Certificate Programs

Certificate programs allow students to focus on gaining knowledge and skills in a particular area of public health. Certificates are designed for:

  • Graduate students within the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health
  • Graduate students in any department at UCLA
  • Non-degree students

The certificates for non-degree students typically attract professionals seeking to enhance their skills in a particular area or those aspiring to change fields.

  • Global Health Certificate

    The Global Health Certificate provides students with broad-based knowledge in global health, and can serve as a valuable qualification and differentiator in an increasingly competitive job market. Awarded through the UCLA Center for Global and Immigrant Health, the certificate is open to any graduate or professional student at UCLA. In conferring the certificate, UCLA Fielding recognizes a student’s capacity to work as a public health or health care professional with a global health perspective.

    To earn the certificate, students:

    • Take courses related to global health
    • Complete an international fieldwork experience
    • Complete a departmental project on a global health topic
    • Attend two global health seminars at UCLA

    The UCLA Center for Global and Immigrant Health will award a certificate in Global Health to any graduate or professional student who meets all of the following requirements:

    • Completes CHS 200 or HPM 240 (see global health courses for course descriptions)
    • Completes Certification from the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Program [or EPI 273 for previous cohorts]
    • Completes at least 12 additional units with global health content (see global health courses for a list of electives). Students can also submit electives not included in this list for approval.
    • Completes an international experience (at least 10 weeks in a lower/middle income country) and a five-page analytical paper on this experience 
    • Completes a five-page capstone paper describing how the Global Health Certificate program integrates with the student’s graduate studies, how it amplifies their understanding of one or more of the global health competencies, and how these competencies are likely to influence their professional career
    • Attends at least two Global Health lunchtime lectures or other lectures sponsored by the UCLA Center for Global and Immigrant Health, UCLA Fielding, or the UCLA Center for World Health

    The Global Health Certificate is only available to graduate or professional students who are currently enrolled in study at UCLA. 

    To Apply 

    Once all requirements for the certificate have been completed, the following must be submitted:

    • Completed application 
    • Transcript (unofficial is OK)
    • Copy of Global Health Departmental Project
    • Two signed Global Health Lecture forms

    Contact

    Learn more and submit an application: globalhealth@ph.ucla.edu

    Global Health Certificate Website
  • Bixby Population and Reproductive Health Certificate

    The UCLA Bixby Center on Population and Reproductive Health awards certificates to graduating Master's students at the Fielding School of Public Health who develop expertise via coursework and fieldwork focused on population, sexual, and reproductive health.

    Bixby Population and Reproductive Health Certificate Website
  • Registered Environmental Health Specialist
    • A person certified as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist works to improve the quality of life and health through environmental education, consultation, and enforcement.  
    • Students interested in completing the requirements for REHS take specific electives and core requirements while in the program.
    • This certification program is open to students in the MPH program in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at UCLA Fielding.
    MPH in Environmental Health Sciences Page
  • Leaders in Sustainability Certificate

    The Leaders in Sustainability certificate program is aimed at graduate students (master's and doctoral) who will:

    • Become decision-makers in various types of organizations (businesses, non-profits, governmental, etc.) and
    • Address the three dimensions of sustainability  

    The emphasis is open to all graduate students at UCLA.

    Leaders in Sustainability Certificate Website
  • Food Studies Graduate Certificate Program
    "Food is our common ground, a universal experience."

    — James Beard

     

    Food Studies Graduate Certificate



    Food is integral to life. In addition to playing a role in human health and development, food relates to the environmental, economic, and cultural aspects of our society. As a result, it has become a subject of interest and inquiry in multiple disciplines including agriculture, anthropology, geography, humanities, law, nutrition, psychology, public health, public policy, and other natural and social sciences.

    With food security and environmental sustainability becoming increasing global concerns, there is an urgency to educate the next generation of leaders. The Food Studies Graduate Certificate Program offers UCLA PhD, MA, MS, and professional school students the opportunity to investigate this growing field through an interdisciplinary curriculum. The program will prepare students from diverse disciplines to address complex topics in food cultures and histories, nutrition and public health, food policy and food justice, and urban planning and the environment.

    Certificate Requirements


    Course Requirements

    Students must complete 16 units of graduate coursework to earn the certificate: the food studies core course, COM HLT M217/URBN PL M216, and three additional four-unit courses selected from at least two of the three subject areas below. Students must obtain at least a B in all courses that will be used to satisfy the certificate requirements.

    Core Course (required)
    • COM HLT M217/URBN PL M216: Current Issues in Food Studies (Food Studies Graduate Certificate Colloquium)
    Food Policy and Food Systems
    • COM HLT 448: Nutrition Policies and Programs: Domestic and International Perspectives
    • ENV HLT 216: Planetary Health: Consequences of Environmental Change for Human Health
    • LAW 308: Animals and the Law
    • LAW 440: Introduction to Food Law and Policy
    • LAW 508: Food Law and Policy Seminar LAW 615: Ocean and Coastal Law and Policy
    • LAW 693: Food Litigation: Consumer Protection, Regulation, and Class Actions
    • LAW 775: Food Law and Policy Clinic
    • LAW 912: City Food Policy
    • URBN PL 262: Urban Environmental Problems: Water Resources
    • URBN PL 265C: Food Systems
    • URBN PL 269: A Percent Solution: The Making of a Modern Food System
    • URBN PL 269: A Good Food System: Movement or Moment?
    • PUB PLC X 478: Sustainable Food and Agriculture (Offered through UCLA Extension only)
    Nutritional Science
    • COM HLT 231: Maternal and Child Nutrition
    • COM HLT 276: Complementary and Alternative Medicine
    • COM HLT 444: Assessment of Family Nutrition
    • COM HLT 444: Anthropometric and Dietary Aspects of Nutritional Assessment
    • COM HLT 449: Nutrition and Chronic Disease
    • HLT POL M255/COM HLT M234: Obesity, Physical Activity, and Nutrition Seminar
    • EPI 241: Epidemiology of Obesity and Diabetes
    • EPI M254/COM HLT M251: Nutritional Epidemiology I
    Social and Cultural Aspects of Food
    • COM HLT 224: Social Determinants of Nutrition and Health
    • COM HLT M264/LATN AM M264: Latin America: Traditional Medicine, Shamanism, and Folk Illness
    • ANTHRO M233R/COM HLT M260: Health and Culture
    • OB 229B: Anthropological Perspectives on Global Health
    • ENGL 260: Studies in Literature and its Relationship to Arts and Sciences
    • HIST C201H: Asian American Culture, Cuisine, and Economy
    • HIST 596 (w/ HIST 101): Cultural History of Food in Atlantic World
    • LAW 960: Rights to Food and Global Food Justice

    2024-2025 Schedule of Classes


    Fall 2024:
    • EPI 241 - Epidemiology of Obesity and Diabetes (Chen, L, Tuesdays 1pm-3:50pm)
    • EPI M254 - Nutritional Epidemiology I (Chen, L, Thursdays 1pm-3:50pm)
    • HLT POL M255 - Obesity, Physical Acitivity and Nutrition Seminar (McCarthy, W.J., Thursdays 2pm-4:50pm)
    • LAW 693 - Food Litigation: Consumer Protection, Regulation, and Class Actions (Biderman, D.T., Wetherell, J., Mondays 5:30pm-7:30pm)
    Winter 2025:
    • Coming Soon!

    Apply


    All graduate and professional school students currently enrolled at UCLA with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 are eligible to apply for participation in this certificate program. Admission is based on academic and professional performance and a statement of interest in food issues and interdisciplinary learning approaches.  On average, about 20 students will be admitted to the program each year.  The application submission has ended for 2024, please come back and visit this site around March 2025 for more information regarding next year's submission opening.  Thank you!

    Exit Survey


    The exit survey is for current students in the UCLA Food Studies Graduate Certificate Program who intend to graduate in Spring 2024. The exit survey is mandatory and used to confirm that current students have met all of the program requirements. The exit survey will become available in April 2024.

    FAQ


    1. May I apply courses that were taken before being admitted to the certificate program?

      Yes. Any course, on the approved list, that is taken before admission to the certificate program may be counted towards the certificate.

       
    2. May I use a course that is not on the approved list

      Possibly. You may petition to use a course that is not on the approved list. To submit a petition send the course syllabus to foodstudies@ph.ucla.edu.

       
    3. Will I be able to use the certificate courses towards my degree requirements?

      Generally yes. According to University policy, courses used towards a certificate program may also be applied to degree requirements. Department policy may vary so please check with your departmental staff or faculty adviser.

       
    4. Are certificate students required to take 4 classes or 16 units?

      Students are required to take a minimum of 16 units worth of coursework to earn the certificate.

       
    5. Can I take the core class or electives pass/no pass

      Students enrolled in the certificate program must take the core and elective classes for a letter grade (unless the class is only offered pass/no pass) and receive a B or better.

       
    6. Will completion of the Food Studies Graduate Certificate Program appear on my UCLA transcript?

      No. After graduation from the program, you will receive an official certificate recognized by UCLA. However, completion of the certificate program will not appear on your UCLA transcript.

    If you have additional questions, the program is happy to help. Please contact foodstudies@ph.ucla.edu.

    Food Studies Events & Opportunities

    Upcoming Events
    • None, but check back soon!
    Past Events
    • Panel: Careers in Food Studies (5/13/2021). See the recording of the panel here.
    • Gather: Documentary Screening + Panel Discussion (2/26/2021). See the recording of the panel discussion here.
    • Guest Lecture with Dr. Kevin Yelvington: Wine Capitalism: Accumulation Through Tourism, Social Metabolism, Fetishism, and the State in Southern California Wine Country (12/1/2020). See the recording here.
    • Guest Lecture with Dr. Brian J. Griffith: Wine, Politics, and Identity in Fascist Italy (11/17/2020). See the recording here.
    • Networking Event: Careers in Food Studies (2/25/2020).
    • Documentary Screening: Rotten: A Netlfix Original Series (1/22/2020).

    Food Studies Resources

    UCLA On-Campus Resources
    Research Resources
    Additional Resources

     

    Submit Your Application
  • UCLA Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health Certificate

    The Maternal and Child Health Certificate program via the UCLA Maternal and Child Health Center of Excellence (MCH CoE) is dedicated to masters and doctoral students with an MCH focus and encourages exploration and development of skills to address a variety of issues related to service delivery for this population via the MCH Certificate program. The MCH Certificate prepares students to be leaders in MCH Workforce by providing the knowledge and skills in MCH and leadership training; field practicum experience in MCH; mentoring by MCH CoE faculty; and networking opportunities with other like-minded students with similar interests in MCH.

    The Center offers two programs:

    • A masters-level Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Certificate, open to masters-level graduate students
    • A doctoral Epidemiology Fellowship, open to Epidemiology PhD students only

    Students in the MCH Training Programs are expected to:

    • Complete 16 units of coursework related to Maternal and Child Health (see the Coursework section of the CoE Website for specific course requirements)
    • Meet Quarterly with MCH Faculty
    • Complete a summer field placement/internship with a Maternal and Child Health focus
      • Epidemiology fellows are expected to complete a research project for their dissertation with a Maternal and Child Health focus

    • Present at the annual Research Symposium
    • Be part of a national network of MCH Trainees

    To Apply 

    Applications open annually in the Fall Quarter. Please see the MCH CoE Website for detailed information on applications and timelines.

    Contact

    mch@mednet.ucla.edu

    Website link: https://medpeds.ucla.edu/educate/maternal-child-health-center-of-excellence

  • LEND Training Program Certificate

    The University of California Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (UC-LEND) Training Program is an interdisciplinary training program that focuses on developing skills in leadership, education, policy work, and advocacy in neurodiversity. Our trainees come from various disciplines, professional backgrounds, and work experience. We encourage all of those who are interested in neurodiversity to apply to our program, you do not need to have previous experience with this population to apply. Our trainees are highly motivated, involved, and seeking to further their training in their respective field.

    The UC-LEND Training Program is open to UCLA and UC Riverside graduate and professional students who are able to meet the following requirements:

    • Completion of HPM 243, HPM 449A, and HPM 428 following admission to the UC-LEND training program
    • Attendance at weekly Clinical and Research Seminars led by LEND faculty
    • Quarterly shadowing in LEND Clinic
    • Completion of a Capstone research project to be presented at the annual Symposium

    UC-LEND offers additional training to community and healthcare practitioners. If you are interested in one of these non-graduate student training programs, please contact us using the email below.

    To Apply 

    Applications open annually in the Winter Quarter. Please see the UC-LEND Website for detailed information on applications and timelines. Applicants must complete the UC-LEND application and go through an interview process in order to be considered for the program.

    Contact

    uc-lend@mednet.ucla.edu

    Website link: https://uc-lend.med.ucla.edu/

Degree Programs

Bachelor of Arts in Public Health
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Bachelor of Science in Public Health
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Doctor of Philosophy in Biostatistics
Biostatistics
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Doctor of Philosophy in Community Health Sciences
Community Health Sciences
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Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Health Sciences
Environmental Health Sciences
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Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology
Epidemiology
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Doctor of Philosophy in Health Policy and Management
Health Policy and Management
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Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular Toxicology
Environmental Health Sciences
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Executive Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management
Health Policy and Management
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Master of Data Science in Health
Biostatistics
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Master of Healthcare Administration
Health Policy and Management
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Master of Public Health for Health Professionals
Community Health Sciences
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Master of Public Health in Biostatistics
Biostatistics
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Master of Public Health in Biostatistics/Doctor of Medicine
Biostatistics
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Master of Public Health in Biostatistics/Juris Doctor in Law
Biostatistics
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Master of Public Health in Community Health Sciences
Community Health Sciences
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Master of Public Health in Community Health Sciences/Doctor of Medicine
Community Health Sciences
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Master of Public Health in Community Health Sciences/Juris Doctor in Law
Community Health Sciences
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Master of Public Health in Community Health Sciences/Master of Arts in African Studies
Community Health Sciences
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Master of Public Health in Community Health Sciences/Master of Arts in Asian American Studies
Community Health Sciences
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Master of Public Health in Community Health Sciences/Master of Arts in Latin American Studies
Community Health Sciences
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Master of Public Health in Community Health Sciences/Master of Social Welfare
Community Health Sciences
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Master of Public Health in Community Health Sciences/Master of Urban and Regional Planning
Community Health Sciences
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Master of Public Health in Environmental Health Sciences
Environmental Health Sciences
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Master of Public Health in Environmental Health Sciences/Doctor of Medicine
Environmental Health Sciences
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Master of Public Health in Environmental Health Sciences/Juris Doctor in Law
Environmental Health Sciences
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Master of Public Health in Environmental Health Sciences/Master of of Urban and Regional Planning
Environmental Health Sciences
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Master of Public Health in Epidemiology
Epidemiology
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Master of Public Health in Epidemiology/Doctor of Medicine
Epidemiology
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Master of Public Health in Epidemiology/Juris Doctor in Law
Epidemiology
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Master of Public Health in Health Management
Health Policy and Management
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Master of Public Health in Health Management/Juris Doctor in Law
Health Policy and Management
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Master of Public Health in Health Management/Master of Business Administration in Management
Health Policy and Management
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Master of Public Health in Health Management/Master of Medicine
Health Policy and Management
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Master of Public Health in Health Management/Master of Public Policy
Health Policy and Management
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Master of Public Health in Health Policy
Health Policy and Management
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Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management (one-year)
Health Policy and Management
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Master of Public Health in Health Policy/Doctor of Medicine
Health Policy and Management
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Master of Public Health in Health Policy/Juris Doctor in Law
Health Policy and Management
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Master of Public Health in Health Policy/Master of Business Administration in Management
Health Policy and Management
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Master of Public Health in Health Policy/Master of Public Policy
Health Policy and Management
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Master of Science in Biostatistics
Biostatistics
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Master of Science in Community Health Sciences
Community Health Sciences
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Master of Science in Environmental Health Sciences
Environmental Health Sciences
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Master of Science in Epidemiology
Epidemiology
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Master of Science in Health Policy and Management
Health Policy and Management
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