About UC San Diego Extended Studies & Google Career Certificates program
We invest in student success in and out of the classroom. Flexible coursework and meetings allow you to acquire technology skills in high-demand occupations while maintaining your current job. By the end of 15 months, you’ll earn two technical certificates: a core certificate from UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies and a Google Career Certificate. With 1-on-1 support from a dedicated career navigator, you’ll be ready to launch your new career in technology.
You’ll pay $0 upfront to earn your certificates, receive personalized career-readiness training and invitations to exclusive workshops, plus the chance to access 150 hours of paid work experience, personal mentoring from an industry professional and support to help you land a job upon program completion.
Trial Period
Not sure if a tech career is right for you? You can try the coursework for the first five weeks to see if the full 15-month program is a good fit. If you decide not to continue, no costs are incurred and no repayment is required.
Click the button below to begin enrollment. The application usually takes about 10–15 minutes to complete. After submission, our team will contact you about next steps.
Applications for the summer 2024 cohort close May 28.
Questions? Review our FAQs below, watch our pre-recorded info session, attend an in-person information session or reach out to hello@workforce.org for more information and we’ll follow up with you within one business day.
Certificate Programs and Career Pathways
FAQs
Who should apply to the program?
Individuals who are interested in a career in technology but lack an affordable and flexible means to pursue it are encouraged to apply. While there is no upfront cost, the program is not free and we are happy help you weigh the features and benefits of this program against other certificate options available to you. We find that individuals with some exposure to technology and/or those who have a few years of consistent work experience are best suited for this program.
What do I need to succeed in the program?
Breaking into the technology sector requires a great deal of resilience and comfort with discomfort. It is not an easy path and will require hard work, persistence and continual growth. Strong time management skills, stable housing and steady access to the internet over the 15-month period also help create a stable learning environment.
How many hours per week will I need to spend on the program?
Participants should plan to commit to 15 hours/week of coursework and 1-2 hours/week of job-readiness preparation.
What if I’m still not sure which certificate path is right for me?
If you are still exploring multiple career options and interested in sectors outside of technology, we recommend you attend a Connecting Interests with Careers workshop, which can be found on our events calendar. If you know you want to pursue a path in technology, but are not sure which program is right, please attend our next information session. If you are ready to move forward with our program, please submit an application.
How will I interact with my instructors and career navigators?
You’ll use online learning and communication tools like Canvas, Slack and Coursera to engage with your instructors, career navigators and fellow students.
What if I’m not sure about the program yet?
Try out the Google and UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies coursework for up to five weeks before committing to the full 15-month program. During this time, we’ll have weekly check-ins to help you achieve your trial period milestones. When these milestones are met, you continue in the program, and if you don’t meet these milestones, you leave the program with no financial responsibility.
What does job-readiness training look like?
Participants build job-readiness skills in addition to technical skills through 1-on-1 counseling sessions and group workshops. While paid work experience and mentorship is not required, they are recommended to everyone in the program to set yourself apart in the job search. With help from our team, you’ll identify ideal jobs, perfect your resume, practice interviewing and complete projects or internships that help you stand out, building skills to support every step of your career journey. Additionally, you will have the support of our community partners to help with barriers that could potentially interfere with your progress.
Am I guaranteed a job at the end of the program?
No. The Workforce Partnership can’t guarantee you a job, but we prepare you for your job search and leverage our employer network to refer candidates to open roles with our partners. We also expect participants to actively apply to jobs after graduating.
What is an outcomes-based loan?
Outcomes-based loans allow organizations like the Workforce Partnership to provide comprehensive education, job-readiness training, access to paid work experience and other wraparound services at no upfront cost to the participant. For participants who are earning the equivalent of at least $40,000 per year, the repayment obligation is to repay the $7,000 outcomes-based loan with zero interest. For those who are not earning the equivalent of at least $40,000 per year, participants can defer payments for up to 60 months. Learn more about outcomes-based loans here.
What if I don’t want to take out an outcomes-based loan?
There are many other technology education options for people interested in these careers. The UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies courses are available to anyone, independent of this program and prospective applicants are welcome to enroll directly through UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies.
As part of our application process, the Workforce Partnership will help you evaluate other potential programs. View a full list of the Partnership’s free or low-cost program and service offerings, or reach out to hello@workforce.org with any questions.
San Diego’s community colleges and San Diego College of Continuing Education also offer classes in these subject areas that may be lower cost, or even free depending on your financial situation, but may not offer the career services that the Workforce Partnership is able to provide.
Who should apply to the program?
Individuals who are interested in a career in technology but lack an affordable and flexible means to pursue it are encouraged to apply. While there is no upfront cost, the program is not free and we are happy help you weigh the features and benefits of this program against other certificate options available to you. We find that individuals with some exposure to technology and/or those who have a few years of consistent work experience are best suited for this program.
What do I need to succeed in the program?
Breaking into the technology sector requires a great deal of resilience and comfort with discomfort. It is not an easy path and will require hard work, persistence and continual growth. Strong time management skills, stable housing and steady access to the internet over the 15-month period also help create a stable learning environment.
How many hours per week will I need to spend on the program?
Participants should plan to commit to 15 hours/week of coursework and 1-2 hours/week of job-readiness preparation.
What if I’m still not sure which certificate path is right for me?
If you are still exploring multiple career options and interested in sectors outside of technology, we recommend you attend a Connecting Interests with Careers workshop, which can be found on our events calendar. If you know you want to pursue a path in technology, but are not sure which program is right, please attend our next information session. If you are ready to move forward with our program, please submit an application.
How will I interact with my instructors and career navigators?
You’ll use online learning and communication tools like Canvas, Slack and Coursera to engage with your instructors, career navigators and fellow students.
What if I’m not sure about the program yet?
Try out the Google and UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies coursework for up to five weeks before committing to the full 15-month program. During this time, we’ll have weekly check-ins to help you achieve your trial period milestones. When these milestones are met, you continue in the program, and if you don’t meet these milestones, you leave the program with no financial responsibility.
What does job-readiness training look like?
Participants build job-readiness skills in addition to technical skills through 1-on-1 counseling sessions and group workshops. While paid work experience and mentorship is not required, they are recommended to everyone in the program to set yourself apart in the job search. With help from our team, you’ll identify ideal jobs, perfect your resume, practice interviewing and complete projects or internships that help you stand out, building skills to support every step of your career journey. Additionally, you will have the support of our community partners to help with barriers that could potentially interfere with your progress.
Am I guaranteed a job at the end of the program?
No. The Workforce Partnership can’t guarantee you a job, but we prepare you for your job search and leverage our employer network to refer candidates to open roles with our partners. We also expect participants to actively apply to jobs after graduating.
What is an outcomes-based loan?
Outcomes-based loans allow organizations like the Workforce Partnership to provide comprehensive education, job-readiness training, access to paid work experience and other wraparound services at no upfront cost to the participant. For participants who are earning the equivalent of at least $40,000 per year, the repayment obligation is to repay the $7,000 outcomes-based loan with zero interest. For those who are not earning the equivalent of at least $40,000 per year, participants can defer payments for up to 60 months. Learn more about outcomes-based loans here.
What if I don’t want to take out an outcomes-based loan?
There are many other technology education options for people interested in these careers. The UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies courses are available to anyone, independent of this program and prospective applicants are welcome to enroll directly through UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies.
As part of our application process, the Workforce Partnership will help you evaluate other potential programs. View a full list of the Partnership’s free or low-cost program and service offerings, or reach out to hello@workforce.org with any questions.
San Diego’s community colleges and San Diego College of Continuing Education also offer classes in these subject areas that may be lower cost, or even free depending on your financial situation, but may not offer the career services that the Workforce Partnership is able to provide.
Student Stories
Prior to joining the program, Ari worked as a stagehand and wasn’t getting the hours or pay he needed to support his family. His goal was to break into the tech industry and through the program he was able to do just that. He landed a job as a configuration specialist at MedImpact Healthcare, offering him a large salary increase and new career.
Ellie worked in administrative roles but dreamed of becoming a web developer, leading her to enroll in a Front-end development certificate at UC San Diego Division of Extended studies. With 6 months left in her certificate program, she received an offer for to become a content producer at Petco. Ellie was most recently hired by her fellow classmate at Evoke Canale, where she works as a junior front-end developer.
Chris had worked at the San Diego Zoo for 14 years and without any formal education he found it very hard to advance in his career. Looking for ways to advance his career opportunities, Chris earned a Business Intelligence certificate through the program. He landed a job as a Business Intelligence Analyst at Community Housing earning $14 an hour more than what he was previously making at the Zoo.
Ernesto Gonzales was working at a job with limited financial growth when he heard about the Workforce Partnership’s Income Share Agreement (ISA) program. He learned how to support data-driven organizational decision-making and maximize the utility of accumulated data. He currently works as an IT associate for San Diego Gas & Electric.
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