The continuing education branch of UC Berkeley offers more than 1,500 courses a year at locations including its centers in Belmont, downtown San Francisco, its main office on University Avenue between Milvia Street and Bonita Avenue, and online. Classes include business, technology, engineering, languages, writing, environmental design and many more. You can obtain California teaching credentials through Extension, including the preliminary credential and adult, vocational and specialized subject credentials. There are also structured certificate programs in facilities management, clinical research management, solar energy and green building, and dozens more. Most of these programs are held on evenings and weekends for working adults' convenience. For the younger set, the Fall Program for Freshmen allows students admitted to Cal for the spring semester to start their Cal classes through Extension in the fall, then transfer the credits.
One well-kept secret is that anyone can enroll in regular Cal classes through Extension's concurrent enrollment program on a space-available basis and with permission of the instructor. This costs more than Extension's own classes -- about $2,000, versus about $550 for an equivalent Extension class -- but is a great option if you are thinking of going back to school and need specific credits or recommendations, or if you want to see if Cal is right for you. Extension does not offer grants or scholarships, but will certify students' enrollment for the purpose of obtaining student loans.