Professional Certificates
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Liz McDonough
Program Director
Amanda Gill
Online Program Coordinator
Student Success Story
"What has been most valuable is being guided by the instructors, who are published authors." —Howard Zalkin, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in Writing graduate
Read Zalkin's blog and watch a video of him reading a recent piece.
"Taking the writing courses has changed how I see my life and what my future is." —Brooks Bigart Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in Writing graduate
All Writing, Editing and Technical Communication Student Success Stories
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in Writing
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EDP 022466
For aspiring writers serious about their craft, the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in Writing is ideal. Formalize your training and prepare for graduate study in writing with this certificate developed with directors of several San Francisco Bay Area M.F.A. programs and approved by the University of California, Berkeley, English Department. Develop a regular writing practice, build your writing portfolio, and gain a credential that shows your commitment. Whether you’re in online or classroom courses, you join a community of writers who share your dedication. Be inspired as you read exemplary works of literature. Learn from accomplished instructors who provide structure, support and thoughtful feedback on your work to help you perfect your craft. Whether your goal is learning what it takes to be published or achieving a coveted place in an M.F.A. program in writing, this flexible program can meet your needs and schedule. Join our email list to stay informed about this certificate.
Courses
The table contains the required courses for the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in Writing, as well as the terms they are typically available for enrollment.
2 Required Courses, 2 Literature Electives, 3 Writing Workshop Electives
14 Semester Units (210 Hours of Instruction)
| Required Courses | Course Number | Units/ CEU | Classroom | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Craft of Writing | X421 | 2 | Fall Spring Summer |
Fall Spring Summer |
| Writing Skills Workshop | X13 | 2 | Fall Spring Summer |
Fall Spring Summer |
| Electives (Literature) | Course Number | Units/ CEU | Classroom | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Fiction | X135A | 3 | Fall Spring Summer |
|
| The English Novel | X125 | 4 | Fall Spring Summer |
|
| Fact and Fiction: Reading and Writing the Personal Essay |
X473 | 2 | Fall | |
| Gender and Nation in 20th-Century British and Anglophone Women's Literature (offered future term) |
X474 | 2 | ||
| Great Novels You Always Meant to Read | X467 | 2 | Fall Spring |
|
| Learning From the Masters: Techniques of the Literary Greats | X425 | 2 | Spring | |
| Mystery Fiction | X103.9 | 3 | Fall Spring Summer |
|
| Reading as a Writer, Writing as a Reader (offered future term) |
X7 | 2 | ||
| Shakespeare | XB17 | 4 | Fall Spring Summer |
|
| New! Vampires and Steampunk | X481 | 1 | Summer |
| Electives (Writing Workshop) | Course Number | Units/ CEU | Classroom | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential | X70 | 2 | Fall Spring Summer |
|
| Introduction to Writing Fiction | X464 | 2 | Fall Spring |
Fall Spring Summer |
| Intermediate Fiction Writing | X440 | 2 | Fall Spring |
|
| Science Writing | X410 | 2 | Spring | |
| Writing Short Fiction From Life Experience | X463.5 | 2 | Fall | |
| Developing the Novel I | X125.1 | 2 | Fall Spring |
Fall Spring Summer |
| Developing the Novel II (offered future term) | X125.3 | 2 | ||
| Forms in Poetry (offered future term) | X92 | 1 | ||
| Introduction to Creative Nonfiction | X480 | 2 | Fall Spring |
|
| Creative Nonfiction Workshop | X482 | 2 | Summer | Fall Spring Summer |
| Journalism Workshop | X473 | 2 | Fall Spring |
|
| Writing the Feature Story | X419 | 2 | Summer | Fall Spring Summer |
| Writing the First-Person Essay | X457 | 1 | Summer | |
| The Well-Crafted Memoir (offered future term) | X461 | 1 |
See a complete list of electives for this program.
Course availability is subject to change. Courses offered in both online and classroom environments are interchangeable, and you may choose either format.
To enroll, click on a course title above and choose a section.
You may enroll in individual courses without registering for the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in Writing.
Online or Classroom Format
This professional certificate is available in both classroom and online formats. You can take courses online, in class or a combination of both. UC Berkeley Extension offers courses year-round. Choose the format that works for your schedule. Find out more about online learning at Extension.
Who Will Benefit
This program is designed to assist your artistic development, no matter what your writing goals. If you used to write a lot and are looking to jump back in, this certificate provides the support and guidance you need to write seriously again. If you generally work privately, showing your work only to a few readers, you can formalize your technique and solidify your product with the intent to publish. And if you seek admission to an M.F.A. program, you can build a polished portfolio to enhance your candidacy.
Prerequisites for Admission
A bachelor's degree from an accredited undergraduate institution is required to register for the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in Writing.
Curriculum Requirements
The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in Writing consists of 7 courses for a minimum of 14 semester units (210 hours of instruction), which includes 2 required courses and 5 restricted electives selected from two categories: literature (2 courses) and writing workshops (3 courses). Candidates must pay a nonrefundable certificate application fee.
We suggest starting the certificate with one of the two core required courses, The Craft of Writing X421 or Writing Skills Workshop X13, but you may begin with any writing class that meets the certificate requirements.
The certificate can be completed at your own pace, though all coursework must be completed within five years of registering for the certificate. Requirements may be updated based on new developments in the field of study; we recommend completing the curriculum in a timely fashion.(Students typically enroll in one course per term.) For more information, please see the completion requirements and the substitutions, waivers and transfer credit policies.
How to Register for This Professional Certificate
By registering, you declare your intention to complete the curriculum. To register for the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in Writing, submit the online registration form with your credit card information or complete the mail-in registration form. The registration fee is nonrefundable. You may register for the certificate during any term. We recommend that you register before you begin your third course in the curriculum.
Evidence of a bachelor's degree is required of all new applicants. Once you register for the certificate, please send a copy of your official transcript to:
Liz McDonough
UC Berkeley Extension
1995 University Ave.,
Suite 110
Berkeley, CA 94704-7000
Estimated Cost
Each course is priced individually, and you pay the course fee at the time of enrollment. The certificate has an estimated total cost of approximately $4,000 (not including course materials or registration fee). Course fees are subject to change.
Contact Information
To contact the department office, email letters@unex.berkeley.edu or call (510) 642-6362.
For details about online courses, email online@unex.berkeley.edu or call (510) 642-7343.
Advisory Board
To ensure that your professional certificate is of the highest quality, UC Berkeley Extension turns to experienced writers, outstanding teachers and published authors for advisers and instructors.
Stephen Albert, M.F.A., University of Iowa Writers' Workshop, also holds an M.A. from the University of Iowa School of Journalism and a teaching credential from the UC Berkeley School of Education
Thaisa Frank, award-winning author and instructor in the creative writing graduate programs at San Francisco State University and the University of San Francisco, as well as at UC Berkeley Extension
Deborah Lichtman, Ph.D., author, teacher, curriculum instructor and former director of the University of San Francisco creative writing graduate program
Jane Anne Staw, Ph.D., author and teacher in the University of San Francisco creative writing graduate program, as well as an honored instructor at UC Berkeley Extension
Allison Tomlinson, M.F.A., holds a graduate degree in creative writing from Mills College
Hertha Sweet Wong, Ph.D., associate professor in UC Berkeley's English Department and chair of UC Berkeley's Department of Art Practice
