Program Overview

Certificate in Entrepreneurship & Technology

The Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Technology prepares students to become innovative leaders. This certificate offers UC Berkeley undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to build networks, start and grow their own startups, and strengthen leadership, collaboration, and communication skills. The Certificate equips students with the mindsets and skills to become leaders in any industry.

Certificate Requirements

To earn the Certificate, students must complete all requirements in one of the tracks below.

Coursework Track

• Richard Newton Lecture Series (one of the following 1-unit classes):
  • ENGIN 183A (Fall 2022 and beyond)
  • ENGIN 283A (Fall 2022 and beyond)
  • INDENG 95 (prior to Fall 2022)
  • INDENG 195 (prior to Fall 2022)
  • INDENG 295 (prior to Fall 2022)
• 5 additional units from the Approved Course List below
• Total: 6 units

Startup Track

• Richard Newton Lecture Series (one of the following 1-unit classes):
  • ENGIN 183A (Fall 2022 and beyond)
  • ENGIN 283A (Fall 2022 and beyond)
  • INDENG 95 (prior to Fall 2022)
  • INDENG 195 (prior to Fall 2022)
  • INDENG 295 (prior to Fall 2022)
• 4 additional units from the Approved Course List below
• Startup credit will be reviewed and granted based on the following areas:
  • Startup company background:
    • 500 or less employees
    • Less than 10 years old
    • Not further than Series C funding
    • The company has a product (i.e., not consulting)
    • Startups that came out of an SCET class will not be considered
  • A letter of completion from the company on company letterhead:
    • Offer letters will not be accepted
    • Letters of completion must include the student name, their responsibilities, dates that they interned, and approximate number of hours worked
  • Written submission of what you learned and what you did during the internship:
    • Bullet points outlining:
      • What you did at your internship
      • What you accomplished
      • What you learned

Study Abroad Track

• Successful completion of the SCET Global Entrepreneurship and Innovation Study Abroad Program.

Approved Course List

• ENGIN 183 - Special Topics in Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship (1-4 units)
• ENGIN 283 - Special Topics in Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship (1-4 units)
• ENGIN 183B - Berkeley Method of Entrepreneurship Bootcamp (2 units)
• ENGIN 183C - Challenge Lab (4 units)
• ENGIN C183F - Challenge Lab (4 units)
• ENGIN 183D - Product Management (3 units)
• ENGIN 183E - Technology Entrepreneurship (3 units)
• ENGIN 198 - SCET DeCal or other SCET Group Studies and must say in the class notes that it can be applied towards the certificate since not all sections of 198 are taught through SCET (1-4 units)

Completing the Certificate

To earn the Certificate, the Certificate Completion Application should be submitted by the last day of the semester in which all requirements will be complete.

Certificate Ceremony

SCET holds a Certificate Ceremony once a year for graduates who have received the Certificate during their time at Berkeley. Only those graduating in that Spring or previous Fall are eligible to participate.

FAQs

• Is this certificate only for students in the College of Engineering?
  • No. This certificate is for any student from any major.
• Can I earn a certificate in all three tracks?
  • Students can only earn one certificate and the track will not be listed on the certificate.
• Do I need to submit an application before I take the classes?
  • No. You only need to submit the completion application, which should be submitted in the term that you will be completing the requirements or later.
• Can I count the same courses towards my major/minor towards the certificate? Is it okay if they overlap?
  • We will accept courses for the certificate overlap with your major/minor requirements.
• Do I need to receive a minimum grade for these courses?
  • Students must successfully complete coursework applied toward the certificate by earning a C or better for letter-graded courses and Satisfactory or Pass for non-letter-graded courses.
• May I request to have courses not on the approved list to count toward the certificate?
  • Starting Fall 2023, students will not be able to substitute courses.
• What information is required for the program participant verification for the startup track?
  • See the detailed requirements above.
• How long will it take to receive my certificate after submitting the Certificate Completion Application?
  • Applications are due by the last day of the semester in which you will complete your certificate requirements. SCET reviews applications at the end of each term.
• Can I complete the certificate requirements during my last semester at Cal?
  • Yes. Please see the "How long will it take to receive my Certificate after submitting the Certificate Completion Application?" FAQ for details on the process, which is the same for graduating seniors.
• Who do I contact if I have additional questions?
  • Please direct all inquiries to the SCET Academic Program Manager.
• Can I still apply if I did not submit my application in the term when I completed the certificate requirements?
  • Yes, but your application will be reviewed on our standard timeline (once per semester after grades are posted).
• How do I participate in one of the programs for the startup track?
  • The programs listed under the startup track are not affiliated with SCET and you would need to seek out those opportunities on your own.
• Can I repeat courses to count towards the certificate?
  • You may only take the course once to count towards the certificate. We offer many challenge labs (ENGIN 183C) and Special Topics courses (ENGIN 183/283) that may be repeated as long as the course topic is different. ENGIN 183A/283A may only be taken once to count towards the certificate.