UCLA Extension Debuts Immersive Online Certificate Programs

UCLA Extension, the continuing education division of the University of California, Los Angeles, is introducing 11 fully online certificate programs that immerse students in the same resources and collaboration opportunities as the school's in-person classes. Dubbed UCLAxOnline, the new format blends "the latest in interactive learning innovations with real-world curriculum taught by industry leaders," according to a news announcement.

Built on online platforms such as Canvas and Zoom, the UCLAxOnline program is designed to provide professional development for students while offering "shared spaces to interact and network virtually with their peers and instructors," the university said. The program is launching this fall with certificates in Accounting, Accounting Fundamentals, Business and Management of Entertainment, College Counseling, Data Science, GIS and Geospatial Technology, Human Resources Management, Personal Financial Planning, Project Management, Sustainability, and User Experience, with plans to add more subjects every quarter.

"UCLAxOnline is a bold initiative, designed with today's professionals in mind," said Eric A. Bullard, dean of continuing education and UCLA Extension, in a statement. "The challenge, which we have met after careful study and design, was to offer certificate programs in a fully online format with the same high level of benefits, such as networking and interaction with instructors, that our students enjoy through our in-class sessions. This, by far, is the most advanced online professional continuing educational experience with courses that follow the rigorous protocols of a world-class university."

For more information, visit the UCLA Extension site.

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • A person types on a laptop surrounded by floating digital profiles

    CrowdStrike to Acquire Identity Security Firm SGNL

    AI-based cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike has signed a definitive agreement to acquire identity security company SGNL in a deal valued at approximately $740 million.

  • Interface buttons of Generative AI tool

    Report: No Foolproof Method Exists for Detecting AI-Generated Media

    Microsoft has released a new research report warning that no single technology can reliably distinguish AI-generated content from authentic media, and that deepening reliance on any one method risks misleading the public.

  • AI word on microchip and colorful light spread

    Microsoft Unveils Maia 200 Inference Chip to Cut AI Serving Costs

    Microsoft recently introduced Maia 200, a custom-built accelerator aimed at lowering the cost of running artificial intelligence workloads at cloud scale, as major providers look to curb soaring inference expenses and lessen dependence on Nvidia graphics processors.

  • Abstract speed motion blur in vibrant colors

    3 Ed Tech Shifts that Will Define 2026

    The digital learning landscape is entering a new phase defined by rapid advances in artificial intelligence, rising expectations for the student experience, and increasing pressure to demonstrate quality and accountability in online education.