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E-mail the department
course@unex.berkeley.edu
Phone: (510) 642-4151
Frequently Asked Questions
Online Certificate in Integrated Circuit Design & Techniques
General Program
Exams
Enrollment/Fees
Online Course Details
Additional Questions
Additional Resources
GENERAL PROGRAM FAQ
As of March 2009
Why choose a career as an IC Design/Electrical Engineer?
The number of electrical engineers in the world is expected to continue growing. Job rewards and satisfaction for engineers include:
- Excellent salaries and benefits with opportunities for bonuses and advancements
- Recognition for contributions to the design for products brought to market
- Meaningful work helping companies develop new products that offer better performance while being less costly and more environment-friendly
- Challenging work in a professional environment surrounded by talented colleagues
What is the average salary for an IC Design/Electrical Engineer?
Earnings of engineers vary greatly, depending on education, training, experience, the type and size of employer, and the geographical location of the job. The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) is an excellent resource for electrical engineers. The IEEE has many chapters and organizational units around the world.
- For United States salaries visit http://ieeeusa.org/careers/salary/default.asp.
- Regional IEEE locations can be found at www.ieee.org/web/geo_activities/home/index.html.
What sets the UC Berkeley Extension’s Online Certificate in Integrated Circuit Design & Techniques apart from other programs?
Our program offers thorough, accelerated preparation for you to begin or upgrade your career in the semiconductor industry. We offer a fully online program, in interactive and dynamic formats, that provide you with a myriad of innovative design tips and coherent concept convenient explanations at your fingertips. Our UC Berkeley–approved instructors in the certificate program hold Ph.D.'s and have demonstrated sophisticated teaching ability and subject-area expertise.
Is this a "true all bilingual" series where everything is in English and Chinese?
No, the series is fundamentally in English with optional Mandarin lecture soundtracks of lectures for the convenience of Mandarin-speaking students. Students need to have at least limited English skills to understand the technical terminology used on the slides, and to successfully complete the courses and/or program. Below is a table to show the language offerings for various course materials in the program.
Language Options in the Certificate in
Integrated Circuit Design & Techniques
| English | Mandarin | |
| Enrollment materials, etc. | X | |
| Course slides | X | |
| Course lecture soundtracks* | X | X |
| Course projects and exams | X |
Is job placement assistance available for graduates of the program?
We do not provide job placement assistance; however, the HR departments of large multi-national corporations have shown strong interest in reaching out to our graduates. Therefore, graduates of the program are encouraged to contact firms that have requested to be listed on the industry contact page, which is made available to enrolled students.
EXAMS
What is the format of the final exams in this program?
Each course usually has only one exam, which is the final proctored exam. This exam cannot be completed online. Your final exam must be supervised by a proctor for you to receive credit for completing the course. All final exams are closed-book. Students are allowed to bring a one-page, double-sided note sheet. This sheet must be handwritten, and cannot be larger than Letter Size (8.5 in. by 11 in. or 21.59 cm by 27.94 cm). No programmable devices or programmable calculators are allowed for the proctored final exam.
What should I do if I fail an exam or fail a class?
You are expected to pass all exams and all classes with a minimum grade of C or better. If you fail an exam, you may not repeat it. If you fail a class, you will have to take the class over again if you want to receive a certificate of completion.
Do I need to pay an extra fee to take the final exam?
Fees depend on the testing center. If there is a charge for examination supervision, you are responsible for the fee.
ENROLLMENT/FEES
Is there a special application fee?
There is a $100 fee to sign up for the Certificate Program in IC Design and Techniques. However, you can take as many individual courses as you like without enrolling in the certificate program.
Is there an installment payment plan?
No. You may enroll in each class individually as you progress through the program, but all tuition fees must be paid at the time of enrollment.
ONLINE COURSE DETAILS
How many hours are required outside of class time to complete reading assignments and homework?
You should expect to spend up to a minimum of three hours of outside study for every hour you spend on the lecture slides. The actual time required for each course will vary from student to student.
Are there specific dates that I need to log on to the course website?
No. The time you spend online is determined by your own schedule. All assignments, exams, and projects must be completed within the time frame of the course.
What kinds of computer peripherals are required to take an online class?
You will need a PC computer with sound, a 1024 x 768 or better resolution color monitor, a high-speed Internet connection, and various freely downloadable Adobe plug-ins. Internet Explorer and Firefox are the recommended browsers.
Do I need to have cookies and plug-ins enabled?
Yes. Your Internet browser must be set to accept cookies and Adobe plug-ins.
What happens if I fall behind or complete the course early?
The online courses are self-paced within the time frames allowed. Thus, it is recommended that you sign-up for the online program only if you can commit the time to complete it successfully. If you complete the course early, you can request an appointment to take the final exam.
What happens if I have technical issues that affect my accessibility and online experience?
Please refer to the technical contact in your welcome letter. We will assess and try to fix any problems in the most expeditious manner. In order to better serve you, please note the problem as it occurred (screen captures of the problem and your IP configuration settings are most helpful).
Can I save any course materials to my hard drive? Are the slides downloadable so that I can take notes on them?
No. All courses in this certificate program are delivered via streaming media, which means they cannot be saved to your hard drive. You can, however, view the course material and listen to the instructor’s narration as many times as you like over the duration of your course.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
I have noticed that some courses numbers have changed. Why have the course numbers changed and what does it mean for me?
After a detailed review several courses have been reclassified to recognize that the course(s) originate at Extension, are structured in accordance with the requirements for campus courses of the same level, and are approved by the appropriate campus academic department. Extension credit toward an undergraduate or graduate degree may be acceptable at other institutions, but acceptance is always determined by the institution to which the student is applying. Check with the institution you are attending or will attend before enrolling in an Extension course for this purpose.
In recognition of their new classifications most of the courses have been assigned new course numbers. No changes were made to the content of the courses.
Please note for the official records the course number changes below.
Note: All the courses below are part of the Type A Certificate Integrated Circuit Design and Techniques. X405 was not reclassified and the course number was not changed.
Effective Immediately:
| COURSE TITLE | OLD | NEW |
| Semiconductor Devices for Integrated Circuit Design | X408 Dept: EE |
X138 Dept: EECS |
| Advanced Analog Microelectronics | X409 Dept: EE |
X139 Dept: EECS |
| Fundamentals of Analog Integrated Circuit Design Techniques | X410 Dept: EE |
X140 Dept: EECS |
| Advanced Design Techniques for Analog Integrated Circuits | X411 Dept: EE |
X141 Dept: EECS |
| Introduction to Microelectronic Theory and Applications | X400 Dept: EE |
X30 Dept: EECS |
| Fundamentals of Integrated Circuit Design | X401 Dept: EE |
X31 Dept: EECS |
| Introduction to Physics of Semiconductor Devices | X402 Dept: EE |
X32 Dept: EECS |
| Fundamentals of Analog Microelectronic Techniques | X403 Dept: EE |
X33 Dept: EECS |
| Digital Integrated Circuit Design | X404 Dept: EE |
X134 Dept: EECS |
| Fundamentals of Modern Data Converter Design | X406 Dept: EE |
X236 Dept: EECS |
| Design Techniques of High Performance Data Converters | X407 Dept: EE |
X237 Dept: EECS |
What do the course letters and numbers mean?
Please visit www.unex.berkeley.edu/info/grades.html for information. Click on the "Credit/Noncredit" link to take you to the section that describes the different categories of course numbers.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Where can I find out more information about the Certificate in Integrated Circuit Design & Techniques?
Please visit www.unex.berkeley.edu/cert/icdesign.html and www.ucberkeleyext.com or call the program office at 1 (510) 642-4151 or e-mail us at course@unex.berkeley.edu if you have any further inquiries about the certificate program.
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