opportunity to learn about how real-world policy decisions are made at the country and global levels. Students will learn about theories of governance as they apply to international settings and will evaluate the role of state actors, NGOs, and international agencies in producing key health outcomes. This is a great opportunity for students who are interested in exploring global health and/or strengthening their analytical and presentation skills.
    • Fall: PHW213 Global Health Ethics
      Instructors: Rebecca DeBoer, Rohini Jonnalagadda Haar (3 units)
      Introduces ethical frameworks, theories, and historical references that elevate the ethics conversation to the global stage. Links theory to practice by delving into ethical issues in global health research, experiential learning, and delivery. Considers ethical questions about the discipline of global public health and the roles of governments, academic institutions, organizations, health professions, and members of the public as stewards of health.
    • Spring: PHW209 Comparative Health Systems
      Instructor: Neelam Feachem (3 units)
      Examines health systems and their role in global health, and introduces current debates about health financing and universal health coverage (UHC). Investigates efforts to achieve UHC by balancing the goals of quality, affordability, and access in ways that are unique to each country and region. Studies the evidence on financing, delivery, and governance of health systems, and considers the policy context in which health systems operate.

    Additional Elective Courses

    In addition to the anchor course, you will need to complete additional units of global health-related coursework to meet the 9 unit requirement. Students will need to complete 1 elective course within BPH that is taught by CGPH affiliate faculty and identified as a critical/key course in their respective fields of research. Students are also required to take another elective course that falls within one of the following areas of study (“pathways”) that emphasizes the importance of the trans/interdisciplinary skills for the implementation of global public health: 1) Data Science; 2) Engineering; 3) Policy, Law and Ethics; 4) Practice; 5) Science Communications. Lists of classes can be found here.

    Group Study Course

    In the student’s final semester they are required to enroll in a 1 unit PBHLTH 298: Group Study section where students will synthesize their experiences and engagement with global health throughout their time at UCB into a Reflection paper/video assignment.

    Eligible courses chosen from a list of approved courses. Other courses can qualify if it is reviewed and approved in advance, in consultation with a GH Certificate advisor.

    We encourage transdisciplinary coursework that can enhance your interests in a variety of global health areas. All coursework must be taken for a letter grade.

  • Global Health Engagement
    • Community Events: This specialty also aims to bring together the UC Berkeley global health community. As such, we request all those completing the GHE Certificate to attend two global health seminars or events hosted by UC Berkeley or UCSF each semester (i.e., events hosted by the School of Public Health, Center for Emerging and Neglected Diseases, Center for Global Public Health, Blum Center, Bixby Center, etc.). We will inform you about Bay Area global health events, news, and opportunities through our listserv. We also run a year-long workshop series on Global Health Internships.
    • Mentorship: GHE Certificate staff and faculty will cultivate connections and small group meetings that will help you build and navigate your mentor network. Activities will include opportunities to learn how to approach faculty, organizations, and researchers who will support your global health journey at UCB. We recommend speaking with your program coordinator and faculty advisor to explore avenues for global health mentorship at UC Berkeley.
    • Internships: Global health internships are recommended, but not required. For students in 2-year programs, we encourage you to reach out to BPH and CGPH affiliated faculty to explore global health-related internships in the summer, either at home or abroad. While the responsibility for securing an acceptable international placement lies with the student, the UC Berkeley Public Health Careers & Leadership Office (RISE) and the Center for Global Public Health (CGPH) offer a number of events and resources throughout the year about global health internships.
  • Signing up for the Certificate in Global Health and Equity in 2025–26

    Any graduate student currently enrolled in a graduate program at UC Berkeley is eligible to apply, space allowing. Due to the launch of this newly campus-approved Certificate (formerly the Global Health Specialty at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health), there are a limited number of spots for the academic year 2025. Students who previously signed up for the Global Health Specialty and will still be enrolled in a graduate program in Fall 2025 are automatically granted a spot.

    This form will close on September 15, 2025. Please apply here to indicate interest and we will follow up with you about next steps:

    UC Berkeley School of Public Health Global Health Specialty Form

Graduate Certificate in Health Management

Given the complexities involved in health system reform, advancing equity, and being good stewards of scarce resources, there has been an increased demand for professionals who have skills in applied managerial decision-making in the healthcare sector.

Effectively managing a diverse array of organizations that operate in this sector requires specialized knowledge and expertise in several key disciplines, including an understanding of organizational and financial structures within organizations, as well as experience with strategic planning and implementation.

The new Graduate Certificate in Health Management from the Health Policy and Management Division at the School of Public Health supports graduate students at UC Berkeley in developing these critical competencies through a comprehensive trio of toolkit courses that focus on skill-building, frameworks, and applied learning. These courses complement a wide range of existing degree programs and will appear on official graduate transcripts.

  • Courses

    To earn the certificate, students complete three core courses that build a strong foundation in health care management and finance. Most courses are offered in both in-person and online formats (when available), giving you flexibility to fit them into your schedule. The content is identical across formats, so you can choose the option that works best for you.

    Course Timeline: At-a-Glance

    • Organizational Behavior and Management in Health Care
      • In-person: PH224A (Fall only)
      • Online: PBHLTHW224A (Fall only)
    • Strategic Management in Health Care Organizations
      • In-person: PH223C (Spring only)
      • Online: PHW223C (Summer only)
    • Health Care Finance
      • Online: PHW227A (Spring only)
  • Eligibility and Requirements

    Students must:

    • Be currently enrolled in a UC Berkeley graduate program
    • In good academic standing: GPA of 3.0 or better
    • The three courses (totaling 9 units) must be taken for a letter grade
    • No course substitutions; all three required courses must be completed
  • Certificate Completion

    There is currently no application requirement for the Graduate Certificate in Health Management. However, there is a completion form. Fill out the Certificate Completion Form within 2 weeks of the start of your final course or your final semester if all the courses are completed.

    Completion of the Graduate Certificate in Health Management will be noted on the memorandum section of your official transcript (not the diploma). Final grades will be verified prior to award of the certificate.

For more information please direct questions about the certificate or its courses to Bradley Jong, HPM Program Manager, hpm_mph@berkeley.edu.

Graduate Certificate in Racism, Health, and Social Justice

The School of Public Health, The Department of City and Regional Planning, and the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management are offering the Graduate Certificate in Racism, Health, and Social Justice. The certificate’s purpose is to provide theoretical, methodological, and applied training at the intersection of public health inequities, racial justice, and social justice to Masters and Doctoral students seeking an interdisciplinary learning experience. Understanding the root causes of health, racial injustice, and social inequities matters profoundly for designing interventions and solutions for pressing health and social problems.

This graduate certificate will provide interdisciplinary training across the spectrum of the social, economic, and political determinants that drive health inequalities and must be confronted to create a more equitable and just society. It is designed to complement students’ home disciplines. Recipients of this certificate will leave with deep subject matter expertise, well-articulated critical perspectives, and advanced skills to help transform our world into one that achieves social and racial justice, including health equity.

The graduate certificate will offer 2 anchor courses in the School of Public Health, both of which focus on health inequities, racism, and struggles for justice. This certificate will offer elective courses that delve into the relevant multi-level and multi-system factors shaping injustices from economic instability (Goldman School of Public Policy; Berkeley Law) and the neighborhood and physical environment (Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management; Department of City and Regional Planning) to education (School of Education), food (School of Public Health), community safety and the broader social context (Department of Sociology; School of Social Welfare) and health and social policies (School of Public Health).

See full list of anchor courses and elective options here.

For more information on the certificate, reach out to hsbprogram@berkeley.edu.

  • Requirements

    Students must:

    • Be currently enrolled in a UC Berkeley graduate program
    • In good academic standing: GPA of 3.0 or better
    • The three courses (totaling 9 units) must be taken for a letter grade
  • Certificate Completion

    There is currently no application requirement for the Graduate Certificate in Racism, Health, and Social Justice. Completion of the Graduate Certificate in Racism, Health, and Social Justice will be noted on the memorandum section of your official transcript (not the diploma). To receive this completion, please fill out the Certificate Completion Form after you have received a final grade for all required courses after your final semester. An official e-certificate will be sent to you. Final grades will be verified prior to award of the certificate.

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