In order to earn the Graduate Certificate in Technology and Public Policy, you must:

1. Be currently enrolled in a UC Berkeley graduate program, and 
2. Be in good academic standing, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher

You must also complete a minimum of 3 courses (10 units), each of which must be taken for a letter grade. Those courses must be:

1. Required core course: GSPP 247: Progress? An Introduction to Technology and Public Policy (4 units; taught each Spring).
2. Required policy analysis methods course, chosen from the list below. Courses not on the policy analysis course list will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the program faculty.
3. A minimum of one elective course, chosen from the list below, focused on a specific technology policy area. Courses not on the electives list will be considered on a case-by-case basis
4. A B+ or higher on all final grades for courses counting toward the elective.

Application for Admission Form

Elective and Policy Analysis CoursePetition Form 

Certificate Completion Form

The Graduate Certificate in Technology and Public Policy has two application deadlines per year, one in the middle of the fall semester and one in the middle of the spring semester. All applications received by the deadline will be reviewed and approved (or not) by the end of that semester.

Students may apply at any time during their UC Berkeley graduate career, regardless of whether or not they have already taken courses that would count toward the certificate but must be able to demonstrate that they have time and schedule flexibility to allow for taking all the necessary courses. 

Complete the Application for Admission Form and submit for approval. 

The following materials are required as part of the application: 

• One-page statement about the student’s background and reason for applying to the Graduate Certificate in Technology and Public Policy. 
• Current resume or curriculum vitae
• Letter of recommendation from UC Berkeley faculty advisor in student’s primary department
• Most recent unofficial copy of graduate transcript or undergraduate transcript if in the first year of study in graduate school. 
• Proposed study plan for completion of three graduate-level courses or ninety hours of instruction (equivalent to 10 units) from the following selection of courses:
• Foundation course: Progress? Technology and Public Policy (4-unit)
• Technology Policy Analysis (3-unit)
• Technology Policy Elective Course (3-unit)

This application for admission signals a student’s interest in the Graduate Certificate in Technology Policy, but does not guarantee that the certificate will be awarded, nor guarantee a seat in GCTP-approved courses.

Core Course

GSPP 290: Progress? An Introduction to Technology and Public Policy is held every spring and is currently taught by Professor Andrew W. Reddie. The course explores the intersection of technology and public policy, examining the impact of technology on society and how public policy can shape the development and use of technology. The course also delves into the ethical considerations surrounding technology, including privacy, security, and accessibility. By the end of the course, students will have a deeper understanding of how technology and public policy intersect and how they can use this knowledge to make a positive impact in the world working in fields as diverse as climate policy, security policy, and economic policy. Technologies discussed during the course of the seminar include artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), cybersecurity and privacy, renewable energy and geoengineering, biotechnology and genetic engineering, robotics and automation, virtual/augmented reality and spatial computing, blockchain and distributed ledger technology, 5G networks and wireless communication, and quantum computing.

Policy Analysis Methods Course

The following courses count toward the Graduate Certificate in Technology Policy’s policy analysis course requirement. Note that not every course is offered on a yearly basis. Check guide.berkeley.edu for the most up-to-date course descriptions and class schedule.

Students are invited to submit additional courses for consideration for approval by the GCTP Academic Committee. To qualify as one of the required policy analysis methods courses, it must introduce at least two of the following core skills: 

• Technology Policy Analysis
• Research Design in a Technological Context
• The Analysis of Technology Law, Policy, and Legislation
• Historical and Political Analysis of Technology Policy

Electice Courses

The following electives count toward the Graduate Certificate in Technology Policy. Note that not every course is offered on a yearly basis. Check guide.berkeley.edu for the most up to date course descriptions and class schedule.

Students can petition for graduate courses (200 level) beyond the standard elective and policy analysis course lists to count toward the certificate. Particularly 290 Special Topics and 299 Independent Study courses will be considered on a case-by-case basis, as topics pertain to technology policy. Submit the Course  Petition Form to propose an alternative elective and/or policy analysis methods course. Courses proposed by petition must be approved by the certificate administrator and faculty director to count toward the certificate with the input of the supporting faculty.

Students submit the Certificate Completion Form at the point that all requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Technology Policy are complete. The form can be submitted as soon as all three courses must be either completed or currently in progress. The certificate completion application should be submitted by the following dates, in order to be eligible for the certificate.

• Students graduating at the end of Spring must apply by April 15.
• Students graduating at the end of Summer must apply by July 15.
• Students graduating at the end of Fall must apply by November 15.

Completion of the GCTP will be noted in the memorandum section of the student’s official transcript (not on the diploma). At the time of completion, each student receives a physical certificate signed by the Dean of the Goldman School of Public Policy and Founder and Faculty Director of the Berkeley Risk and Security Lab, Prof. Andrew W. Reddie. Certificates are typically mailed within 2–3 months of the end of the semester.

If you have any questions, please contact Cara Wagner, certificate administrator, at cwagner@berkeley.edu.