For Students
Graduate Certificate in Food Systems
About the Certificate
About the Certificate
The Graduate Certificate in Food Systems (GCFS) is administered by Berkeley Food Institute in response to an increasing need for innovative solutions to pressing food and farming challenges. We train the next generation of food and farm systems leaders by providing diverse educational and career pathway opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to address critical food and farm system issues. The Certificate invites students from all graduate and doctorate programs at UC Berkeley to apply early in their academic career.
The Certificate builds upon UC Berkeley’s strength as a multi-disciplinary pioneer in food systems studies to prepare students to think critically about the multi-level, multi-system factors that affect food production, distribution, and consumption.
How to earn the Graduate Certificate in Food Systems
To earn the Graduate Certificate in Food Systems, you must:
- Be currently enrolled in a UC Berkeley graduate program, and
- Be in good academic standing, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Complete a minimum of 9 units, each of which must be taken for a letter grade.
- Complete the required core course: PB HLTH 207: Transforming Food Systems: From Agroecology to Population Health (3 units, taught each Fall)
- Complete an additional 6 units of approved graduate elective courses (200 level).
Complete the Application for Admission Form. The administrator will be in touch with any support and questions throughout your pathway toward completion. Upon completion, the Certificate will be noted in the memorandum section of your official transcript (not on your diploma), in addition to a physical certificate signed by the Deans of Berkeley Public Health, Rausser College of Natural Resources, and Goldman School of Public Policy.
PBHLTH 207 Transforming Food Systems: From Agroecology to Population Health is the core required course, which complements graduate students’ primary fields of study by providing a theoretical framework for systems thinking that can be applied across diverse and emerging food and farming challenges. The course is taught in the fall semester by Kristine Madsen, Professor in the Joint Medical Program/Public Health Nutrition. It takes a solutions-oriented approach to addressing the pressing problems in current food systems through strategies used by disciplines in agroecology, policy, law, public health, and business working to improve food systems and apply their varied approaches to real-world case studies. Through weekly readings, discussions, and problem-solving sessions with leading food systems experts, students will gain a broad understanding of food systems and the leverage points that can be targeted to improve the health of people and the planet.
This is the active Google Excel with updated elective courses organized in tabs for Spring and Fall. We update this at the end of each semester. Not every course is offered annually. Students can propose alternative electives with 25% of the core content related to food systems. Check guide.berkeley.edu for the most up-to-date course descriptions and class schedule.
Email the administrator at gcfs@berkeley.edu with the course title and a link to the syllabus or enrollment available, along with your final student project demonstrating this focus. The administrator will get back to you promptly with approval or additional questions.
In addition, participating in cross-discipline academic opportunities through coursework and guidance from the Certificate administrator, by applying to the Certificate, you are automatically included in updates and notifications about new courses, lunch n’ learns with experts, connections to capstone and practicum internships, as well as mentorship pilot projects. In past years, students have joined field trips to values-based supply chain businesses and farms, had conversations with growing organizations hiring food and farming systems professionals, and a mentorship pilot project connecting graduate and undergraduate students studying and working in food systems. We have a growing network of alumnus, and we encourage you to join our Berkeley Food Institute Alumni page on LinkedIn to connect with other alumni.