The number of students entering into continuing-education certificate programs at UCSD Extension climbed 28 percent over one year ‘mdash; from 2,362 in 2007 to 3,023 in 2008 ‘mdash; according to Edward Abeyta, registrar and director of student services for the university’s extension programs.
Overall enrollment for the first half of the 2008-09 academic year rose by 27 percent, with 27,463 students currently at UCSD Extension ‘mdash; up from 21,571 in 2007-08.
‘For recent and mid-career college graduates facing a difficult job market and a troubling economy, continuing-education certificates are becoming increasingly attractive as a way to bridge employment areas that are in demand,’ Abeyta said in a statement. ‘This is the second straight year with a 25 percent jump in certificate enrollment applications.’
The 10 certificate programs with the highest number of new enrollees are accounting, business management, clinical trials, copy editing, human resource management, occupational safety and health, paralegal studies, project management, regulatory affairs for the biomedical industry and teaching English as a foreign language.
Additionally, online certificate programs attracted 431 new applicants from across the country, an 18 percent jump from the previous year.
In order to accommodate working adults, classes for many of the 90 certificate programs and several specialized study programs are being held during the evenings and weekends at the main UCSD campus, along with three other locations in Sorrento Mesa, Rancho Bernardo and Mission Valley.
Certificates can be earned in one to two years, after students complete a set of required courses and electives.