Subject Areas
Writing
The field of written communication encompasses both the creative and the functional, from poetry, novels and screenplays to essays, product manuals and website content. In addition, the craft of editing and the business of publishing are crucial to the process of delivering clear, polished writing to varied audiences. UC Berkeley Extension's courses in writing give you opportunities to receive encouragement, direction and feedback on your work. Classes are regularly offered in multiple locations throughout the Bay Area—including Berkeley, San Francisco and Belmont—and online.
Featured Courses
Read new twists and old standards in fantasy, science fiction, paranormal fiction and urban fantasy. Learn more.
Children's Picture Book Writing Workshop
Get an introduction to the craft of writing for children and the business of publishing children's picture books. Learn more.
Summer Fiction Writing Intensive
In this weeklong course, get inspiration, feedback, focus and guidance to develop your work. Learn more.
Writing the First-Person Essay
Learn the forms of a first-person essay, read sample pieces and write your own piece. Learn more.
Explore techniques on developing voice, story structure and openings, scenes, and dialogue, as well as on establishing believable characters for young adult novels. Learn more.
Professional Certificate (What is a professional certificate?)
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in Writing (EDP 022466) Also Available Online!
Formalize your training and prepare for an M.F.A. program in writing with this professional certificate that's the only one of its kind in the Bay Area. Build your writing portfolio, join a dedicated community of writers, and discover what it takes to be published. Learn more.
Specialized Program of Study (What is a specialized program of study?)
Professional Writing (EDP 022559)
This program offers a comprehensive curriculum to provide you with the skills to write successfully and effectively at a professional level across industries, in both print and digital formats. Learn more.
Information Sessions
Learn more about Extension—without making a commitment. Come to a free, no-obligation information session to discover how we can help you achieve your goals. Learn more about courses and programs, meet other prospective students, talk to instructors and staff and ask questions.
Enroll in a free information session, or call (510) 642-4111 to reserve your space.
Events, Programs and Resources
The LASER series, chaired by cultural historian Piero Scaruffi, is a local forum for art and science
projects that are creative, original and interdisciplinary in nature. Each evening program features
a medley of four artists, scientists, philosophers, historians, inventors and scholars who are
working on projects that expand existing paradigms.
Dates and Times: Wednesdays, June 5 and Aug. 7, 6:30–8:30 pm
Location: Berkeley Campus
Cost:
FREE
The State of the Object: How Art Interacts With Technology, Society and Life (EDP 015602)
Moderated by author Piero Scaruffi—with individual presentations and a panel discussion by distinguished Bay Area practitioners in art and design—this event ranges across the contemporary art and design field to underscore the importance of creativity for business, technology and the way that people live.
Date and Time: Wednesday, Aug. 14, 7–8:30 pm
Location: San Francisco: Art and Design Center
Cost:
FREE
UC Berkeley Library Exhibits
View "Story Hour in the Library" videos at webcast.berkeley.edu.
Berkeley Arts & Letters presents engaging and provocative speakers and conversations in Berkeley. View its upcoming calendar.
Every October, readers and writers gather to hear work in fiction and poetry at Litquake, the largest literary festival on the West Coast. UC Berkeley Extension is proud to be a sponsor.
Contact
To contact the department office, email letters@unex.berkeley.edu or call (510) 642-6362. For more information on online courses, email online@unex.berkeley.edu or call (510) 642-7343.
