In addition to our majors, the department also offers opportunities for students to specialize and focus by adding a Certificate or a Minor to their degree. Certificates generally comprise coursework across multiple departments, while minors are a focused set of classes within one department.
PINC - Promoting Inclusivity in Computing
The PINC program started in 2017, and at the time was designed to achieve one initiative, to provide a pathway for students majoring in the Life Sciences to learn to code and earn a minor in Computing Applications. Since then, PINC has grown to include student certificate, scholarship, summer coding, mentor, and professional certificate programs.
GOLD - Graduate Opportunities to Learn Data Science
Graduate Opportunities to Learn Data science (GOLD) is a new program for SFSU Biology and Chemistry masters students to be able to earn a graduate certificate in Data Science for Biology and Chemistry.
GOLD courses strive to build on students diverse lived experiences and interests in and outside of science to create an engaging, just, and fun learning environment.
Climate Change Certificate
The Certificate in Climate Change Causes, Impacts, and Solutions gives students a foundational understanding of climate change’s causes, effects, and solutions so they can take action in their communities.
The program is open to students of all majors, and non-matriculated students as well. While some of the courses that count toward the certificate are in the sciences, the program is not exclusively for science majors. In fact, the program was designed so that students from any major can take any course — there are few to no prerequisites.
Visit Climate HQ for more information about how to become a Climate Justice leader.